She describes her music as rap and experimental. Whilst she is closely affiliated with the grime genre, she has also pulled inspiration from other genres including reggae, blues, synth-rock and jazzy R&B.
Simz has performed alongside Estelle, Tinie Tempah, Ms. Dynamite and Kano.
Simz has performed at Rising Tide, iluvlive, Industry Takeover (Urban Development) Hackney Empire, Somerset House and the House of Lords. She also performed at the BBC 1Xtra Prom 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside a full orchestra led by Jules Buckley.
Simz can be heard on the Leave to Remain film soundtrack, performing the song "Leave It As That". In early 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra to discuss her performance at the Hackney Weekend.
Simz then went on to do a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens, and has since gone on to receive critical acclaim from the likes of Zane Lowe, Dizzee Rascal and Revolt TV. She also has received praise from Kendrick Lamar.
On 16 December 2016 she released her second studio album Stillness in Wonderland. It was inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and supported by a comic book, art exhibition and festival.
In 2017, she performed as the opening act for Gorillaz during their Humanz Tour, and was the vocalist for the song "Garage Palace", featured on the Super Deluxe edition of their album Humanz.
Simz has resisted signing to a label, instead release her music through her own Age 101 records. On 6 September 2018, Simz and her label AGE 101 signed a worldwide deal with AWAL Recordings, after AWAL had distributed her debut album "A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons" in 2015. This deal was renewed on 18 June 2020.
Her 2019 studio album Grey Area was released to widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Mercury Prize, and IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award (2019).
On 3 September 2021, she released her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert debuting at number 4 on the UK album charts and winning BBC 6's Album of the Year. It was quickly followed by No Thank You, her 5th studio album, released on December 12, 2022
Deranged
Little Simz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection
That resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts
You'd think I need help
But don't just stand there, get me some then
Travelling through different times
Ancient clocks on the wall
Can tell if the left hand was right
Illusive dreams through the night
Nightmares and a bright day
The concepts of this is backwards
Is this the way it should be?
Well I'm just following motion
No need to prevent the emotion
Of being close to the psychedelic corruptive
Explosions and now these wounds became frozen
I'm numb to the pain
The chemical effect is potent drink up
I'm confused by confusion
And I find it all so confusing
To match the dove with the sky
Or like the winner with losing
I think I'm losing my mind
And it don't help that I'm
3000 years into life fuck it
I'm an old woman strolling down the streets
So what's new reflecting on how I grew
Into this bitter pursuit
But now I'm left with myself
I might as well take in the view
Shit weren't like this back in my day
Don't answer to the empty questions
Asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection
That resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts
You'd think I need help
But don't you stand there, get me some then
Don't answer to the empty questions
Asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection
That resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts
You'd think I need help
I'm a troubled woman with a troubled past
And a troubled mind, I'm a friend to trouble
And you can hear in these troubled lines
The young will never know
That they're living a troubled life
And no one will tell 'em
That defines an illusion
Some say I'm delusional
And I say the vanity is fluent
Like a blood transfusion
Left in a constitution
No back bone, no mobilisation, spinal fusion
My wisdom is too much for you to consume
I know but you shall listen to these stories
That you will be told
And if you bite the hand that feeds you
You will starve to your bones
A thinner than the veins
That are piercing out of my soul
This is let me not start
Mummy told me to count my blessings
When I was younger
I would rather watch a storm and the thunder
The lightning striking
Watch it take the world under
The world I used to wonder
The seven wonders and now I
Found it the eighth
I discovered if only I listen
And I wasn't so stubborn then maybe
Who the fuck am I kidding?
Don't answer to the empty questions
Asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection
That resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts
You'd think I need help
In "Deranged" by Little Simz, the lyrics touch upon themes of self-reflection, confusion, and the struggle with mental health. The song begins with the notion of not answering to the empty questions asked in the mirror. This suggests a dissatisfaction with shallow self-analysis and encourages the listener to focus on admiring their own unique reflection, despite its flaws. The line "If you can hear these deranged thoughts, you'd think I need help" indicates internal struggles and a sense of being misunderstood by others.
The lyrics then delve into a metaphorical description of the artist's mind as a land where time travels in different directions. This imagery is amplified by references to ancient clocks that can determine if the past decisions were right. The juxtaposition of illusive dreams and nightmares with the bright day highlights the confusion and complexity of emotions experienced. The artist discusses being numbed to pain through intoxication and expresses confusion about emotions and concepts such as the match of a dove with the sky or a winner with losing.
As the song progresses, the artist reveals a troubled past and troubled mind. The line "The young will never know that they're living a troubled life" suggests a desire to raise awareness and educate others about the challenges they may be facing. Delusion and vanity are depicted as fluent and influential forces, while the mention of a blood transfusion implies a deep connection between the artist's essence and their words. The lyrics conclude with the acknowledgement of the need to listen and learn from stories told, as well as the realization that stubbornness may hinder personal growth.
Overall, "Deranged" by Little Simz portrays a complex inner world filled with introspection, confusion, self-acceptance, and a yearning for understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't answer to the empty questions
Do not respond to meaningless inquiries
Asked in the mirror
That are posed while looking at oneself in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection
Instead, appreciate the faint image reflected
That resembles yourself
Which bears some resemblance to your own identity
If you can hear these deranged thoughts
If you are able to perceive these disturbed thoughts
You'd think I need help
You might believe I require assistance
But don't just stand there, get me some then
But do not simply stand by, provide me with assistance
In a land where my mind
In a mental realm where I reside
Travelling through different times
Journeying across various moments
Ancient clocks on the wall
Observing ancient timepieces on the wall
Can tell if the left hand was right
Can determine the correctness of the left hand
Illusive dreams through the night
Elusive dreams that occur during the night
Nightmares and a bright day
Nightmares experienced during the daytime
The concepts of this is backwards
The principles of this are inverted
Is this the way it should be?
Is this the correct course of action?
Well I'm just following motion
Well, I am simply going along with the flow
No need to prevent the emotion
There is no need to suppress the emotion
Of being close to the psychedelic corruptive
Of being near the corrupting influence of psychedelics
Explosions and now these wounds became frozen
Explosive events that have caused my wounds to become numb
I'm numb to the pain
I am desensitized to the pain
The chemical effect is potent drink up
The impact of the substance is powerful, consume it
I'm confused by confusion
I am perplexed by the state of confusion
And I find it all so confusing
And I find everything to be incredibly perplexing
To match the dove with the sky
To associate the dove with the sky
Or like the winner with losing
Or to compare the winner with the act of losing
I think I'm losing my mind
I believe I am losing my sanity
And it don't help that I'm
And it does not help that I am
3000 years into life fuck it
Three thousand years into life, to hell with it
I'm an old woman strolling down the streets
I am an elderly woman walking along the streets
So what's new reflecting on how I grew
So what's new? Reflecting on my personal growth
Into this bitter pursuit
Into this resentful pursuit
But now I'm left with myself
But now I am left alone with my own thoughts
I might as well take in the view
I might as well appreciate the scenery around me
Shit weren't like this back in my day
Things were not like this in the past
I'm a troubled woman with a troubled past
I am a distressed woman burdened by a turbulent history
And a troubled mind, I'm a friend to trouble
And a troubled psyche, I am familiar with chaos
And you can hear in these troubled lines
And you can perceive my turmoil in these troubled verses
The young will never know
The youth will never understand
That they're living a troubled life
That they are experiencing a tumultuous existence
And no one will tell 'em
And no one will inform them
That defines an illusion
That defines a false reality
Some say I'm delusional
Some claim that I am deluded
And I say the vanity is fluent
And I assert that vanity is prevalent
Like a blood transfusion
Similar to a transfusion of blood
Left in a constitution
Contained within a set of principles
No back bone, no mobilisation, spinal fusion
Lacking determination, no motivation, spinal fusion
My wisdom is too much for you to consume
My knowledge is overwhelming for you to comprehend
I know but you shall listen to these stories
I understand, but you must listen to these tales
That you will be told
That will be narrated to you
And if you bite the hand that feeds you
And if you turn against those who support you
You will starve to your bones
You will suffer hunger down to your very bones
A thinner than the veins
Thinner than the veins
That are piercing out of my soul
That are protruding from my soul
This is let me not start
This is, let me not begin
Mummy told me to count my blessings
My mother told me to recognize my blessings
When I was younger
When I was a child
I would rather watch a storm and the thunder
I preferred to observe a storm and its thunder
The lightning striking
The lightning striking
Watch it take the world under
Watching it engulf the world
The world I used to wonder
The world that used to captivate my curiosity
The seven wonders and now I
The seven wonders, and now I
Found it the eighth
Discovered an eighth wonder
I discovered if only I listen
I discovered that if only I had listened
And I wasn't so stubborn then maybe
And if I hadn't been so obstinate, perhaps
Who the fuck am I kidding?
Who am I fooling?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nikola
[ Lyrics: ]
Shit.
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
But don't just stand there, get me some then
[Verse 1]
In a land where my mind, travelling through different times
Ancient clocks on the wall, can tell if the left hand was right
Illusive dreams through the night, nightmares and a bright [?] day
The concepts of this is backwards, is this the way it should be?
Well I'm just following motion, no need to prevent the emotion
Of being close to the psychedelic corruptive
Explosions and now these wounds became frozen
I'm numb to the pain, the chemical effect is potent
Drink up
I'm confused by confusion, and I find it all so confusing
To match the dove with the sky
Or like the winner with losing, I think I'm losing my mind
And it don't help that I'm 3000 years into life
Fuck it
I'm an old woman strolling down the streets, so what's new
Reflecting on how I grew, into this bitter pursuit
But now I'm left with myself, I might as well take in the view
Shit weren't like this back in my day
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
But don't you stand there, get me some then
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
[Verse 2]
I'm a troubled woman with a troubled past
And a troubled mind, I'm a friend to trouble
And you can hear in these troubled lines
The young will never know
That they're living a troubled life, and no one will tell 'em
That defines an illusion
Some say I'm delusional, and I say the vanity is fluent
Like a blood transfusion, left in a constitution
No back bone, no mobilisation, spinal fusion
My wisdom is too much for you to consume, I know
But you shall listen to these stories that you will be told
And if you bite the hand that feeds you, you will starve to your bones
A thinner than the veins, that are piercing out of my soul
This is... Let me not start
Mummy told me to count my blessings, when I was younger
I would rather watch a storm and the thunder
The lightning striking
Watch it take the world under, the world I used to wonder
The seven wonders and now I found it the eighth
I discovered if only I listen and I wasn't so stubborn
Then maybe..
Who the fuck am I kidding?
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts, you'd think I need help
Joanne Campbell
True inspiration! 🤘🤘
Fuck what people think....
When they tellin' you that you are 'strange'.
You ain't the one, ya know, who's deranged....
But in the unawoken, oppression & unchanged,
you will always be...the one who's 'strange'...
laeaglin
Sickness! I can't believe this girl isn't getting more national air play! Loving this chic!
Allaboutdatps3
I could listen to this chick whisper in my ear for hours. Such a soothing voice.
lazy but funy
damn finally one good woman rapper in the game with meaningful lyrics
Nii T.
Noname
tokenblackaspie
Yung Blakrok, Rapsody, Lady Leshurr, RoxXxan, NiTty Scott MC, Dijah SB
Boris
the best song of all times in the whole universe and amazing performance
nikola
[ Lyrics: ]
Shit.
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
But don't just stand there, get me some then
[Verse 1]
In a land where my mind, travelling through different times
Ancient clocks on the wall, can tell if the left hand was right
Illusive dreams through the night, nightmares and a bright [?] day
The concepts of this is backwards, is this the way it should be?
Well I'm just following motion, no need to prevent the emotion
Of being close to the psychedelic corruptive
Explosions and now these wounds became frozen
I'm numb to the pain, the chemical effect is potent
Drink up
I'm confused by confusion, and I find it all so confusing
To match the dove with the sky
Or like the winner with losing, I think I'm losing my mind
And it don't help that I'm 3000 years into life
Fuck it
I'm an old woman strolling down the streets, so what's new
Reflecting on how I grew, into this bitter pursuit
But now I'm left with myself, I might as well take in the view
Shit weren't like this back in my day
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
But don't you stand there, get me some then
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts you'd think I need help
[Verse 2]
I'm a troubled woman with a troubled past
And a troubled mind, I'm a friend to trouble
And you can hear in these troubled lines
The young will never know
That they're living a troubled life, and no one will tell 'em
That defines an illusion
Some say I'm delusional, and I say the vanity is fluent
Like a blood transfusion, left in a constitution
No back bone, no mobilisation, spinal fusion
My wisdom is too much for you to consume, I know
But you shall listen to these stories that you will be told
And if you bite the hand that feeds you, you will starve to your bones
A thinner than the veins, that are piercing out of my soul
This is... Let me not start
Mummy told me to count my blessings, when I was younger
I would rather watch a storm and the thunder
The lightning striking
Watch it take the world under, the world I used to wonder
The seven wonders and now I found it the eighth
I discovered if only I listen and I wasn't so stubborn
Then maybe..
Who the fuck am I kidding?
[Hook]
Don't answer to the empty questions asked in the mirror
Just admire the slight reflection that resembles yourself
If you can hear these deranged thoughts, you'd think I need help
Josh Biggs
Hardest women rapper i've heard since Lauryn Hill. Plus her voice definitely goes well with Earl's - Hive, so so ILL.
William Kelly
Little Simz loves Lauryn Hill :)