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.”
She Always Gets What She Wants
Prime Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like a moth drawn to a flame.
I'm on my way to being burned up, once again.
And I've been through this before,
Oh, a hundred times or more,
And she keeps me coming back.
What am I waiting for?
Chorus:
She always gets what she wants.
She always gets what she needs and more.
She always counts out the chords, that I'm playing.
She always moves to the rhythm she is making.
She is.
She walks to the sound of her own drum,
One minute she's there the next she's gone.
And I'm left to pick up pieces of myself, to carry on.
And I've been through this before,
Oh, a hundred times or more,
But she keeps me coming back,
What am I waiting for?
Chorus
She is, She is, She is my home.
She is, She is, She is my home.
And I've been through this before,
Oh, a hundred times or more,
But she keeps me coming back,
What am I waiting for?
Chorus x2
She is, She is, She is my home.
She is, She is, She is my home.
And I've been through this before,
Oh, a hundred times or more,
But she keeps me coming back,
What am I waiting for?
And I've been through this before,
And I've been through this before,
And I've been through this before,
What am I waiting for?
In Prime Circle's "She Always Gets What She Wants," the lead singer paints a picture of a woman who is like a "wild fire" and he is drawn to her "like a moth to a flame." He has been through this before "a hundred times or more" and yet he keeps coming back to her. The singer is aware that he is going to get burned again, but he cannot resist her pull. The woman in question is someone who knows what she wants and goes after it. She is in control of her life and the things she desires. She doesn't wait for things to come to her, but instead makes them happen. The singer is in awe of her confidence and inner strength.
The chorus of the song encapsulates the pull the woman has on the singer. He knows that she will always get what she wants and he cannot resist her. He follows her lead, counting the chords that she is playing and moving to the rhythm she is making. She is in every sense of the word, the lead in their relationship.
Overall, "She Always Gets What She Wants" is a song about an intense relationship where one person holds all the power. The singer is plagued with the question "What am I waiting for?" He is acutely aware that he is in a loop that is not good for him, but he is incapable of breaking it. The woman, on the other hand, is in total control and the singer's world revolves around her.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes around like a wild fire,
She enters my life with a force and intensity that is both powerful and unpredictable, much like a wildfire.
And like a moth drawn to a flame.
Despite the danger and potential harm, I am irresistibly attracted to her like a moth is drawn towards a flame.
I'm on my way to being burned up, once again.
I can sense that I am on the path towards being consumed by her, just like I have been burned before.
And I've been through this before,
I have experienced this same situation and pain many times in the past.
Oh, a hundred times or more,
The repetition of this pattern of being attracted to her and then getting hurt has occurred too many times to count.
And she keeps me coming back.
Despite the pain and past experiences, I am unable to resist her pull and keep returning to her as a result.
What am I waiting for?
I am questioning myself as to why I continue to subject myself to the same hurtful cycle again and again.
Chorus: She always gets what she wants.
She has a way of getting what she wants in any situation, and this power extends to relationships as well.
She always gets what she needs and more.
In addition to getting what she wants, she also receives more than she needs from those around her.
She always counts out the chords, that I'm playing.
She is able to anticipate my actions and reactions, almost as if she is counting out the chords to a song.
She always moves to the rhythm she is making.
She controls the direction and pace of the relationship, and I am just following along to the rhythm she sets.
She is.
She is the source of all the pain and confusion in my life, but I can't help but feel drawn to her power and mystery.
She walks to the sound of her own drum,
She is independent and follows her own path, not caring about the expectations of others around her.
One minute she's there the next she's gone.
She is unpredictable and is able to disappear from my life without warning, leaving me feeling lost and alone.
And I'm left to pick up pieces of myself, to carry on.
After she abruptly leaves, I am left to pick up the fragments of my life and try to continue without her.
Chorus x2
This section repeats the same themes and ideas conveyed in the previous chorus.
She is, She is, She is my home.
Despite all the hurt and pain, I cannot help but feel that she is where I belong and that she is my home.
And I've been through this before,
This final repetition reinforces the cyclical and repetitive nature of the pain and confusion in the singer's life.
And I've been through this before,
The repetition emphasizes the frustration and hopelessness that the singer feels in being unable to escape this cycle.
And I've been through this before,
Emphasizing that this is not the first time the artist has gone through this cycle of hurt and pain in a relationship.
What am I waiting for?
The artist questions why they continue to subject themselves to this same pain and confusion, despite having experienced it so many times before.
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laurinda Snyman
Proudly South African, Amongst the crap artists that pop out everywhere we actually do have miraculous talent, You guys are excellent!!!! Its quite great to share your music with some of my friends all over the world....it gives me this proud little giggle "yeah...They are great" ;)
Film Crew
Ìiii
Precious Sekgobela
My God this is beautiful ❤️. Reminds me of my primary school days 🥹
Redge Burns
How this song doesn't have more than 10 Billion views is beyond me.
groovemasta
coz everyone watches the version on the director's YouTube channel
Gaylord Munemo
This song talks to my soul, at least now.
Stephan Vermaas
I must be responsible for at least 1000 of these views by now:D I think this is one of the greatest songs ever made!
afico dingo
Underrated back then, still underrated. 😭❤️🇿🇦
SunshineMac
I can never get enough of this band. Hubby sings this to me - makes me smile.
Keith Dickens
what a great song,this just popped up on youtube when looking for south african music,well done guys sorry i’m late to the party