Following a falling-out of their professional and personal relationship in 1998, she began pursuing a solo career. It was not until 2003 that she released her debut album, Quixotic (Independiente Records), mainly produced by Martina and production team AMP9 (Alex McGowan, Steve Crittall, Nick Bird) at Space Eko Recording Studios London. Upon its release, it received rave reviews from critics and was a finalist for the 2003 Mercury Music Prize. The song "Sandpaper Kisses" from the album was featured in the video game, Fahrenheit (released in North America as Indigo Prophecy).
The album finally saw a release, of sorts, in the United States in July 2004 when the Palm Pictures label released a re-designed and re-sequenced version with a new title (Anything), a trimmed-down tracklisting and all-new cover art.
The following year she appeared on the Starbucks compilation album, Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs, which features contemporary musicians covering classic love songs. She sang "I Only Have Eyes for You", a song originally by The Flamingos.
Her second solo album, The Blue God, was released in May 2008. The track "Carnies" was released as the first single on 3 March 2008[3]and reached No.20 on the UK Indie Charts. "Poison" was released as the second single and reached No.9 on the Indie Charts.
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 © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind