Their first release was an EP named Dive!, published in 1996 through independent label Wall of Sound. They gained fame the next year by providing a remix for Bond composer David Arnold's Bond tribute album Shaken & Stirred covering John Barry's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the theme song to the sixth James Bond film, re-orchestrated by Arnold. The single "History Repeating" followed, a collaboration with jazz diva Shirley Bassey, fusing big beat with jazz.
Their only album to date is Decksandrumsandrockandroll, released in 1998 by Wall of Sound in the UK and Europe and DreamWorks in the US and Japan. The Dreamworks versions include collaborations with hip hop veterans De La Soul and Jungle Brothers, and the Japanese version is a sought-after 2 Disc Special Edition including some of their earlier singles. A track from the album, "Spybreak!", became widely known after its use in the famous lobby scene in The Matrix.
After touring for their hit album, Will White fell ill. They released Extended Play E.P. in 1998, and in the song "Props' Vote Of Gratitude", Alex Gifford raps for the first time, explaining to the attentive listener that the band would "be back after this short break". Things subsequently went quiet in the Propellerheads camp. Alex moved to New York and produced the Jungle Brothers' 1999 Album V.I.P. in which he raps alongside The Black Eyed Peas among others and Will White provides the drums for the eponymous track. He has also produced a track for Rufus Wainwright ("Shadows") on his 2001 album Poses. White has since released a mix compilation for the Beatz and Bobz series, and he has also appeared as a member of the De-Fex music project.
In October 2003 Wall of Sound commemorated its 10th birthday, and to celebrate, released a two disc album charting 10 years of its pioneering British music. The first CD featured alumni such as Röyksopp, The Wiseguys and Mekon, while Gifford provided a mix CD for the second disc. Surprisingly the first track on that disc was a new song by Propellerheads featuring British rapper Livingroom Johnston, entitled "10 Years". Sadly, shortly after this release they disbanded.
Their song "Take California" was the first song ever to be used in an Apple iPod television ad.
White was part of the live incarnation of Long Range, the now defunct project of Phil Hartnoll of Orbital.
You Want It Back
Propellerheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Step to the front if you wanna see the action
Glance at the mic should I rock my style?
It's been a long time since I got buck wild
Sometimes I feel lost in the sauce
When it comes down to who's the boss, am I being too soft?
Feenin' for your love and your special attention
Eh you 'bout straight, put a cake in your oven
Got to see me to get the good lovin'
Wanna get the chance to sex and romance ya
On the dance floor, yeah you want more
I'm wit your girlfriends on the weekend
I give you all types of freakin' now you tell me you're leavin'
Girl get a grip 'cause I'm hittin' all angles
You know how the game goes, you gon' feel shameful
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
(You don't want this)
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
(You want that)
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
Spotlight game tight every night new sights
Who would ever think life could be so nice
Everything's love til you find out the price
You're saying you're sick of the same routine
Can't separate life from a floor style dream
You wanna take a look split from the scenes
When you thought you got a grip it's true you lost steam
Kick start strain but you can't find step
In your place is a stud with a bit more pep
Little less rep secret well kept
Aid her when you need every night you slept
Heard it all before can't believe it came true
Hard to see what a good party'll do
What ya gon' do? Listen to your crew
Shoulda took a better look
At who's sleeping with you
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
Every time I turn around you're lookin' for somethin' new
Talkin' 'bout who got to find something else to do
Who you wit' and what you want is just a fantasy
That's why I keep tellin' you your ass need to be with me
You know what I'm sayin'
That's what you want
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
When you had it, you didn't want it
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
The lyrics to Propellerheads's song "You Want It Back" are about a person who is reflecting on a past relationship and the feelings of wanting something that was previously disregarded. The first verse establishes the singer's confidence and sexual appeal, with lines such as "Sexy lover smokin' with passion" and "Trying to get you to look in my direction." However, the second verse reveals a sense of insecurity and confusion, with the singer feeling lost and asking "am I being too soft?" The chorus repeats the phrase "When you had it, you didn't want it / Now you ain't got it, so you want it back," highlighting the theme of regret and longing.
The rest of the lyrics describe various aspects of the relationship, including sexual encounters, jealousy, and betrayal. The verse "Spotlight game tight every night new sights / Who would ever think life could be so nice / Everything's love til you find out the price" suggests that the singer may have been caught up in the excitement and glamour of the relationship, but ultimately found that it came with a cost. The lines "Heard it all before can't believe it came true / Hard to see what a good party'll do / What ya gon' do? Listen to your crew" imply that the singer feels as though they were misled or ignored advice from friends.
Overall, the lyrics to "You Want It Back" convey a sense of nostalgia, regret, and desire. The theme of wanting something that was previously taken for granted is a common one in music and literature, and the use of vivid imagery and wordplay adds depth to the song's emotional tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Sexy lover smokin' with passion
Describing a desirable and passionate lover
Step to the front if you wanna see the action
Inviting those who are interested to come forward and witness the excitement
Glance at the mic should I rock my style?
Contemplating whether or not to showcase their unique style on the microphone
It's been a long time since I got buck wild
Expressing a desire to let loose and go wild like they used to
Sometimes I feel lost in the sauce
Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of oneself
When it comes down to who's the boss, am I being too soft?
Questioning their assertiveness and whether they are being taken advantage of
Feenin' for your love and your special attention
Yearning for the affection and attention of a special someone
Trying to get you to look in my direction
Making an effort to get noticed by the person they desire
Eh you 'bout straight, put a cake in your oven
Addressing someone who is interested and suggesting they have a baby together
Got to see me to get the good lovin'
Implying that they are the only one who can satisfy the other person's needs
Wanna get the chance to sex and romance ya
Expressing a desire to have a sexual and romantic relationship with someone
On the dance floor, yeah you want more
Imagining a scenario where the person desires more attention and affection on the dance floor
I'm wit your girlfriends on the weekend
Spending time with the person's friends on the weekends
I give you all types of freakin' now you tell me you're leavin'
Providing a variety of sexual experiences and now being informed of the person's intent to leave
Girl get a grip 'cause I'm hittin' all angles
Advising the person to keep their composure because they are being fully pleasured
You know how the game goes, you gon' feel shameful
Acknowledging the nature of their relationship and that the person will likely feel ashamed
Spotlight game tight every night new sights
Enjoying the attention and variety of experiences that come with the spotlight
Who would ever think life could be so nice
Expressing gratitude for their current lifestyle
Everything's love til you find out the price
Realizing that everything comes with a cost
You're saying you're sick of the same routine
Expressing a desire for a change in their daily life
Can't separate life from a floor style dream
Feeling as though their dream lifestyle has become their reality and they can no longer distinguish the two
You wanna take a look split from the scenes
Desiring an escape from their current situation
When you thought you got a grip it's true you lost steam
Realizing that they had control and lost it somewhere along the way
Kick start strain but you can't find step
Feeling the pressure to start fresh but struggling to take the necessary steps
In your place is a stud with a bit more pep
Being replaced by someone with a more lively personality
Little less rep secret well kept
Having less reputation but keeping it a secret
Aid her when you need every night you slept
Providing assistance whenever it is needed
Heard it all before can't believe it came true
Being skeptical of what they have heard and now realizing that it is true
Hard to see what a good party'll do
Difficulty in recognizing the negative consequences that can come from indulging in excess partying
What ya gon' do? Listen to your crew
Questioning what to do next and considering advice from friends
Shoulda took a better look at who's sleeping with you
Wishing they had paid more attention to who they were involved with
Every time I turn around you're lookin' for somethin' new
Noticing a pattern in the person's behavior of constantly wanting something different
Talkin' 'bout who got to find something else to do
Discussing the need for something new and exciting to pursue
Who you wit' and what you want is just a fantasy
Implying that the person's desires are unrealistic and not rooted in reality
That's why I keep tellin' you your ass need to be with me
Asserting that they are the only one who can fulfill the other person's needs
When you had it, you didn't want it
Reflecting on a time when the person did not appreciate what they had
Now you ain't got it, so you want it back
Realizing the value of what they had and wanting it back now that it is gone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER MICHAEL GIFFORD, MICHAEL BENTON SMALL, NATHANIEL PHILLIP HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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