She was given her Pixie nickname by her mother early on and it stuck. Lott began singing early, too, starting in church and earning a scholarship to London's Italia Conti Academy of the Arts at age 11. Two years later, she made the transition to West End musicals, appearing in a revival of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a BBC One production of The Sound of Music. All this was prelude to a run at the pop charts. Demos she cut made their way to Def Jam impresario L.A. Reid and he was eager to sign her to Island, but after a change of Lott's management she shifted to Mercury in the U.K. and Interscope in the U.S. Over the next couple of years, she worked on her debut and established her career by writing for other artists (most notably for Dutch X Factor winner Lisa Lois) and touring with the Saturdays. Finally, her debut single, "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)," appeared in June 2009 and it became a smash not only in the U.K. but throughout Europe. "Boys and Girls" was equally successful, setting the stage for release of Turn It Up in September of 2009. On its way to double-platinum certification in Britain, the third single "Cry Me Out" reached 12, "Gravity" peaked at 20, and the title track headed to 11.
In the wake of this success, Interscope planned on releasing Turn It Up in the U.S. but after "Boys and Girls" faded in 2010, the record never saw American release. A re-release of the debut called Turn It Up Louder did show up in the U.K., and it was a hit thanks to the single "Broken Arrow." Lott's second album, Young Foolish Happy, appeared in November 2011 and while it didn't replicate the success of her debut -- it only went gold -- it did have the number one single "All About Tonight" plus the Top Ten singles "What Do You Take Me For?" and "Kiss the Stars," which reached the charts in 2012. Lott spent most of 2013 working on a third album, a record that would take over a year to complete. Preceded by the number nine single "Nasty," the eponymous Pixie Lott appeared in the summer of 2014; it debuted at 15 on the U.K. charts. Later that year Lott appeared as a contestant on British TV show Strictly Come Dancing, and a greatest-hits album, Platinum Pixie, was set to appear in the fall.
The Way the World Works
Pixie Lott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no more that I can take
I am asking for the planets to align.
Calling on the universe
Maybe once just put me first
Give me what I need
Or give a little sign
Nothing plays out like it should
Nothing Does me any good
Cause I'm missing you
And it's making me cry
Oh I know it's turning
Inside I'm burning and
[Chorus]
I'm so tired of the way the world works
I'm so tired of the way the world works
They conspire, trying to keep us apart
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
I don't mind a little pain
But enough's enough
Does the heart grow fonder (yes)
Will I wait here on ya (yes)
Baby how much longer
Oh I know It's turning
All I am learning is
[Chorus]
There's so much in life that 's undecided
There's so much trouble that's uninvited
And only so much you can control
What are the forces that try and tease us
I wish the forces would just release us
I haven't seen you in forever ever baby
'Gimme just a little break
Ain't no more that I can take
Tryin' to keep us apart
In Pixie Lott's song "The Way the World Works," the singer is feeling overwhelmed and wishes that the universe would align in her favor. The lyrics convey the singer's frustration with the circumstances of her life and her desire for a change. She calls out to the universe, asking for a sign or for things to work in her favor. The lines "Nothing plays out like it should / Nothing does me any good" suggest a weariness with life's disappointments, while the repetition in the chorus of "I'm so tired of the way the world works" reinforces the idea that the singer is fed up with the status quo.
The second verse suggests that the singer is missing someone, and the repetition of "Oh, I know it's turning" suggests that the singer is struggling to move on from this person. However, the singer is also trying to be strong, as suggested by the line "I don't mind a little pain / But enough's enough." The song's bridge suggests that the singer is struggling to make sense of the fickle nature of life, noting that "there's so much in life that's undecided / There's so much trouble that's uninvited."
Overall, "The Way the World Works" is a song about the frustrations of life and the singer's desire for change. While the song has a melancholy tone, it also suggests a resilience and determination to keep moving forward despite life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me just a little break
I'm tired and I need some relief.
Ain't no more that I can take
I can't handle any more stress or hardship.
I am asking for the planets to align.
I need a stroke of luck or some kind of miracle to happen.
Calling on the universe
I'm reaching out to a higher power, asking for help.
Maybe once just put me first
I wish my needs would be given priority over everything else.
Give me what I need
I'm asking for something essential to feel better.
Or give a little sign
If I can't have what I want, at least show me a glimmer of hope.
Nothing plays out like it should
Life is unpredictable and things rarely go according to plan.
Nothing Does me any good
No situation seems to benefit me or bring me happiness.
Cause I'm missing you
I'm longing for someone I care deeply about.
And it's making me cry
My emotional pain is overwhelming and causing me to weep.
Oh I know it's turning
I am aware of how this situation is affecting me and changing me.
Inside I'm burning and
My emotions are intense, like a fire inside me.
I'm so tired of the way the world works
I'm exhausted by how unfair and challenging life can be.
They conspire, trying to keep us apart
Outside forces seem to plot against me and my loved ones.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
There are no rewards without taking risks.
I don't mind a little pain
I'm willing to endure some suffering or hardship for a greater purpose.
But enough's enough
I've reached my limit and can't take any more pain or difficulty.
Does the heart grow fonder (yes)
Absence can make the heart grow fonder and increase love and devotion.
Will I wait here on ya (yes)
I'm willing to wait for someone I care about, even if it's difficult.
Baby how much longer
I'm wondering how much more waiting and longing I'll have to endure.
All I am learning is
Through this experience, I am gaining new insights and lessons.
There's so much in life that 's undecided
Life is full of uncertainty and many things are out of our control.
There's so much trouble that's uninvited
Life can bring problems and suffering without warning or reason.
And only so much you can control
We can only have limited influence over our lives and the world around us.
What are the forces that try and tease us
Things or situations seem to be teasing or taunting us, making things difficult.
I wish the forces would just release us
I hope that whatever is making things hard will go away or leave us alone.
I haven't seen you in forever ever baby
I'm missing someone I haven't seen for a long time.
Tryin' to keep us apart
Someone or something is trying to keep me and my loved one separated.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VICTORIA LOTT, PETER ZIZZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind