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.”
Shed My Skin
Prime Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's telling me that I shouldn't make myself wait
For all the world around me to go away
Cause I'm hating what I'm seeing
Caught up in a dream
Caught up in a scheme
Caught up by the way I'm feeling
Is not made up of proof
There's always other meanings
(Always other meanings...)
Now everything in life seems fabricated
And every face I see has a story to tell
I wish I knew more about this life
So I could have a story as well
[Chorus:]
It feels like the first time
And I can always she'd my skin
I come back to save face
Don't you know it's my face
From one extreme to the next, I will follow
Got a feeling in my chest that wants to explore
Everything just seems so different
But I'm sure I've been here before
[Chorus]
It feels like the first time
And I can always she'd my skin
I come back to save face
Don't you know it's my thing
Come over
Come see why
I'm in a moment that I just can't explain
I need to, to warn me now
Over road and and I see I'm down, down today
And I feel like I'm lost in every way
Yea-eah yeah, oooooo
Yeah yeah yeah, wo-oooooo
Gonna she'd my skin,
She'd my skin, she'd my skin
(There's always other meanings)
Gonna she'd my skin, she'd my skin, she'd my skin
(There's always other meanings)
Gonna she'd my skin, she'd my skin, she'd my skin
(There's always other meanings)
Gonna she'd my skin, she'd my skin
(Always other meanings)
The lyrics of Prime Circle's song Shed My Skin speaks about a new instinct that the singer feels inside their head that urges them to not wait and live life, instead of waiting for the world around them to go away. The singer talks about hating what they are seeing around them, feeling caught up in a dream and scheme, and feeling uncertain about the truth. The chorus speaks about feeling like the first time and being able to shed their skin. Shed My Skin can be interpreted to mean that the singer wants to start anew, to transform, to create a new identity, and to break free of their past.
The lyrics also show that the singer is experiencing uncertainty about their surroundings and is searching for meaning. They describe their feelings that everything seems fabricated/boring and that they wish they had a story of their own to tell. The verse, "And every face I see has a story to tell, I wish I knew more about this life, so I could have a story as well" talks about this feeling of inadequacy and unfulfilled potential. The singer wants to break free, explore, and find something new.
Overall, the song is about transformation, reinventing oneself, and exploring life. The song's lyrics evoke a sense of uncertainty, confusion, and the desire to break free, which is perceived by most people at certain points in life. Shed My Skin is a powerful and intense song that can motivate people to embrace their lives fully, let go of their past, and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a new instinct inside my head today
I have a new feeling or intuition today which is different from my old self.
And it's telling me that I shouldn't make myself wait
My new feeling is urging me not to delay in taking action.
For all the world around me to go away
I don't need to wait for the world to change before I take action.
Cause I'm hating what I'm seeing
I'm feeling hateful of what I'm observing around me.
Caught up in a dream
I'm engrossed in a dream, fantasy or illusion.
Caught up in a scheme
I'm entrenched in a plan, conspiracy or plot.
Caught up by the way I'm feeling
I'm trapped by my emotions or sentiments.
No wonder the truth
It's no surprise that what is real, genuine or authentic is hard to decipher.
Is not made up of proof
The truth cannot always be verified by evidence or facts.
There's always other meanings
Interpretations or implications of a situation or statement can vary widely.
Now everything in life seems fabricated
I have a sense that everything in life seems fake, contrived or artificial.
And every face I see has a story to tell
Every person I encounter has their own experiences or history to share.
I wish I knew more about this life
I crave more knowledge or understanding about the nature of existence.
So I could have a story as well
So that I too can have my own experiences or tale to tell.
It feels like the first time
It feels new or novel.
And I can always she'd my skin
I can always reinvent or change myself.
I come back to save face
I return to avoid embarrassment or disgrace.
Don't you know it's my face
I own and am responsible for my own identity and reputation.
From one extreme to the next, I will follow
I am willing to take risks and venture out of my comfort zone.
Got a feeling in my chest that wants to explore
I have a sense of excitement or longing to explore new things.
Everything just seems so different
Everything appears unfamiliar or altered.
But I'm sure I've been here before
Despite the novelty, I feel that I have experienced this before.
Come over
Visit me or approach me.
Come see why
Come check out and understand the reason for my behavior or situation.
I'm in a moment that I just can't explain
I am in a state or situation that is inexplicable or incomprehensible.
I need to, to warn me now
I need someone to provide a signal or heads-up for me now.
Over road and and I see I'm down, down today
I am feeling down, discouraged or depressed while travelling over a long distance.
And I feel like I'm lost in every way
I feel disoriented, confused or aimless in all aspects of my life.
Gonna she'd my skin
I'm going to start anew or reinvent myself.
She'd my skin, she'd my skin
I will go through a metamorphosis or transformation.
(There's always other meanings)
There are various interpretations or implications of a situation or statement.
Contributed by Elizabeth S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.