In 1998, following a falling-out of her professional and personal relationship with Tricky, Topley-Bird began pursuing a solo career; however, it was not until 2003 that she released her debut solo album, Quixotic, on Independiente Records. (Tricky appears on one track, Ragga, as producer and guest vocalist.) Upon its release, Quixotic received rave reviews from critics, and was a finalist for the 2003 Mercury Music Prize. Need One, Anything, I Still Feel and Soul Food were released as singles in the UK. In Brazil, the song Lullaby was used in the campaign for the juice powder Clight. The song Sandpaper Kisses is featured on the soundtrack of the video game Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in the United States).
The album finally saw a release, of sorts, in the United States in July 2004 when the Palme Pictures label released a "re-designed and re-sequenced" version with a new title (Anything), a trimmed-down tracklisting and all-new cover art.
In 2004, Martina appeared on Into the Sun, a track from Diplo's album Florida. A year later, she made a guest appearance (alongside Roots Manuva) on the Gorillaz track All Alone, on the album Demon Days.
Martina released her second studio album, The Blue God, in May 2008, followed by a collaborative project with Massive Attack, the album "Heligoland" which was released in 2010. She also appeared on the Splitting the Atom EP featured on the track Psyche (Flash Treatment) (released October 2009).
In 2010, she released her third album, Some Place Simple, followed by a collaboration with Mark Lanegan and Warpaint in 2013.
Demise
Martina Topley-Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was the same back when
Then and now, I want to change
But don't know how
Do's and don'ts, don'ts I don't like
She's not Tina and I'm not like Ike
But what was Ike like
Is Ike what you write
We'll disarm ya, ask Julian Palmer
Only joking, too much smoking
But It's OK, it's OK
We've been through too much yesterday
Tell you what we'e gonna do
They'll protect me from me, I'll protect from you
By any means by any means
Please won't you try
Stop me talking like a tough guy
Subject matter's love
Subject matter's love
What would I need another enemy
I know I love you I can feel you in my energy
I'm too scared to be a gun totting gangster want to-be
I've got too much love inside of me
Met you on Mandalay
Or next week
If I'm Tina I guess I'm weak
Big take making my head ache
It's not your fault
You don't understand
Take our hand
We give so don't be negative
You don't feel the 'cause you feel yourself
Stuck up in your own head
Leave that till I'm dead
What do I think
I think instinct.
The song Demise by Martina Topley-Bird is a commentary on the artist's own experiences with the music industry and her desire for change. The lyrics describe her past obsession with writing about death and destruction, and her current desire to move away from that mindset but feeling stuck in it. She questions her own artistic identity through reference to Tina Turner and Ike, wondering if her writing is influenced by their tumultuous relationship.
The lyric "They'll protect me from me, I'll protect from you" can be interpreted as Topley-Bird desiring a protector from the destructive tendencies within herself, and also protecting her artistic integrity from external influences. The line "Subject matter's love" is a departure from the darker themes of the rest of the song, signifying a desire to focus on a more positive theme in her music. Topley-Bird employs repetition in the chorus to emphasize her message of wanting change and simultaneously feeling stuck in her thought process.
Overall, Demise is a self-reflective piece that delves into Topley-Bird's own artistic soul-searching, and the desire to leave behind a destructive mindset and move towards love and positivity in her work.
Line by Line Meaning
So you like to demise with your pen
You enjoy writing about people's downfall or defeat
I was the same back when
I used to have the same habit of writing such things about others
Then and now, I want to change
Even now, I feel the need to improve and change myself
But don't know how
However, I am not sure how to do it
Do's and don'ts, don'ts I don't like
I am not fond of following strict guidelines or restrictions
She's not Tina and I'm not like Ike
We are not like the famous musician couple Tina and Ike Turner
But what was Ike like
But I am not entirely sure about Ike's true nature
Is Ike what you write
Are you writing about Ike in your work?
I don't know, I don't know
I am not certain, I do not have the answer
We'll disarm ya, ask Julian Palmer
We will help you calm down, talk to Julian Palmer
Only joking, too much smoking
We are just kidding, maybe we smoked too much
But It's OK, it's OK
But no worries, everything is fine
We've been through too much yesterday
We have experienced difficult times in the past
Tell you what we'e gonna do
This is what we will do
They'll protect me from me, I'll protect from you
They will keep me safe from my own negative thoughts and I will do the same for you
By any means by any means
By any method possible
Please won't you try
Can you please attempt to help me?
Stop me talking like a tough guy
Prevent me from speaking aggressively
Subject matter's love
The topic of discussion is love
What would I need another enemy
I do not need any more adversaries
I know I love you I can feel you in my energy
I know I care about you, I sense it in myself
I'm too scared to be a gun totting gangster want to-be
I am too afraid to act like a violent gang member
I've got too much love inside of me
I possess too much affection inside of me
Met you on Mandalay
I met you in Mandalay, a place in Burma (Myanmar)
Or next week
Perhaps we will meet next week
If I'm Tina I guess I'm weak
I suppose I must be powerless if I relate to Tina Turner
Big take making my head ache
The substantial issues are causing me distress
It's not your fault
It is not entirely your responsibility
You don't understand
You do not comprehend
Take our hand
Take our help
We give so don't be negative
We offer assistance, so please do not be pessimistic
You don't feel the 'cause you feel yourself
You are unable to understand the significance because you are too engrossed in your own needs
Stuck up in your own head
Trapped inside your own thoughts
Leave that till I'm dead
Do not focus on that until after I perish
What do I think
What are my own opinions
I think instinct.
I believe in following my gut feeling or intuition
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@john4073
Please please continue producing material together Tricky and Martina. This is beautiful. Intoxicating and dark, you are simply magic together.
This is a brilliant mesmerising song. Fantastic video too.
@sarzbeth
I love Martina...she sounds like a dream
@bigornek
Back to basics, brilliant, the two voices still match together perfectly well
@auswitch
She offers si much
@akdev430
Sheโs amazing on her own, and I love her. Iโve been a fan since I was a young teenager in the 90s, when TripHop was born. I hate to actually admit this, but he was lost without his muse. There are a few good songs on the album that sheโs not apart of, but the album generally suffered for it. Just my opinion for what itโs worth. No matter, I still love both Tricky & Martina.
@stephenking6585
P
@aurelioflocco3253
When a female voice sings with Tricky she is Tricky and viceversa. See for example "Hell is ' round the corner" video
@backontop23
Musical genius!I discovered Tricky's music through Massive attack seeing theirs "unfinished sympathy"on Mtv in 1995...I follow his every release since then and cant get enough of this unique dark style.Tricky a true master in his profession.
@fgrennie
I agree word for word!
@Eastsidechris
Me as well