The debut Massive Attack album Blue Lines was released in 1991, with the single "Unfinished Sympathy" reaching the charts and later being voted the 63rd greatest song of all time in a poll by NME. 1998's Mezzanine (containing the top 10 single "Teardrop") and 2003's 100th Window charted in the UK at number one. Both Blue Lines and Mezzanine feature in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The group has won numerous music awards throughout their career, including a Brit Award—winning Best British Dance Act, two MTV Europe Music Awards and two Q Awards. They have released five studio albums that have sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Throughout their history, Massive Attack have been supporters and activists for political, human rights and environmental causes.
14-Group Four
Massive Attack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While relay cameras monitor me
And the buzz surrounds it does
Buzz surrounds
Buzz surrounds
Closed eyed sky wide open
Unlimited girl unlimited sigh
Indefinitely
Far away
Magnifies and deepens
Ready to sing
My sixth sense peacefully place on my breath
And listening
Keys swing from my hand
My ears know that my eyes are closed
Perish thoughs like contraband
I train myself in martial arts
As advertised
I reinforce my softened parts
As advertised
See through me little glazed lane
A world in myself
Ready to sing
My sixth sense peacefully place on my breath
Flickering I roam
And listening
My ears know that my eyes are closed
Ready to sing
My sixth sense peacefully place on my breath
Flickering I roam
And listening
My ears know that my eyes are closed
I see to bolts
For key to locks
No boat are rocked
I'm free to roam
Among dummy screens
And magazines
Closed eyed sky wide open
Unlimited girl unlimited sigh
To think that I lay next to you
Wasting time when I could do
A simple job in strip lights
A flask I drink a sober tea
'Till daylight sends me home
Flickering I roam
Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the time of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight
Seen through me little glazed lane
A world in myself
Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the time of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight
The lyrics of Massive Attack's song 14-Group Four can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the listener's perspective. The verses describe the singer's state of mind and the world around them. The first verse has a surreal tone, where the singer is drinking a flask of sober tea and being monitored by relay cameras. The buzz around them is overwhelming and surrounds them. The second verse portrays the singer's inner world, where they have closed their eyes and opened their mind to unlimited possibilities. They mention their sixth sense, implying that they are attuned to their surroundings and in touch with their intuition. The chorus repeats the phrase "ready to sing," which could mean that the singer is prepared to express themselves through music or a metaphor for being ready to face whatever challenges may come their way. The final verse reflects on the singer's life before they entered this dream-like state, where they had wasted time next to someone while they could have been working. The song ends with the singer daydreaming and admiring the world around them, being open to possibilities and attuned to the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
A flask I drink of sober tea
I'm drinking a non-alcoholic beverage
While relay cameras monitor me
Surveillance cameras are watching me
And the buzz surrounds it does
Buzzing noises can be heard all around
Closed eyed sky wide open
My eyes are closed but my mind is open
Unlimited girl unlimited sigh
A girl expressing unlimited emotions
Elsewhere Indefinitely Far away
Thinking about a distant place
Magnifies and deepens Ready to sing
My feelings intensify and I'm ready to express them through song
My sixth sense peacefully place on my breath And listening
My intuition is calmly guiding me and I'm listening to my surroundings
Keys swing from my hand
My keys are dangling from my hand
My ears know that my eyes are closed
I can still hear even though my eyes are shut
Perish thoughts like contraband
I let go of negative thoughts like they are illegal items
I train myself in martial arts As advertised
I practice self-defense techniques and promote it publicly
I reinforce my softened parts As advertised
I strengthen my weaknesses and promote it publicly
See through me little glazed lane A world in myself
I'm reflecting on my inner world
Flickering I roam And listening
I'm wandering and paying attention
I see to bolts For key to locks No boat are rocked
I'm prepared with the necessary tools, and no obstacles disrupt me
I'm free to roam Among dummy screens And magazines
I have the freedom to explore a space with fake screens and magazines
To think that I lay next to you Wasting time when I could do A simple job in strip lights
I regret not doing something productive instead of wasting time with someone
Daydreaming admiring being Quietly, open the world I hear the time of the starry sky Turning over at midnight
I'm daydreaming and appreciating existence, listening to the night sky's passing time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, ROBERT DEL NAJA, GRANTLEY MARSHALL, ANDREW VOWLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex
This is insane. If I ever saw this song played live I would probably go mad.
Trust1878
I saw them play this also at a Dutch festival funnily enough 2 or 3 years later. Out of desperation, my mates and I had started going up to random Dutch people who looked like they could supply some pills. I had the good fortune to randomly choose this young Dutch guy who told me " It is your lucky day" and he had a load in the boot of his car. I was absolutely off my tits on the best MDMA I had had to that point, I remember I think they played Group 4 as a closer. I had heard the album version and never really paid much attention to it but this live version blew my mind, it was tight and awesome , it was an amazing set that I wont ever forget, the crowd were well up for it as well.
Emir Nart
@j p i did before covid 2019 paris
j p
i did. and i did.
serpentphoenix
imagine yourself in a cyberpunk like city. This song becomes magical.
Ben Uitgekeken
I imagine myself dancing and/or having sex 2 it in what was a party&play club at 96 #WarmoesStrasse A'dam NL :D
Janko Blackwalker
I think that game is not enough cool 4 this song
John Doe
I'm gonna play a lot of The Prodigy and Massive Attack in the background one I get my hands in Cyberpunk 2077
FX GT
I've always pictured blade runner/coruscant/cyberpunk cities for this song. Awesome to see someone else aswell
Ivan Aliev
Absolute masterpiece. Takes my soul and gives it a journey everytime.