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.
Bones
Michael Kiwanuka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that you do
Don't you finger me too
Lady, where you've been for so long?
I don't need you no more
Had to write you this song
Well I long to be alone with you
I don't know what I would do?
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
This world alone (this world alone)
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
Well I dream of you so much
Love you so much
Thoughts at large
Well I speak only of you
So what else is new?
What am I to do?
Well I long to be alone with you
And if I couldn't have you,
I don't know what I would do?
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
This world alone (this world alone)
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
Days go more and more I see
That your love is all my soul needs
That you're gone and now I'm fallin'
Fallin' to my knees
Well I long to be alone with you
And if I couldn't have you,
I don't know what I would do?
Well I long to be alone with you
And if I couldn't have I don't know
What I would do?
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
This world alone (this world alone)
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
This world alone (this world alone)
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
This world alone (this world alone)
'Cause without you I'm just bones
In Michael Kiwanuka's song "Bones," the singer is talking about a woman he has been thinking about who has been absent for a long time. He's wondering where she has been and if she even thinks of him. The chorus is about how much he loves her and how he feels incomplete without her. He says that if he couldn't be with her, he doesn't know what he would do, but then suggests that he might even leave this world because without her, he feels like he's just bones.
The song is a powerful expression of love and longing. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's emotional state, making it clear just how much this woman means to him. The line "I guess I would leave this world alone 'cause without you I'm just bones" is particularly poignant and shows just how much he needs her in his life. It's a heart-wrenching depiction of the way love can consume us and make us feel incomplete without the person we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, I've been thinkin' 'bout you
I've been constantly thinking about you
All that you do
All your actions and behaviors
Don't you finger me too
Don't blame or accuse me of anything
Lady, where you've been for so long?
I'm wondering why you've been absent for so long
I don't need you no more
I don't need you in my life anymore
Had to write you this song
I had to express my feelings to you through this song
Well I long to be alone with you
I desire to spend time with only you
And if I couldn't have you,
If I couldn't be with you
I don't know what I would do?
I wouldn't know how to go on
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
I would probably leave this world
This world alone (this world alone)
Without the person I long to be with
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
Because without you, I am incomplete and feel like just a skeleton
Well I dream of you so much
I dream about you frequently
Love you so much
I love you deeply
Thoughts at large
My mind is consumed by thoughts of you
Well I speak only of you
I talk about you exclusively
So what else is new?
Is it really surprising that I'm only thinking about you?
What am I to do?
I don't know what else I can do about how I feel
Days go more and more I see
As time goes on, I realize more and more
That your love is all my soul needs
That your love is everything that fulfills me
That you're gone and now I'm fallin'
Now that you're not here, I feel like I'm falling apart
Fallin' to my knees
I'm feeling overwhelmed and defeated
Well I long to be alone with you
I desire to spend time with only you
And if I couldn't have you,
If I couldn't be with you
I don't know what I would do?
I wouldn't know how to go on
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
I would probably leave this world
This world alone (this world alone)
Without the person I long to be with
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
Because without you, I am incomplete and feel like just a skeleton
I guess I would leave (I would leave)
I would probably leave this world
This world alone (this world alone)
Without the person I long to be with
'Cause without you I'm just bones (bones)
Because without you, I am incomplete and feel like just a skeleton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL KIWANUKA, MICHAEL SAMUEL KIWANUKA, PAUL JAMES BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jared Holton
Dude's got "it." All of his songs are like discovering a classic hit that was never released.
rashmi cp
Jared Holton you said it. not a single song is disappointing.
SPG
Yes! I'm cooking out front and this was continuous play after Leon Bridges (another great new discovery) & I left the kitchen, compelled by this music to find out...who is this? Amazing...another great musical find! You got it when everything stops at the command of your musicality and voice! Excellent.
Steve Kutz
Jared Holton saw him at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park New Jersey Saturday night... Blown away... he's definitely touched my heart and soul.. class act and as humble as a man can possibly be..
Chelsie Preston
yes
Gamminology
I agree
Jean Taliana
This song is so good I would have never thought it was released in 2012. Just truly exceptional ❤
Hexx
I agree, I've listened to Michael for about 5 years and all of his music is exceptional.
so-what
He's like a modern day Ottis Reading.
He's music is so warming to the soul it's like dreaming waking up and falling asleep picking up the dream where it left off.
Norma
This has to be my wedding song 💕