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.”
Written In Riddles
Prime Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more we chase the less we're fitting in to what we're after
But through it all, shared belief, constant strife, we release
Hold on to what is in your hands now and
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after
This frustration, we have to let it flow
These lessons now are things that we will know, so let's move faster
'Cause through it all, shared belief, constant strife, we release
Hold on to what is in your hands now and
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after
I'm sure we will understand
Oh, can we understand?
Oh, can we understand now?
It all comes down to
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles (Will we understand?)
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes (Will we understand?)
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after (Will we understand?)
I'm sure we will understand (Will we understand?)
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles (Will we understand?)
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes (Will we understand?)
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after (Will we understand?)
I'm sure we will understand (Will we understand?)
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after
I'm sure we will understand
The lyrics of Prime Circle's "Written In Riddles" reflect the frantic pace of modern life, where people's efforts to fit in and pursue what they desire can feel like a never-ending journey that is hard to understand. The song's opening lines, "The faster we go the more we sit and stand, The more we chase the less we're fitting in to what we're after", suggest that despite the hustle and bustle, we may not be moving in the right direction, and we may not even know what that direction is at all.
The chorus of the song, "I'm not sure, it's written in riddles, So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes, Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after, I'm sure we will understand", talks about the confusion and uncertainty that comes with such a life. The second verse encourages listeners to accept the struggles and lessons that come with chasing our dreams, while still holding on to what is important to us. The song ends with the phrase "I'm sure we will understand", implying that eventually, we will make sense of our lives and find our way through the "riddles" that we face.
Line by Line Meaning
The faster we go the more we sit and stand
Our constant movement leaves us in a state of stagnation
The more we chase the less we're fitting in to what we're after
Our pursuit of our goals leads to us feeling more out of place and distant from them
But through it all, shared belief, constant strife, we release
Despite our struggles, we find comfort in the fact that we all share the same beliefs and work towards the same goals
Hold on to what is in your hands now and
We should cherish what we have and not be distracted by what we don't have
I'm not sure, it's written in riddles
The mystery of life and our purpose is unclear and confusing
So fast that I can't see scenes or shapes
Life moves quickly and it's hard to keep up with the changes
Coming up, coming down, it's all that we're after
Life's ups and downs are what we focus on and what drives us forward
I'm sure we will understand
Despite the confusion and uncertainty, we have faith that we will eventually find the answers we seek
This frustration, we have to let it flow
We need to release our frustrations and let them go with the flow of life
These lessons now are things that we will know, so let's move faster
The struggles we face now will teach us valuable lessons, so we should embrace them and move through them quickly
Oh, can we understand?
We question whether we can truly comprehend the mysteries of life
Oh, can we understand now?
We seek answers and understanding in the present moment
It all comes down to
Ultimately, everything we do and experience boils down to a few fundamental things
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DIRK THEODORUS BISSCHOFF, NEIL BREYTENBACH, MARCO SERGIO GOMES, ROSS ANDREW LEARMONTH, DALE WAYNE SCHNETTLER, THEO CROUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind