Macy Gray was originally hesitant to record a studio album due to what is, arguably, her most recognizable feature -- her voice. She started her music career as a songwriter. Her first album was actually a mistake; she was at the studio waiting for the person who was supposed to be singing her song, and the producer wanted to hear what one of the songs was supposed to sound like. Once she started singing, the producer liked the rough sound of her voice so much he offered her a record deal.
Stalker
Macy Gray Lyrics
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You are the only thing that I talk about when I'm talking
Say my affection (My affection) is too much, you say it's smothering
And that may be so but who's gonna love you like I do if I go?
Just like the ocean needs the water and the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
I am your submissive ho,
And that's alright with me as long as I'm the one you kiss
I drink you (Drink you), eat you (Eat you),
I dream and my love is on fire
Look away, look away
Who else you gonna find with dreams like mine?
Just like the ocean needs the water and the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me (Baby, you need me
Now baby, if you kick me out now,
If you kick me out now,
Who's gonna wear your tattoo?
Who's going crazy for you?
Call you ninety times a day?
Who's gonna freak you, freak you like the way ?
And who gonna drive you home tonight?
Yes you do
You need me, yes you do
Yes you do
Yes you do
Just like the ocean needs the water
And the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
Just like the ocean needs the water
And the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
You need me
Yes you do
You need me
In Macy Gray's song 'Stalker', the lyrics explore the desperation of a lover who feels that they are being misunderstood by the object of their affection. The song is an ode to unrequited love, but it is clear that the singer is aware that their behavior is being perceived as stalking. The opening lines, "People say that I'm your stalker, the way I follow you 'round, You are the only thing that I talk about when I'm talking" emphasizes that the singer is aware of how they are being perceived by others. The chorus, "Just like the ocean needs the water and the sea needs a breeze, Baby, you need me" is a clear indication of the singer's belief that their love is essential for the object of their affection's survival. However, in the last verse, the singer presents an ultimatum to the object of their affection by mentioning some of the things they do for them, "Call you ninety times a day? Who's gonna freak you, freak you like the way? And who gonna drive you home tonight?"
The lyrics explore themes of desperation, obsession, and unrequited love. Macy Gray's use of repetition contributes to the song's haunting quality, and the melody complements the mood of the song. The singer's behavior might be perceived as alarming or unsettling, but the song invites empathy for a person whose love is unreturned. The song reframes stalking behavior as an expression of love that is misguided and unhealthy but has its roots in genuine feelings of affection.
Line by Line Meaning
People say that I'm your stalker, the way I follow you 'round
I am always with you, never leaving your side and people are starting to call me your stalker.
You are the only thing that I talk about when I'm talking
I only talk about you, there's no one else on my mind.
Say my affection (My affection) is too much, you say it's smothering
You say that my love for you is too much and that it's suffocating.
And that may be so but who's gonna love you like I do if I go?
Even though my love for you is suffocating, who can love you the way I do if I leave?
Just like the ocean needs the water and the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
Just as the ocean and sea need certain things to survive, you need me to survive.
I am your submissive ho,
I am your desperate bitch
And that's alright with me as long as I'm the one you kiss
I am completely submissive to you and will do anything for you, as long as I am the one you want to be with.
I drink you (Drink you), eat you (Eat you),
I dream and my love is on fire
Look away, look away
Who else you gonna find with dreams like mine?
I am consumed by my love for you and it burns intensely. I can't help but think about you all the time and no one else will ever dream of loving you like I do.
Now baby, if you kick me out now,
If you kick me out now,
Who's gonna wear your tattoo?
Who's going crazy for you?
Call you ninety times a day?
Who's gonna freak you, freak you like the way?
And who gonna drive you home tonight?
If you were to leave me, who else would love you and be devoted to you like I am? Who else would do all the things I do for you, and who else would drive you home?
Yes you do
You need me, yes you do
Yes you do
Yes you do
You may not realize it, but you need me.
Just like the ocean needs the water
And the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
Just like the ocean needs the water
And the sea needs a breeze
Baby, you need me
I am necessary to you, like water and a breeze are to the ocean and sea. You cannot survive without me.
You need me
I am the only one you need.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: JARED LEE GOSSELIN, NATALIE MCINTYRE, PHILIP WHITE, TONY HARDY, MACY GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs