Kiwanuka grew up in Muswell Hill, London, the son of Ugandan parents who had escaped the Amin regime. He attended Fortismere School, leaving there in 2005 after completing his A-Levels. He went on to study at the School of Media, Arts and Design at the University of Westminster.
Kiwanuka worked as a session guitarist, playing with Chipmunk and Bashy, before working as a solo artist; his first proper gig was at The Oxford, Kentish Town. He came to the attention of Communion Records, which released his first two EPs, including his debut Tell Me A Tale on 13 June 2011.
Kiwanuka supported Adele on her Adele Live 2011 tour, as well at her iTunes Festival 2011 gig and played at the 2011 Hard Rock Calling.
In 2011, he signed a deal with Polydor Records. He was included in the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll and was named as the winner on 6 January 2012. In June 2012, he was illustrated in a BBC article regarding Spain vis-à-vis Uganda during the Eurozone crisis; his putative counterpart was actress Penélope Cruz.
In July 2016, he performed at the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park on the same day as Carole King and Don Henley.
The 5th prestigious HiPipo Music Awards will honor Michael Kiwanuka with the award of "Best Global Act" in recognition and celebration of his ‘Love & Hate’ album success and musical accomplishments since his 2012 debut album "Home Again".
His song "Cold Little Heart" serves as the opening theme for the HBO miniseries Big Little Lies.
Kiwanuka has acknowledged influences from musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Jack Johnson, Pops Staples, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Eric Bibb, Tommy Sims, Wham!, Richie Havens and Funkadelic, he has played with James Gadson, who drummed for Bill Withers.
Always Waiting
Michael Kiwanuka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See my day timing, see me breaking through
My time is coming soon
So I'm waiting, I'll be waiting
For you, my friend
My load ain't burdened that I count me too
My key, my body, all the things that I do
So I'm waiting, I'll be waiting
For you, my friend
Ooh, will it stay? Ooh will it?
Ooh, will it break for me?
A toll has taken all the song that's in me
The road they're making won't take me where I should be
My song is coming soon
So I'm waiting, I'll be waiting
Always waiting for you, my friend
The lyrics to Michael Kiwanuka's "Always Waiting" convey a sense of yearning and anticipation for an upcoming event, perhaps a time of triumph or success. The powerful opening line, "My soul is yearning and I'm longing too," lays bare the singer's emotions, setting the tone for the rest of the song. He is waiting for a "time [that] is coming soon," and is willing to wait for his friend to share in this moment with him.
The second verse highlights the singer's feelings of self-worth and strength, as he refers to his "load" not being burdened, and the things that he does with his "key" and "body." Despite this sense of self-assuredness, he too is waiting for a moment that will potentially define his journey, once again emphasizing the importance of having someone close by in that moment of triumph.
The final verse focuses on the struggles the singer has faced on his journey, as the "toll has taken all the song that's in me," symbolizing how much he has had to sacrifice to get to this point. The choices he has had to make have led him down a path distinct from the "road they're making," but he believes that his "song is coming soon." Thus, he waits, sometimes feeling unsure if his efforts will pay off, but ultimately confident that he will be rewarded for his perseverance.
Overall, "Always Waiting" is a song about the highs and lows of the pursuit of success and the importance of having supportive people in our lives to share in those moments.
Line by Line Meaning
My soul is yearning and I'm longing too
I feel a deep desire within me and I wish for something strongly
See my day timing, see me breaking through
Observe how I manage to achieve what I want during the day
My time is coming soon
The moment I've been waiting for is about to arrive
So I'm waiting, I'll be waiting
Therefore, I will patiently wait
For you, my friend
In order to share my joy with you
My load ain't burdened that I count me too
The weight I carry is not overwhelming, it's manageable for me
My key, my body, all the things that I do
The tools I possess, including my own physical being, are what I use to succeed
Ooh, will it stay? Ooh will it?
I wonder if what I have will be enough, will it last?
Ooh, will it break for me?
Or will it all fall apart and leave me with nothing?
A toll has taken all the song that's in me
The struggles I've gone through have depleted my creativity and energy
The road they're making won't take me where I should be
The path that is set for me is not the one that I want, nor is it leading me where I need to go
My song is coming soon
However, I know that my inspiration will return soon
Always waiting for you, my friend
Until then, I will wait patiently for my friend to share my success with
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL KIWANUKA, MICHAEL SAMUEL KIWANUKA, PAUL JAMES BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dutchie9266
This poignant video makes me cry while I am watching, it's touching me deep inside. We all comes to a moment as we gets older each passing day, month, years.. All things we remembered about our youth. The lost love we had feels like a melancholy woman as I am.. I was waiting for my lover but he never shows up. I assume it was never meant to be.. I still don't give up and waiting for a miracle.. Thank you for this beautiful song Michael Kiwanuka.. Love from Holland
Beantwoorden
@lukasbezdek1938
Only a person with a very old soul or a person who went through a lot of pain and desperation can create such a beautiful and touching piece of art, and make a powerful and appealing message for all good people in this difficult times...
@Miss_cookie_jar
💗💗🙏
@garycormican9550
Well said
@marcuslloyd2648
How's about somebody that still making list and it's long this guy is very inspirational for those who are down looking up
@adrianak1745
Well done me too I waiting my son my sul for my little crepi col heart :( but never give up
@AubreyKelsoe-ep9cn
Ll .❤ 😂😢😅
H h.
See see
@SammySlammerB
If this made you cry, I’m convinced you have a beautiful soul.
@user-il6ve2vc4i
I almost peed myself. A little bit.
@lauram5568
Don't watch this while laying down, or you might drown in your tears
@lorettadizio9151
This video had me sobbing. When you understand what dementia/ Alzheimer's does to a person and their family who watch someone they love and depended on fade away, this video will tear your heart out. And such beautiful lyrics too.