Background
Lowkey was born to mixed heritage, his father being British from Dover, while his mother is an Iraqi born in Baghdad. He began attending the open mic sessions which took place at the Deal Real record shop on Carnaby Street, Central London. The first time he went he introduced himself as Lowkey and was told there was already a regular there by that name; the two had a battle rap over the use of the name which Lowkey won. It was at Deal Real that he met Doc Brown, who invited him to feature on his first notable single 'Donnie's Lament', a song which was based on the film Donnie Darko.
Career
The success of 'Donnie's Lament (Mad World Remix)', which was played on Capital FM and Radio One led to a mixtape entitled Key To The Game Vol 1, released independently in 2003. Within a year and a half he had released a second and third volume, all of which gained critical acclaim from UK hip hop circles. Despite releasing the third mixtape in 2005, it would be another three years until he released his album proper preferring instead to explore other aspects of his career until then.
In July 2008 the Theatre Royal, Bath put on a production of 'Max and Beth', a contemporary adaptation of Macbeth by William Shakespeare written entirely in rhyme.
Collaborations
He joined a hip-hop group called Poisonous Poets that released one mixtape (Poisonous Poetry). Poisonous Poets a.k.a Double P was founded by Doc Brown, Reveal, Tony D and Therapist. He is part of another group called Catch 22 created by Kool G Rap. Lowkey also records duets with Logic as part of their non-profit organisation The People's Army, aimed at raising awareness of infant fighting in Israel and Palestine. His work with Logic saw the pair record a song exclusively for the NSPCC, in support of their "Don't Hide It" campaign.
In 2008 news broke of a supergroup that had been created with Jon McClure of the band Reverend and The Makers. Also in the band is Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders and ex-bassist Andy Nicholson alongside bassist of Babyshambles Drew McConnell and a revolving set of other musicians. They have had trouble coordinating their busy careers to perform live dates and their debut album has already been pushed back from October to some time in early 2009 along with a February tour.
Lowkey's highly anticipated (100% independent) album: Soundtrack To The Struggle is estimated to hit the streets in January 2011.
(from the wiki-page biog of Lowkey)
Mad World
Lowkey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warn out places, warn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere doc Brown
It's a disgrace
This place is like a whore house
The crooked systems
Storm clouds so it's dark when I wake up
Same street, same run for the same bus
Same tramp with his change cup
But many pennies and tens and twenty's
Ain't gonna change his day up
This train sucks blud, you look familiar
Why do I know them tired
Eyes from somewhere in particular
Wait, nah, it was yesterday
You shoved me in the chest just to
Race to the top of the escalat-or
We rats comin' back for more
Happy to carry the wait 'til
Our backs are sore
Trapped in the system of capitalism
That got us thinkin' that we have to take
Shit job just to get a quick buck
Why not live the life that you want?
When your dreams too big to fit
Further in that Burger King uniform
Forgot what humanity showed us
Now we walk around like robots
'til we go nuts what's strange is we all
Creative 'til age six
Then we start hearin' the same shit
From police, parents, teachers, television
Take the first steps towards a mental prison
Then at the end of ya life you like, "Rass
I was doin' time but I
Weren't even behind bars"
Know what blud, it's a very, very
Mad world
Maintain, feel the weight on my brain
Mad world it's still the same
My brains achin' with pain mad world
This ain't life it, just doesn't feel right
Mad world
My dreams ain't nice, can't sleep at night
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
From the time I was a toddler, tiny and small
I grew into a little
Monster in primary school
Just another name on the list at registration
The teacher never listens so
I lived in desperation
By Year 6, I was sick of education
Not to mention wantin' attention but
I'd sit in hesitation
Scared to ask teachers questions
'cause I was quick to test their patience
Soon as I reached secondary
Different heads were hatin'
To teachers I was already dead and buried
A product of the street's devastation
Aggy and fassies and fools
And carryin' tools
Why? It's a weak explanation
But I was never happy in school
Suffered from sleep deprivation
Teachers knew my type, they saw it in me
Never used eyesight
Most pretend they're blind when the older
Youths and new guys fight
Got sent around to the deputy head
When the fat kid a grass
Went back to sit in class and dreamt
About leavin' all my enemies dead
Many tears where eventually shed
Up 'til now I didn't know
What my memories meant
Many messed with me then
All the fights left my energy spent
Teachers need to fix up
This message is for everyone
But especially them
Intelligent kids don't grow unless they
Mentally fed in this
Mad world
Life is cruel blood, I'm tired of school
Mad world
Your mind's a tool, don't play by the rules
Mad world that's the truth
I've been trapped since youth mad world
My heart's bruised but I still won't lose
Mad world
Hey, what's going on?
In "Mad World" by Lowkey, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a society filled with disillusionment and despair. The opening lines, "All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces," convey a sense of monotony and exhaustion. The singer describes a daily race that leads nowhere, emphasizing the futility of their existence. The reference to "this place is like a whore house" criticizes the corrupt systems and a society that exploits its individuals. The imagery of storm clouds and darkness symbolizes the gloom and hopelessness that surrounds the singer's reality.
The song highlights the repetitive nature of life, as the singer encounters the same people and situations day after day. The mention of the tramp with his change cup reflects the perpetual struggle to make ends meet, with little hope of improving one's circumstances. The lyrics also criticize the capitalist system that forces individuals into soul-sucking jobs just to survive, questioning why people can't live the lives they truly want.
The second verse delves into the experiences of the singer during their school years. They express feeling unnoticed and unheard, with teachers looking right through them. The lyrics highlight the frustrations and challenges faced in the education system, where attention and understanding are lacking. The singer's dissatisfaction with school grows, leading to a downward spiral of aggression and conflict.
Overall, "Mad World" portrays a society that is suffocating under the weight of its own flaws and shortcomings. It explores themes of disillusionment, societal pressure, and the dehumanizing effects of conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
All around me are familiar faces
I am surrounded by people who are worn out and tired
Warn out places, warn out faces
The places and people around me are exhausted and run-down
Bright and early for the daily races
We wake up early every day to engage in activities that lead us nowhere
Going nowhere, going nowhere doc Brown
Our lives have become stagnant and we are not progressing
It's a disgrace
This situation is shameful and unacceptable
This place is like a whore house
This environment is exploitative and degrading
The crooked systems
The corrupt systems in place
The pimp that got us workin' 'til we worn out
The system forces us to work tirelessly until we are exhausted
Storm clouds so it's dark when I wake up
There is a constant sense of gloom and despair when I start my day
Same street, same run for the same bus
Every day feels repetitive and monotonous
Same tramp with his change cup
I encounter the same homeless person begging for change
But many pennies and tens and twenty's
Regardless of the amount of money he receives, it won't change his situation
Ain't gonna change his day up
Receiving more money won't improve his circumstances
This train sucks blud, you look familiar
This train is terrible, and I recognize your tired expression
Why do I know them tired
Why do I recognize those exhausted faces
Eyes from somewhere in particular
Eyes that I have seen before, in a specific place
Wait, nah, it was yesterday
Wait, no, I remember now, it was just yesterday
You shoved me in the chest just to
You pushed me forcefully in the chest just to
Race to the top of the escalat-or
Hurry to reach the top of the escalator
We rats comin' back for more
We are like rats, always returning for more of the same
Happy to carry the wait 'til
We are content with bearing the burden until
Our backs are sore
Our backs ache from the weight we carry
Trapped in the system of capitalism
We are stuck in a capitalist system
That got us thinkin' that we have to take
This system makes us believe that we must accept
Shit job just to get a quick buck
Terrible jobs just to earn a small amount of money
Why not live the life that you want?
Why not pursue a life that brings you joy and fulfillment?
When your dreams too big to fit
When your dreams are too grand to fit
Further in that Burger King uniform
Beyond the confines of wearing a Burger King uniform
Forgot what humanity showed us
We have disregarded the kindness and compassion humanity has taught us
Now we walk around like robots
We move through life mechanically, devoid of individuality
'til we go nuts what's strange is we all
Until we go insane, what's peculiar is that we all
Creative 'til age six
We are creative until the age of six
Then we start hearin' the same shit
Afterward, we begin to hear the same repetitive messages
From police, parents, teachers, television
From various sources, such as the police, parents, teachers, and television
Take the first steps towards a mental prison
We unknowingly start moving closer to a state of mental imprisonment
Then at the end of ya life you like, 'Rass
And then, at the end of your life, you realize
I was doin' time but I
That you were serving a sentence, even though
Weren't even behind bars
You were never even physically imprisoned
Know what blud, it's a very, very
You know, my friend, it's an incredibly
Mad world
Insane world
Maintain, feel the weight on my brain
I struggle to cope with the burden on my mind
Mad world it's still the same
The world remains just as chaotic and distressing
My brains achin' with pain mad world
My mind is filled with anguish and suffering in this insane world
This ain't life it, just doesn't feel right
This isn't what life should be, it feels wrong
Mad world
Insane world
My dreams ain't nice, can't sleep at night
My dreams are unsettling, I can't find peace during sleep
Went to school and I was very nervous
I attended school and felt extremely anxious
No one knew me, no one knew me
I felt unnoticed and invisible to everyone
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson
I greeted the teacher and asked what I was supposed to learn
Look right through me, look right through me
But the teacher ignored me, completely disregarding my presence
From the time I was a toddler, tiny and small
Since I was a young child, small and fragile
I grew into a little
I developed into a
Monster in primary school
Troublesome individual during my early education
Just another name on the list at registration
I was just another name among many during the registration process
The teacher never listens so
The teacher never pays attention, so
I lived in desperation
I felt desperate and hopeless
By Year 6, I was sick of education
By the time I reached Year 6, I became tired of the educational system
Not to mention wantin' attention but
Not to mention my desire for attention, but
I'd sit in hesitation
I would sit there, hesitant to speak up
Scared to ask teachers questions
Fearful of asking teachers questions
'cause I was quick to test their patience
Since I was prone to testing their patience
Soon as I reached secondary
As soon as I transitioned to secondary school
Different heads were hatin'
I faced animosity from different individuals
To teachers I was already dead and buried
Teachers had already written me off as a lost cause
A product of the street's devastation
I became a reflection of the destruction caused by the streets
Aggy and fassies and fools
Encountering aggressive and foolish individuals
And carryin' tools
People carrying weapons
Why? It's a weak explanation
The reason behind it is feeble and insufficient
But I was never happy in school
I never found happiness within the school environment
Suffered from sleep deprivation
I experienced sleep deprivation
Teachers knew my type, they saw it in me
Teachers recognized my behavior and attitude
Never used eyesight
They never really saw me for who I was
Most pretend they're blind when the older
Most of them pretend to be blind when the older
Youths and new guys fight
Youth and newcomers engage in conflicts
Got sent around to the deputy head
I was constantly sent to the deputy head of the school
When the fat kid a grass
When the overweight student tattled on others
Went back to sit in class and dreamt
I returned to my seat in class and daydreamed
About leavin' all my enemies dead
Imagining a scenario where all my enemies were no longer alive
Many tears where eventually shed
I eventually shed many tears
Up 'til now I didn't know
Until now, I didn't realize
What my memories meant
The significance of my memories
Many messed with me then
Many people bothered or harassed me at that time
All the fights left my energy spent
The fights drained all my energy
Teachers need to fix up
Teachers need to improve their approach
This message is for everyone
This is a message for everyone
But especially them
But particularly directed at them
Intelligent kids don't grow unless they
Intellectual children won't develop unless they
Mentally fed in this
Receive proper mental nourishment in this
Mad world
Insane world
Life is cruel blood, I'm tired of school
Life is harsh, my friend, and I'm exhausted from school
Mad world
Insane world
Your mind's a tool, don't play by the rules
Your mind is a powerful tool, don't conform to societal rules
Mad world that's the truth
Insane world, that's the reality
I've been trapped since youth mad world
I have been confined since my childhood, in this insane world
My heart's bruised but I still won't lose
My heart is wounded, but I refuse to give up
Mad world
Insane world
Hey, what's going on?
Hey, what is happening?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UntitledProject2023
This is still a big tune. Can’t believe it was recorded around 2004 (15 years ago!).
@jonbacon6664
Dan Batch even with a mad world it’s still relevant
@RiceyAz
@jon bacon trustt
@stuartheard4927
Today needs it mate
@marcfavell
Right, still
@Benno_Grams
October 2023
@geoffersonairplane9338
Saw Lowkey and Doc Brown perform this live back in 2004. Sounded phat then, sounds phat now.
@tomg5187
YOU LUCKY GEEEEEZA
@re6ter
"Your mind's a tool, don't play by the rules" powerful lyrics!!
@SwellEdits
This was the first time I heard Lowkey, and I played this pretty much everyday. Shame he quit rapping, hope he'll come back.