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.
Incantations
Massive Attack Lyrics
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Your love
Incantation
Struckstart
Right here fall
The sequence ends
Downtime
Every when
We can't see
The sequence ends
And begins
Everything
You think you know
Everything
You think you know
You think you know
Blood ties
Blood ties
The sequence ends
The lyrics of Incantations by Massive Attack bring to mind a plethora of introspective thoughts by creating an ambiguous atmosphere throughout the song. The words in the opening verse, "My love, your love, incantation" signify the potency of their love and the depth that it holds. The line "Struckstart, right here,fall" elucidates the complexities of human relationships, which can have unpredictable and sudden changes that can often cause sudden falls in the heart of the lover. "Downtime, God speed, every when, we can't see, the sequence ends and begins," portrays the abstraction of time and how it relates to our emotional capacity.
The lyric "Everything you think you know" repeats multiple times, and it leaves the audience to ponder if they truly know themselves, their loved ones, or the world itself. The words "Blood Ties" at the end of the song could infer the bond that is created through familial love or the strong connection that two people feel when they are together. Nonetheless, the curious prospect of what happens when the "sequence ends" remains the main theme of the song, on which the rest of the thoughts and ideas are anchored.
Line by Line Meaning
My love
The feeling of affection I have towards you
Your love
The feeling of affection you have towards me
Incantation
Magical words or phrases that carry power and meaning
Struckstart
The beginning of something sudden and impactful
Right here fall
The moment where everything falls apart or changes
The sequence ends
The pattern or order has come to a conclusion
Downtime
A period of rest or relaxation
God speed
Wishing someone good luck and an easy journey
Every when
An indefinite amount of time that occurs repeatedly
We can't see
We are unaware or blinded to what's happening
And begins
Indicating a new cycle or starting point
Everything
All aspects or facts of a situation
You think you know
A reminder of our limited understanding
Blood ties
The connection between family members
The sequence ends
The pattern or order has come to a conclusion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRANTLEY MARSHALL, GRANTLEY EVAN MARSHALL, NEIL DAVIDGE, ROBERT DEL NAJA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind