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.
Intro
Martina Topley-Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm hustlin' and take 'em by the heart
Won't suffer
Not even for one night
You know there's no reason for alarm
Never to late, the sun don't love the day
And I'm not here just to play
You try to make the whole world do it
You hustlin' and take 'em by the arm
Don't suffer for the light
You know there's no reason for alarm
Never to late
I'm not here for to play
No, no, no
The lyrics of Martina Topley-Bird's song "Intro" may appear obscure at first, but they convey a message of perseverance and dedication. Starting with the line "I'm gonna make the whole world do it," Topley-Bird sets a determined tone, assuring listeners that she will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She acknowledges that she must hustle and take people by the heart, implying that she may use unconventional methods to sway them. She refuses to suffer, asserting that even for one night, she will stay true to her objectives. She states that there is no reason for alarm, indicating that there is nothing to fear. The phrase "Never too late" is repeated in the song, emphasizing that regardless of how long it takes, she will not stop working towards her aspirations. She concludes by affirming that she did not come here just to play.
The second verse of the song echoes the same sentiments expressed in the first, with different phrasing. The line "You try to make the whole world do it" could be interpreted as a direct response to those who doubt or question her methods. She once again vows to hustle and take people by the arm, but this time, she emphasizes not to suffer for the light. The word "light" could possibly be a metaphor for anything that people chase or aspire for in life. She reiterates that there is no reason for alarm, implying that things may get tough but people should not give up. She concludes by repeating the phrase "I'm not here for to play," which indicates how seriously she takes her goals and ambitions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna make the whole world do it
I have the ambition to create a movement that the entire world will participate in
I'm hustlin' and take 'em by the heart
I am working hard to inspire and emotionally connect with people
Won't suffer
I won't endure unnecessary pain or hardship along my journey
Not even for one night
I am committed to my goal and won't waiver, not even for a single evening
You know there's no reason for alarm
Don't worry, there is nothing to be concerned about as I strive towards my goal
Never too late, the sun don't love the day
It's never too late to start pursuing my dream, and just as the sun doesn't discriminate which day it shines on, I won't discriminate who can join my movement
And I'm not here just to play
I am serious about my goal and not just doing this for fun or entertainment purposes
You try to make the whole world do it
Others have attempted to do what I'm doing
You hustlin' and take 'em by the arm
Others have tried to inspire people through physical contact
Don't suffer for the light
Don't endure unnecessary pain or hardship just to achieve a fleeting moment of success
You know there's no reason for alarm
Don't worry, the success of others does not detract from my own pursuit of a similar goal
Never too late
It's never too late to start pursuing a dream, no matter how big or small
I'm not here for to play
I am serious about achieving my goal and not just doing this for fun or entertainment purposes
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Martina Topley Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind