Nitin attended Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School and studied law at Liverpool University for a short time. He then went to London, where he met Sanjeev Bhaskar. The pair became friends and created a comedy double act, The Secret Asians, together. The show sought to turn absurdly dated Asian stereotypes on their heads. It led to a contract with BBC radio and eventually grew into the award-winning BBC TV sketch show Goodness Gracious Me.
During that time he met up with an old school friend, acid jazz keyboards-player James Taylor. He joined Taylor for a 40-date tour in as part of The James Taylor Quartet. It introduced him to the jazz club scene and provoked him into forming his own band, The Jazztones. He moved on to join forces with tabla master Talvin Singh to form the Tihai Trio and, after that collaboration ended in 1993, released his debut album, Spirit Dance on his own label. Shortly afterwards, he signed with Outcaste Records.
Sawhney's music is intensely political, commonly approaching themes of multiculturalism, empowerment, identity, immigration, poverty, and spirituality. He is active as an artist in residence for five different performing arts organisations in Europe and Asia, and along with George Martin is a patron for the British Governments Access-to-Music Program which brings music education to the inner-city students.
Sawhney's skills include classical and jazz piano and flamenco guitar. He has released six studio albums, as well as countless remixes and collaborations. After releasing Beyond Skin on London's Outcaste Records in 1999, he was signed by V2 to do six albums. His first album with the Virgin subsidiary, the millennial/apocalyptical Prophesy, in 2001 won a MOBO Award and a BBC Radio 3 Music Award.
Sawhney's music is influenced by his roots in India, utilising and featuring Urdu and Hindi lyrics, Qawwali singing, tablas and other instruments from the subcontinent, and Raga phrasings in music which is often primarily meant for the dance floor.
Sawhney's work in production and arrangement has led to his working in film and television scores. He has scored television ads for Sephora and Nike, as well as more than 25 films from his London-based Spirit Dance Studios. He was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for Film and TV Composition in 2004 for his music on Channel Four's film, Second Generation. From there, he has begun to see acceptance from the "classical" community, and in 2004 he was commissioned by the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Britten Symphonia to compose new performance works. London's Royal National Theatre invited him to write, direct, and score a work to be opened in 2005.
For photographs and additional information visit Nitin's official site, www.NitinSawhney.com
Walk Away
Nitin Sawhney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade
I flew all night, couldn't get in
Rained all night, all soaked to the skin
Walked away...
Heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade
Watch my breath turn into steam
So has eyes grown dim
Heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade
Let her in...
Let her, it was warm inside...
Walked away...
Heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade...
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
More ways than one
("I have a dream" Dr. Martin Luther King)
More ways than one
("We're going to have a racial explosion", Malcolm X)
More ways than one
More ways than one
The song "Walk Away" by Nitin Sawhney is a contemplative and melancholic piece that touches upon the themes of leaving, loss, and transitioning. The opening line "Walked away, heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade" suggests a sense of burden and weight during the act of departure. The singer flew all night and tried to get in but was unsuccessful, highlighting the challenges and obstacles faced during the process of leaving. The mention of rain and being soaked to the skin creates a bleak and moody atmosphere, evoking images of a desolate and lonely landscape.
As the song progresses, the singer's eyes grow dim, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for losing sight or clarity. The line "let her in, it was warm inside" may signify a desire to hold onto something familiar and comforting before leaving for good. The phrase "more ways than one" is repeated multiple times, which adds a layer of ambiguity and multiple meanings to the song. The inclusion of quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X towards the end of the song may suggest a deeper reflection on societal issues and the injustices faced by marginalized communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Walked away...
Left the situation, carrying a heavy burden akin to footsteps leaving an imprint on the ground
Heavier than footsteps drawn across the glade
The burden being carried was substantial and weighty
I flew all night, couldn't get in
Attempted to gain access to something but was unsuccessful, even after a long period of effort
Rained all night, all soaked to the skin
Spent a long period of time enduring difficult circumstances, becoming completely drenched with no reprieve
Watch my breath turn into steam
Observed the physical manifestation of one's breath in cold air, which serves as a reminder of one's existence
So has eyes grown dim
Knocked down or defeated, losing the spark or brightness in one's eyes
Let her in...
Allowed someone to enter or become a part of one's life
Let her, it was warm inside...
The presence of the other person brought warmth and comfort in difficult circumstances
More ways than one
This phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the song and serves as a reminder that there are multiple interpretations or meanings to each situation
('I have a dream' Dr. Martin Luther King)
This quote from Martin Luther King Jr. serves as a message of hope and inspiration for a better future
('We're going to have a racial explosion', Malcolm X)
This quote from Malcolm X serves as a warning of the dangers of racial tensions and inequality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NINA ISABELA ROCHA MIRANDA, NITIN SAWHNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chaliceb5
Beautiful melody...a truly spiritual album.