After notching up six studio albums, several chart-topping singles, a string of awards and countless sold-out gigs, Prime Circle have earned their status as South African rock royalty. Now they are also making strong inroads into the European market, gigging intensively and being playlisted on German radio – and to crown it all, the band is headlining major German rock festivals.
In mid-2016, Prime Circle's single Ghosts reached the top 150 of Germany’s weekly airplay charts. This came on the back of performing at mega-events such as Rock im Revier, Rockavaria and Rock in Vienna in Germany and Austria alongside Iron Maiden and Iggy Pop, to promote their first official European release, Let the Night In – Deluxe Edition. Prime Circle were also the headline act at the Kieler Woche, the world’s leading sailing event, as well as Hamburg Harley Days – the biggest annual Harley Davidson gathering in Germany. They also took their powerful live act to football audiences at the UEFA Champions League Festival in Milan.
Between July and September, Prime Circle were booked to open as special guests for Berlin superstars The BossHoss during a succession of German festival dates. And in August, the band was invited to headline the Rock Auf Der Berg Königstein and the Pflasterfest in Hameln, also in Germany – an outstanding achievement and a fitting tribute to their persistent hard work and dedication.
Formed in Witbank, Mpumalanga, in 2001, Prime Circle have demonstrated unparallelled staying power with a dynamic signature sound that continues to evolve in exciting, progressive directions. The five members have shown it is possible to be a successful and enduring South African rock act by constantly challenging themselves while exploring new geographical and musical horizons. Their six albums – Hello Crazy World (2003), Live This Life (2005), All or Nothing (2008), Jeckyll & Hyde (2010), Evidence (2012) and Let the Night In (2014) – have all reached gold or platinum status, morphing in style from commercial, anthemic radio hits to a harder, edgier sound.
Prime Circle have won several South African Music Awards for their albums and music videos, including Best Music Video of the Year at the SAMA XXI category as well as nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Pop & Alternative Act and Best Music Video of the Year for their single DOORS off their album Let The Night In. The band was also nominated for Best Artist in African Rock at the All Africa Music Awards.
Over the past few years, they have taken their well-crafted tunes and powerful live energy to international markets while not forgetting their massive South African fan base. They have toured extensively throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland – as well as Germany, which is fast becoming the band’s second home. Says singer-songwriter Ross Learmonth: “Without the fans, we would be nothing. And I don’t ever want to do anything else. Creating music for a living is a privilege, and we never forget that.”
Inside Out
Prime Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I'm slipping on something else
It always happens now and then
But it's what I expected
The further that you think you got
You turn and it's not much
It always happens in the end
Yeah, it's what I expected
Well we need a need a break to get me by
Remove me from this cycle that keeps playing with my mind
Oh everyday, every night
Of all these questions
All these games
All the answers that are same
Of all the words you just say, hey
It's what I expected
And I feel I'm caught inside the middle
Consumed by the likes of you, oh
And I'm inside out
I'm caught inside in this circle
Remove me now, 'cause I got better things to do
And I'm inside out
I'm caught inside this whirlpool
Nevermind me, no
It's what I expected
So come on come on come on give me a chance
And help me find what to fight for
Help me dance the best dance
And get back through it
Of all these questions
All these games
Of all the answers that I say
Of all those words you just say, hey hey
It's what I expected
And I feel I'm caught inside the middle
Consumed by the likes of you, oh
And I'm inside out
I'm caught inside this circle
Remove me now 'cause I got better things to do
And I'm inside out
I'm caught inside this whirlpool
Nevermind me
It's what I expected
Oh, It's what I expected
Yeah yeah
I got to get through somehow, to find myself
See things I've never seen
Leave this town
I got see it all
And I'm inside out
Oh but I'm spinning round
I'm inside out and round and round
Here we go
And I'm spinning around
Oh God I'm upside down
I'm inside out and round and round
Here we go
Here we go
Here we go
Here we go
The song "Inside Out" by Prime Circle is about feeling trapped in a cycle of repetitive thoughts and emotions that keep dragging the singer down. The lyrics suggest that the singer is wide awake and slipping on something else, indicating a state of restlessness and disorientation. The line "the further that you think you got, you turn and it's not much" suggests that the singer keeps chasing a goal that seems to be moving away, similar to chasing one's own tail. The constant questioning and playing of mental games is exhausting, and the answers are always the same.
The singer feels caught inside the middle and consumed by the likes of someone else, referring to another person who might be causing this constant cycle of questioning and self-doubt. This whirlpool of emotions leaves the singer feeling inside out and upside down, desperately wanting a break to remove them from the cycle. The song ends with the singer wanting to get through this somehow and see things they've never seen before, indicating a desire for change and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I'm wide, I'm wide, I'm wide awake again
I am alert and fully conscious again
When I'm slipping on something else
I'm losing the thoughts that I was previously focused on
It always happens now and then
This is a recurring event that happens occasionally
But it's what I expected
I anticipated this to happen
The further that you think you got
The more progress you think you've made
You turn and it's not much
The gains you thought you made are minimal
It always happens in the end
It's common for things to not work out as planned
Yeah, it's what I expected
This outcome was predictable
Well we need a need a break to get me by
I require a pause to cope with what's happening
Remove me from this cycle that keeps playing with my mind
Take me out of this pattern of thoughts that troubles me
Of all these questions
All the uncertainties that I have
All these games
The manipulations that people play
All the answers that are same
The repetitive responses I receive
Of all the words you just say, hey
The casual things you say in conversation
And I feel I'm caught inside the middle
I sense that I'm stuck in the midst of a situation
Consumed by the likes of you, oh
You possess an overwhelming influence over me
And I'm inside out
I am turned inside out, everything I hold within is exposed
I'm caught inside in this circle
I am trapped in a cycle
Remove me now, 'cause I got better things to do
Free me from my current state because I have more important matters to attend to
I'm caught inside this whirlpool
I am swallowed up by a powerful force that is out of my control
Nevermind me, no
Do not trouble yourself with my problems
So come on come on come on give me a chance
Please provide me with an opportunity
And help me find what to fight for
Assist me in discovering something to endeavor towards
Help me dance the best dance
Assist me in taking the best course of action
And get back through it
Overcome the obstacles to return to a better place
I got to get through somehow, to find myself
I need to overcome obstacles to rediscover who I really am
See things I've never seen
Experience new facets of life that will help me grow
Leave this town
Depart from the current location as a symbolic means of starting fresh
Oh but I'm spinning round
I am confused and losing myself
Here we go
I'm about to start something new, uncertain of the outcome
Oh God I'm upside down
I am emotionally disoriented and lost
Lyrics © DAVID GRESHAM MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind