Effortlessly combining folk, reggae, soul and blues, the singer/songwriter/guitarist , Patrice, exploded onto the music scene with his phenomenal testimonial debut Lions E.P in 1999 aged just 18. With the deep lyrical content and social conscience resonating within his work, Patrice alludes to his late father (a Sierra Leonian political activist and poet) and Bob Marley as the greatest influences on his music. Lions, with its tales of love and social rhetoric coupled with raw acoustic production, perfectly showcased Patrices distinctive fusion of lyrics, sounds and genres. After supporting Lauryn Hill on her much acclaimed Miseducation of Tour, Patrice released his critically acclaimed first album Ancient Spirits in 2000 (European sales in excess of 150,000)
Since 2001, Patrice has toured relentlessly and wooed audiences at gigs across Europe, USA and Africa. Whether solo, acoustic or with his band Shashamani, a big combination of humour, B-boy stage antics, and incredible musicianship have thus far made Patrices live shows a highlight of his career. Five years on, his reputation has been cemented with show stopping headline performances alongside Youssouf N'Dour in Senegal, Manu Chao and Damon Albarn at The Festival In The Desert and the Tamika Reggae Awards in New York amongst many others.
His second largely self produced album How Do You Call It (released in Europe September 2002) saw Patrice evolving his sound with a rich melange of Hip Hop, Soul and Reggae which underpinned twelve well crafted songs. Recorded over a two-month period in Jamaica and with 3 tracks produced in London with Cameron McVey, Massive Attack, Youssouf N'Dour, Andu Baraganescu and Neneh Cherry, How Do You Call It further cemented his unique niche in todays diverse musical landscape. The LP also spawned the Pan European hit Sunshine.
Nile, Patrice's third and most current album (named after the river Nile, representing Life in the African continent) is truly a bold undertaking and can be described as a work of astounding maturity, sincerity and sensitivity. Whether rocking to the amped guitar, explosive drums and African percussion behind Africanize Dem or soaking up the beautiful rendition of the obscure Wailers track It Hurts To Be Alone it's clear that experimentation has lent his work an undeniable urgency and freshness. The present single Soulstorm has provided Patrice with another European hit. The majority of 2005 was spent performing to sell out audiences throughout Europe which included his first headlined show for all the UK fans at The Borderline, in London, and perhaps the pinnacle of his career so far, playing in front of the 6,000 fans who filled out the Zenith in Paris. In the summer of 2006 Patrice released a live DVD which gives the audience an exclusive look at how Nile was recorded, rehearsed and performed throughout the world.
Yes Or No
Patrice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is love
This is love sweet love [Repeat: x 2]
Eh eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh [Repeat: x 2]
I say love is blue
But we never lead you astray
Yes love is true
Well I say love is blind
So devine
But it was me
Who was
The blind man
When your love did shine
Eh eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh [Repeat: x 2]
This can't be done
Don't say it's done
How can you possibly finish
What hasn't yet begun
So ignorant
So ignorant
... The whole world
And lost the most precious thing
Eh eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh [Repeat; x 2]
Oh this is true
This is love
This is love sweet love [Repeat: x 2]
Eh eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh [Repeat: x 2]
Well I say grind you grind you
And nobody will grind you
Say wind you wind you
And nobody will wind you
...Hold you hold you
And nobody will hold you
Say love you love you
And nobody will love you
Oh this is true
This is love
This is love sweet love [Repeat: x 2]
Eh eh eh eh
Eh eh eh
Eh eh eh [Repeat: x 2]
Hm hm hm
Hm hm...
The lyrics of Patrice's song "Yes or No" are a contemplation of love and its power. In the first verse, the singer asserts that this love he's experiencing is true and sweet, a sentiment that he repeats throughout the song. He then muses that love is sometimes blue, and that it can also be blind and divine. There is a sense that he is reflecting on past experiences and relationships, and that he was once blind to the power of love. The repetition of "eh eh eh" throughout the song seems to add to the introspective feel, as though the singer is lost in thought.
In the second verse, the tone shifts slightly, as the singer declares that finishing something that hasn't yet begun is impossible. He acknowledges that he himself was ignorant, but suggests that the whole world has lost something precious. The final verse is a series of short, repetitive phrases, each anchored by the refrain of "this is love sweet love." It's as though the singer is trying to convince himself of the power of love, repeating it over and over as though hoping to manifest it in his own life.
Overall, the lyrics of "Yes or No" are a contemplative exploration of love and its many facets. The repetition of certain phrases and sounds adds to the introspective feel of the song, and the singer's musings on love can resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the ups and downs of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh this is true
The singer believes that what they are feeling is genuine and true.
This is love
They are certain that what they feel is love.
This is love sweet love [Repeat: x 2]
The repetition of this line emphasizes just how sweet and wonderful this love feels to the singer.
Eh eh eh eh
An expression of feeling and a way to provide extra emphasis to the following lyrics.
Eh eh eh
Repetition of a vocalization to emphasize the emotion behind the lyrics being sung.
Love is blue
The singer is saying that love can be both happy and sad.
I say love is blue
The singer is stating their personal belief about love.
But we never lead you astray
They are making the point that they are not trying to deceive anyone about love.
Yes love is true
Again, the singer emphasizes that what they are feeling is genuine and true.
Well I say love is blind
The singer believes that when you truly love someone, you don't see their faults.
So devine
The singer is expressing how amazing love is.
But it was me
The singer is acknowledging that the reason they didn't see the faults is because of their own blindness.
Who was
The singer is taking responsibility for their own mistake.
The blind man
The person who could not see the faults of their loved one.
When your love did shine
The singer is recognizing that this person's love was so strong that it blinded them temporarily.
This can't be done
The singer does not believe that the relationship can end.
Don't say it's done
The singer is pleading with their partner not to give up on the relationship.
How can you possibly finish
The singer cannot understand how the relationship can be over.
What hasn't yet begun
The singer feels that there is still so much to explore in this relationship.
So ignorant
The singer is admitting that they were naive and didn't realize the value that they had.
So ignorant
The singer repeats this line to emphasize their own naivety.
... The whole world
The singer feels as if they have lost everything.
And lost the most precious thing
The relationship that they lost was the most important thing in their life.
Well I say grind you grind you
The singer is suggesting that if you work hard, you'll get what you want.
And nobody will grind you
If you work hard, no one will be able to hold you down.
Say wind you wind you
The singer is encouraging their audience to be proactive.
And nobody will wind you
If you take action, no one can control you.
... Hold you hold you
The singer is using repetition to emphasize the importance of being proactive.
And nobody will hold you
If you take charge of your life, no one will be able to control you or hold you back.
Say love you love you
The singer is using repetition and encouragement to spread the message of love.
And nobody will love you
If you show love to others, you will receive love in return.
Hm hm hm
The song ends with a humming interlude.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANVILLE THOMAS, LEON DUNCAN, PATRICE BART-WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sarahplays8318
GREAT!!!
@haZiinstinct
super chillich
@geschlech
<33
@goncalogouveia3326
yes