Mikky Ekko (born John Stephen Sudduth) is an American singer-songwriter and… Read Full Bio ↴Mikky Ekko (born John Stephen Sudduth) is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Louisiana, signed to RCA Records. He is best known for featuring on Rihanna's 2013 single "Stay", which has charted in multiple countries worldwide, becoming Ekko's first-charting material.

Born John Stephen Sudduth in Louisiana, Mikky Ekko had a nomadic childhood, moving around America's deep south with his preacher father. Having settled briefly in Tupelo, Mississippi and absorbed as much gospel as he could, he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, and started playing in bands. Mikky Ekko began working as a songwriter for other artists, but realized that he wanted to be a singer himself. He released his first EP, "Strange Fruit" (produced by Tim Lauer) on February 15, 2009 containing the first songs he’d written by himself, most of them a capella. Ekko says of his location, Nashville, United States that he is "fortunate to be in a city that’s so loving and hospitable." From September 2009, he toured with the Nashville-based collective group, Ten Out of Tenn.

Riot
Mikky Ekko Lyrics

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Mouthy girlfriends, talk on cellphones
Leave the TV on
I walk slowly, make them have it
Concrete in my bones

I'm lying useless
Just occlusive, nobody at home
'Cause the clock keeps ticking

The clock keeps ticking
And I can't figure out
Why we're not freaking out

We are a RIOT if we want it
We can freak out every day
We are a RIOT if we want it
Every month it's happening
Come on, come out
Into the night
And live the love, the love to fight
We are a RIOT if we want it
We want it

Never ending politicking
Asphyxiation
Dawn of flier, build it higher
Burn the castle down Cause the clock keeps ticking
The clock keeps ticking
And I can't figure out
Why we're not freaking out

We are a RIOT if we want it
We can freak out every day
We are a RIOT if we want it
Every month it's happening
Come on, come out
Into the night
And live the love, the love to fight
We are a RIOT if we want it
We want it

You are a RIOT if you want it
You are fire if you want it
You are a RIOT if you want it
You are fire if you want it
You want it!

We are a RIOT if we want it
We can freak out every day
We are a RIOT if we want it
Every month it's happening
Come on, come out
Into the night
And live the love, the love to fight

We are a RIOT if we want it
We want it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mikky Ekko's song "Riot" revolve around the theme of rebellion and the desire to break free from the mundane. The singer of the song is feeling stuck and useless, surrounded by people who only care about superficial things like talking on cellphones and leaving the TV on. The singer wants to "make them have it" by showing them there's more to life than that. The phrase "concrete in my bones" suggests a feeling of immobility or being weighed down by the monotony of everyday life.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We are a RIOT if we want it" several times, emphasizing the idea that anyone has the power to create change and disrupt the status quo if they choose to do so. The lyrics encourage listeners to come out of their comfort zones and embrace the unknown. The lines "live the love, the love to fight" suggest that fighting for what you believe in is an act of love, rather than aggression or violence.

The second verse mentions "never-ending politicking" and "asphyxiation," suggesting that the singer feels suffocated by societal pressures and the expectations of others. The phrase "burn the castle down" suggests a desire to overthrow the established order and start fresh. Throughout the song, the clock is mentioned repeatedly as a symbol of the passage of time and the urgency to take action before it's too late.

Overall, "Riot" is a call to action for anyone feeling stuck or dissatisfied with their lives. It encourages listeners to embrace their inner rebel and fight for what they believe in, even if it means going against the norm.

Line by Line Meaning

Mouthy girlfriends, talk on cellphones
Women who talk too much on their phones

Leave the TV on
The TV is left on

I walk slowly, make them have it
Intentional slow movement, to make them react to it

Concrete in my bones
Feeling heavy and immovable

I'm lying useless
Feeling unproductive and not useful

Just occlusive, nobody at home
Feeling isolated and alone

'Cause the clock keeps ticking
Time is passing by

And I can't figure out
I don't understand

Why we're not freaking out
Why aren't we reacting more intensely

We are a RIOT if we want it
We have the power to create chaos and disruption

We can freak out every day
We can act recklessly and without regard for consequences