Mike & Rich is a duo consisting of electronic musicians Mike Paradinas (a.k… Read Full Bio ↴Mike & Rich is a duo consisting of electronic musicians Mike Paradinas (a.k.a. µ-Ziq) and Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin). In 1996, the two of them released the album Expert Knob Twiddlers.

The album is an amalgam of the music stylings of Aphex Twin and µ-ziq, complete with peculiar samples of jazz and of the human anatomy; "Upright Kangaroo" features a prominent sample of a belch as part of the beat. Familiar elements of both artists' works appear throughout; for example, "Winner Takes All" features a beat quite similar to that of "cow cud is a twin" from Aphex Twin's album ...I Care Because You Do, at a much faster tempo. According to Paradinas, the collaboration was partially inspired by James' unreleased Melodies from Mars project.

The album cover features Mike and Rich playing the game Downfall by Milton Bradley Company, designed as a parody of the original game's box art.

The caption on the cover similarly is written in the style of that on the MB game, and reads: "Cleverly manoeuvre your records onto the platters and then listen to the tracks in the right order to win! But watch out-the tracks are different on each side you could be helping your opponent instead of helping yourself!"

An unused track from the Mike & Rich sessions, "Brivert & Muons", was posted on the Planet Mu website around the time of the album's release, but is no longer available.

Winner Takes All
Mike & Rich Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How can I just let you walk away,
Just let you leave without a trace?
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me
When all I can do is watch you leave?
'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain

And even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face
Take a look at me now

Well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds
And that's what I've got to face, oh

I wish I could just make you turn around
Turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you
So many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me
Just the memory of your face

Take a look at me now
Well there's just an empty space
But to wait for you is all I can do
And that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now
'Cause I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against the odds

And it's what I've got to face
Take a look at me now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mike & Rich's song Winner Takes All tell a story of unrequited love and the agony of being left behind. The singer pleads with their lover not to leave, asking how they can just walk away and leave an empty space behind. The singer reminisces about the moments they shared together, both the good times and the bad, and how their lover is the only one who truly understood them. Despite the pain of their departure, the singer still holds onto hope that their lover will return to fill the empty space they left behind. The lyrics convey the raw emotions of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on from a lost love.

The repeated phrase "take a look at me now" serves as both a plea and a challenge to the departed lover. The singer wants them to see the devastation they have left behind and the struggle they are going through but resolves to stand strong and wait for their return, even if it seems unlikely. The song's melody and instrumental composition complement the lyrics' themes, building from quiet verses to a powerful chorus that emphasizes the singer's feelings of loss and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

How can I just let you walk away,
I can't just let you go,

Just let you leave without a trace?
I can't bear the thought of you disappearing completely,

When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh ooh
Being near you is the only way I can breathe,

You're the only one who really knew me at all
You're the only one who truly understood me,

How can you just walk away from me
How can you leave me behind so easily,

When all I can do is watch you leave?
I'm left helpless and alone,

'Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain
We've experienced everything together,

And even shared the tears
Even the difficult times that brought us to tears,

So take a look at me now
Now you see me and the state I'm in,

Well there's just an empty space
You're gone and there's nothing left,

And there's nothing left here to remind me
No memories or reminders of you remain,

Just the memory of your face
All I have left is the image of you in my mind,

And you coming back to me is against the odds
The chances of you returning to me are slim,

And that's what I've got to face, oh
I must come to terms with this harsh reality,

I wish I could just make you turn around
I desperately want you to notice me,

Turn around and see me cry
And see the pain that you caused me,

There's so much I need to say to you
There's so much on my mind that I want to tell you,

So many reasons why
I have countless reasons why we should be together,

But to wait for you is all I can do
All I can do is wait for your return,

And that's what I've got to face
I must accept that waiting is all I can do,

'Cause I'll still be standing here
I will remain where you left me,

And you coming back to me is against the odds
The odds of you returning to me are slim,

And it's what I've got to face
But I must come to terms with this reality,

Take a look at me now
Take a look and see the state I'm in.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Phillip David Charles Collins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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