Head Space, her debut EP, is a collection of songs written in the summer of 2011, as she developed her skills on the guitar and as a songwriter. The songs, inspired by the feelings for a special person, touch on love and relationships through unfamiliar eyes, and through their simple approach represent the starting point of a creative journey for a girl from Leicester. Head Space is a testament to Mahalia’s beautiful, distinctive voice and unpretentious lyricism; a series of songs that are authentic and emotional.
Surprise Me
Mahalia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's funny 'cause you think I'm meant to be
Used to this
If only you knew what you are to me
You'd understand why this is hard
I'm new to this
You say you don't like feeling solo
We used to just be different postcodes
You say "don't wanna live this life through photos"
You say "we're a no-go"
That's a low blow
You know I hate when you're not around
(That's a low blow)
Promised when I left you'd hold me down
I thought that you would surprise me
Get on a plane and come find me
But instead you suppressed me
I guess it isn't surprising
I thought that you would surprise me (surprise)
Get on a plane and come find me (come find)
But instead you suppressed me (suppressed)
I guess it isn't surprising
I fell asleep and you're just waking up
I've had enough of always waiting up
For you
That doesn't mean that I am done with us
I can't believe you say you're done with us, ooh
You say you're ready to go solo
I know we're more than different postcodes
But it's just time zones
You say "don't wanna live this life through phone calls"
You don't say what you want though
So how should I know?
You know I hate when you're not around
I thought that you would surprise me
Get on a plane and come find me
But instead you suppressed me
I guess it isn't surprising
I thought that you would surprise me (surprise)
Get on a plane and come find me (come find)
But instead you suppressed me (suppressed)
I guess it isn't surprising
So you wanna come to my show now
Maybe I won't even show up for you
Say you loved me but you don't now
I'm not scared to say that I do
And you should put your phone down
'Cause, baby, I'm not gonna pick up for yo
And that might surprise you (that might surprise you)
I thought that you would surprise me
Get on a plane and come find me
But instead you suppressed me
I guess it isn't surprising
I thought that you would surprise me (thought you would, I thought you would)
Get on a plane and come find me (thought you would, I thought you would)
But instead you suppressed me (suppress)
I guess it isn't surprising
The song "Surprise Me" by Mahalia is about a long-distance relationship that is on the rocks. The opening lines describe the frustration of being out of sync with a partner who keeps different hours, someone who is "used to" being alone but doesn't realize how much they mean to the singer. The distance between them is both physical ("different postcodes") and temporal ("time zones"), as they struggle to maintain a connection that is increasingly strained. The chorus is a bittersweet expression of disappointment – the singer had hoped for a romantic gesture, a dramatic gesture that would bring them back together, but instead, all they got was silence.
Despite this, the singer is willing to keep hope alive. In the second verse, they describe their own longing for this relationship to work, even if their partner seems to have given up. They point out that they are still committed, even if it means waiting up at odd hours or feeling neglected. There's a sense of tension here, a push-pull between wanting to hold on and fearing they will lose the other person entirely.
The bridge brings a different perspective, as the singer imagines their partner coming to one of their performances. They acknowledge the temptation to play games, to avoid showing up when their partner might (or might not) be in the audience. But they also affirm their own love and commitment, and their desire to communicate honestly. The final chorus is a repeat of the earlier refrain, now tinged with irony and sadness.
Overall, "Surprise Me" is a poignant exploration of distance and longing, of the ways we try (and sometimes fail) to hold onto the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waking up and you just fell asleep
I'm up early and you've just gone to bed
It's funny 'cause you think I'm meant to be used to this
You find it amusing that I should have adjusted to this routine by now
If only you knew what you are to me, you'd understand why this is hard
You'd comprehend my love for you if you only knew how difficult it is being in a long-distance relationship
You say you don't like feeling solo, we used to just be different postcodes, now it's time zones
You dislike being alone but we are used to living far apart, now we have to deal with different time zones
You say 'don't wanna live this life through photos', you say 'we're a no-go', that's a low blow'
You don't want to live far apart and suggest that our relationship may not work, that hurts me
Promised when I left you'd hold me down, I know I hate when you're not around
You promised to support me while we are apart, and I despise not having you near me
I thought that you would surprise me, get on a plane and come find me, but instead you suppressed me, I guess it isn't surprising
I had hoped you would surprise me by visiting me, but instead, you disappoint me by not doing so. I expected this reaction from you
I fell asleep and you're just waking up, I've had enough of always waiting up for you
As I'm sleeping, you're waking up. I'm fed up with waiting for you all the time
That doesn't mean that I am done with us, I can't believe you say you're done with us, ooh
Just because I'm tired of waiting does not mean our relationship is over. I can't believe you're willing to end our relationship so easily
You say you're ready to go solo, I know we're more than different postcodes, but it's just time zones
You feel ready to be alone, but we have a strong relationship that's more than just being far away from each other; it's just the time difference we have to handle
You say 'don't wanna live this life through phone calls', you don't say what you want though, so how should I know?
You don't want our relationship to consist of only phone calls but don't suggest what else to do, making it hard for me to know what you want
So you wanna come to my show now? Maybe I won't even show up for you, Say you loved me but you don't now, I'm not scared to say that I do
Now you want to come to my show? I might not even bother to perform for you. You say you don't love me anymore, but I'm not afraid to confess that I still love you
You should put your phone down 'Cause, baby, I'm not gonna pick up for you. And that might surprise you
You ought to stop calling me because I won't answer. That might come as a shock to you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alastair Joseph O'Donnell, Felix Joseph, Mahalia Rose Burkmar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaxton Jr
I want Mahalia to blow up but at the same time I want her to be our little secret.
Déborah Kapeo
John Smith I feel you on this!
Ashy Lee
Me too
SIYA
lol i tell myself the same thing i hope im thr only one who listens to her music here in south africa but then id love for them to play her songs like they do ellla mai
EssenceJenee
John Smith RIGHTTT
Marcos Vinicius Carvalho
Yeahh just like billie eilish in the beginig😢
Talisson Jiu Jitsu ريال
She's very talented
Deserve more attention and recognition worldwide!
Busi Laveni
We already recognising her in South Africa 🇿🇦🙌💕
Evi Looloo
I love her so much ❤️Greetings from Greece
Talisson Jiu Jitsu ريال
Evi Looloo She's is amazing really, kisses from Brazil !😘