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.
Group Four
Massive Attack Lyrics
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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 placed on my breath
And listening
(Keys swing from my hand)
My ears know that my eyes are closed
(Perish thoughts 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 placed on my breath
(Flickering I roam)
And listening
My ears know that my eyes are closed
I see to bolts
Put key to locks
No boats 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 of sober tea
'Til daylight sends me home
Flickering I roam
Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the tune of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight
Seen through me little glazed one
A world in myself
Daydreaming admiring being
Quietly, open the world
I hear the tune of the starry sky
Turning over at midnight
The lyrics of Massive Attack's "Group Four" have a dream-like quality, emphasizing the concept of escape, possibly from the mundane office life. This is shown through the lyrics "To think that I lay next to you, wasting time when I could do a simple job in strip lights". The idea of being monitored through relay cameras is prevalent throughout the song, conveying a feeling of being watched and controlled. The lyrics show the desire to break away and explore the limitless possibilities, indicated by the phrase "Closed eyed, sky wide open, unlimited girl, unlimited sigh."
The phrase "My sixth sense peacefully placed on my breath," suggests meditative practices, possibly referring to a state of transcendence or higher consciousness. The theme of control is also apparent through the practice of martial arts, reinforcing that the singer desires mastery of both the mental and physical states. The lyrics "Keys swing from my hand, perish thoughts like contraband," seem to convey a sense of shedding the unnecessary thoughts and achieving mental clarity.
Overall, the lyrics of "Group Four" seem to embody a sense of longing for liberation and transcendence, away from the constraints of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
A flask I drink of sober tea
I am consuming a cup of tea that contains no alcoholic beverage.
While relay cameras monitor me
I am being watched through security cameras.
And the buzz surrounds it does
A lively atmosphere surrounds me.
Buzz surrounds
The buzz around me continues.
Closed eyed, sky wide open
My eyes are closed as I stare into a vast open sky.
Unlimited girl, unlimited sigh
I can imagine any woman and her corresponding sigh without limitations.
Elsewhere
I am somewhere else, far away from my physical location.
Indefinitely
There is no limit to my presence in this imaginary location.
Far away
I am in a place that is distant from where I physically am.
Magnifies and deepens
My experience becomes more intense and amplified.
Ready to sing
I am prepared to express my thoughts and emotions through music.
My sixth sense peacefully placed on my breath
I am calm and in tune with my intuition.
And listening
I am actively paying attention to my surroundings.
(Keys swing from my hand)
I have a set of keys in my hand that I am holding loosely.
My ears know that my eyes are closed
I am aware that my sense of hearing is heightened since my eyes are closed.
(Perish thoughts like contraband)
I am disregarding any negative or unwanted thoughts.
I train myself in martial arts
I am practicing hand-to-hand combat techniques.
As advertised
I am practicing exactly what I had intended to do.
I reinforce my softened parts
I am strengthening my weaknesses.
See through me little glazed lane
Someone can see through me with ease, as if looking through a small window pane.
A world in myself
I have created my own personal universe within my mind.
(Flickering I roam)
I am wandering aimlessly.
And listening
I am intently hearing what is happening around me.
My ears know that my eyes are closed
I can still perceive through sound, even though I am not visually aware of my surroundings.
I see to bolts
I am ensuring that everything is secure and properly fastened.
Put key to locks
I am locking or unlocking doors with a key.
No boats are rocked
I am taking precautions to avoid making any unnecessary waves or disturbances.
I'm free to roam
I have the liberty to move around without any constraints or obstacles.
Among dummy screens
I am surrounded by screens that have no purpose or function.
And magazines
There are magazines scattered around in this place.
To think that I lay next to you
I am reflecting on the times when I was physically close to someone else.
Wasting time when I could do
I could have been accomplishing something productive with my time instead of being idle.
A simple job in strip lights
I could have taken on a task that did not require a lot of effort, under bright fluorescent lights.
Til daylight sends me home
I will remain in this place until the sun comes up and it is time for me to leave.
Daydreaming admiring being
I am lost in my thoughts, admiring my own existence.
Quietly, open the world
I am reflecting on the world around me, in a peaceful and tranquil manner.
I hear the tune of the starry sky
I can hear the sound of the universe and all its stars.
Turning over at midnight
The world around us is always changing, such as the sky turning over from day to night.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elizabeth Fraser, Robert Del Naja, Grantley Marshall, Andrew Vowles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind