After first appearing in 2013 on Rejjie Snow’s ‘Rejovich’ EP on track ‘1992’, Loyle’s name started to make the rounds, not least to mention the track being picked up by Majestic Casual and has racked up over 700k views to date. Following the release of the ‘A Little Late’ EP, Loyle has gone on to work with the likes of Kate Tempest, Maverick Sabre, Tom Misch and multiple others, all in preparation for releases in 2015.
With two successful UK tours now under his belt with Joey Bada$$ and Atmosphere, Loyle is set to make some serious moves on the UK circuit and abroad, with strong support coming from all over Europe, the US and Australia. Support in the UK has come from all areas, being championed on Radio 1Xtra by DJ Semtex and Phil Taggart, Huw Stephens and Lauren Laverne at Radio 1. His latest single with Kate Tempest was added to 6Music’s B-list and then bumped up to the A-List immediately after a week and has not stopped being played.
Carner released his third studio album, 'hugo', in October, 2022.
In 'hugo', there’s a central question that Loyle Carner keeps coming back to: “I’m young, Black, successful and have a platform - but where do I go next?” The answer is explored in this epic scream of a third album. With urgent delivery and gloriously widescreen production, Carner confronts both the deeply personal (“You can’t hate the roots of a tree, and not hate the tree. So how can I hate my father without hating me?) and the highly political (“I told the black man he didn’t understand I reached the white man he wouldn’t take my hand”).
Damselfly
Loyle Carner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not 'cause they been lacking, just I've been lacking the feelin'
I've been staring at the ceiling
Listen to the chat that they're revealing
Wondering if I open up or keep concealing
I ain't try to be demeaning
It seems
Thought you knew dis
Moving like a Judas
Talking all that talk
But ain't no time for acting foolish
When you ask, are all the brothers saying "true dis"
I might just jump on this for free
Jumping on them freestyle
I've been well
Moving brain, senile
It's sole sunsets
Beautiful is one guess
One morning afternoon in that sun dress
The summer flies by
Every morning, I'm still yawning
Same conversation, never boring
("Yo, she texted you" "Swear?" "Nah it's Tommo" "Ah for fuck's sake")
I know that these days are feeling cold
My love could take her home
As if we never knew
I was too young for you
Ay, and then you say you ain't about guys
Ay, especially brothers from the south side
But been about mine
Ever since the trap line
You and me been living on this cloud nine
Saying it's about time
Stunting, front light
Nothing will change until it drains
Ain't nothing the same
'Cause you become like the blood in my veins
Saying I'm way too young
To be stuck on the rain
And still it's peak
Weeks 'til I figured out you played keys
Eighteen, you been listening to Jay Dee
Blaming the bait trees
Telling me you hate these
G's but didn't need me telling you they ain't me
Because they ain't me, they ain't me
Don't need to know about the colours that they paint me
I've been too busy getting dizzy off that JD
Dreaming of the places you could take me, so now I'm sayin'
I know that these days are feeling cold
My love could take her home
As if we never knew
I was too young for you
In Loyle Carner's song "DAMSELFLY," he is reflecting on his past relationships and how he has been emotionally disconnected from them. He acknowledges that he has been lacking the feeling of being with women, not because they were lacking, but because he was. As he is lying in bed and listening to "chat" that women reveal, he grapples with the decision to open up to them or keep concealing his emotions. He then contrasts his inner struggle with the false bravado of other men who talk a lot but don't act wisely. He reminds the listener that he won't be acting foolishly, and he may just jump on the freestyle if he feels like it. The song then shifts to him reminiscing about a summer romance that made him feel alive. The nostalgic imagery of the sunsets, summer dress, and lazy mornings contrasts with the cold and mundane present.
The second verse shows a different side to the story. Loyle Carner talks about a girl who he has been in a relationship with, but she is reluctant to accept him fully because of his background. She claims that she is not into guys from the south side, implying that there is a class divide or geographical divide between them. However, both of them are happy with each other and feel like they are on cloud nine. The irony is that while they are together, he feels like they are enough for each other, and her prejudices don't matter. He blames her for playing games with him, and in his frustration, he laments that he is too young to be feeling so much pain. The repetitive chorus reinforces the hopelessness of the situation, and how his love cannot take her home because of the societal barriers that exist.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a minute since I've been with some women
It has been a while since I have been in a relationship with a woman
Not 'cause they been lacking, just I've been lacking the feelin'
It's not because women are lacking, it's because I have not had the emotional desire to pursue a relationship
I've been staring at the ceiling
I have been lost in thought and reflection
Listen to the chat that they're revealing
I am listening to their conversation
Wondering if I open up or keep concealing
I am contemplating whether or not to be honest and open or to keep my emotions hidden
I ain't try to be demeaning
I do not intend to be disrespectful
It seems
This is the way things appear
Thought you knew dis
I thought you were aware
I don't really do dis
I am not someone who behaves in this way
Moving like a Judas
Behaving treacherously, like Judas in the Bible
Talking all that talk
Saying all those things
But ain't no time for acting foolish
There is no time to behave in a silly or unwise manner
When you ask, are all the brothers saying 'true dis'
When you ask if everyone agrees with what you are saying
I might just jump on this for free
I might just join in the conversation without payment
Jumping on them freestyle
Improvising on a spontaneous and unfixed topic
I've been well
I have been doing alright
Moving brain, senile
My brain is active, but it feels like it is getting old and forgetful
It's sole sunsets
The only thing that makes me feel better is the beauty of sunsets
Beautiful is one guess
The beauty is subjective and open to interpretation
One morning afternoon in that sun dress
I remember one particular morning or afternoon when she was wearing a sun dress
The summer flies by
The summer season passes very quickly
Every morning, I'm still yawning
I am still tired every morning
Same conversation, never boring
We keep having the same conversation, but it never gets boring
('Yo, she texted you' 'Swear?' 'Nah it's Tommo' 'Ah for fuck's sake')
(Example of the conversation that keeps repeating)
I know that these days are feeling cold
I am aware that these days are feeling difficult and lonely
My love could take her home
My love could provide comfort and support
As if we never knew
As if we never had a relationship or knew each other
I was too young for you
You were more experienced and mature than me and our relationship could not succeed
Ay, and then you say you ain't about guys
You said you were not interested in men
Ay, especially brothers from the south side
Especially men from the southern part of town
But been about mine
You have been interested in me anyway
Ever since the trap line
Since we first met in a dangerous and illicit environment
You and me been living on this cloud nine
We have been living in a state of extreme happiness and bliss
Saying it's about time
Feeling like it is the appropriate time for us to be together
Stunting, front light
Showing off, displaying ourselves in the best possible way
Nothing will change until it drains
Things will not improve until we let them run their course
Ain't nothing the same
Things have changed completely
'Cause you become like the blood in my veins
You have become a part of me, like the blood in my body
Saying I'm way too young
Saying that I am too immature or inexperienced
To be stuck on the rain
To be dwelling on something negative or unpleasant
And still it's peak
And yet, it is still the worst situation
Weeks 'til I figured out you played keys
It took me weeks to realize that you play the keyboard
Eighteen, you been listening to Jay Dee
You have been listening to music by Jay Dee since you were 18 years old
Blaming the bait trees
Blaming drugs for causing problems
Telling me you hate these
Saying that you hate drug use
G's but didn't need me telling you they ain't me
Saying that you dislike people who use drugs, but you did not need me to tell you that I am not one of those people
Because they ain't me, they ain't me
Because I am not like them, I am not like them
Don't need to know about the colours that they paint me
You do not need to know about the negative things people say about me
I've been too busy getting dizzy off that JD
I have been too preoccupied with consuming JD (Jack Daniels whiskey) to worry about what people say about me
Dreaming of the places you could take me, so now I'm sayin'
I am dreaming of the places you could show me, and now I am saying that I want to experience them with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin Coyle-Larner, Tom Misch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind