Meet PROSE, organic-acoustic-hip-hop three-piece who are coming for your soul. From the mean(ish) streets of Stretford, via a yellow brick road of sweat, struggle, melody and pummelling beats. They've got very big hearts, but you probably wouldn't like them when they're angry.
PROSE defy genre because in the fiercest way, they are a genre of their own. They take the best of what has come before in the city; the emotional eloquence of Oasis; the street poetry of John Cooper Clarke; the psychedelic ambition of The Stone Roses and the spirit of when New Order looted the NYC gay clubs of the early 80s and invented dance music as we know it. For good measure, they'll also namecheck Tupac, Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alanis Morrissette, Nirvana and Queen.
At the centre of all this is Mike Murray, a putting new bite into the 'white rapper' genre with a whose machine-gunning rhymes describe life on the streets and love on the dole in all their grit and glory, a northern Mike Skinner with a skill for both the profound and the daft.
Together with production and melody from cousin Dave Royle and the pair's lifelong friend Lee Royle, they're ready to take back the city.
As an opening shot, the trio offer up 'Run With Faith', a modern-day parable of a down-on-his-luck bluesman who gets saved by the simplest of lessons - that it's nice to be nice. The song expands on the true story of a Market Street beggar who returned a woman's wallet without pocketing the cash, which led to coverage in the Manchester Evening News which sparked a pay-it-forward campaign that got him off the streets.
The grit-and-optimism moral of the story plays right into the beating heart of PROSE's PROSE. Mike still has the newspaper clipping somewhere.
Joining this hyper-infectious earworm are the other three tracks that make up the trio's debut EP 'What If?' On 'Mountains' they deliver a Gallagher-worthy refrain as Mike plucks at his own heartstrings, while 'Headsick' throws out another curveball, channelling psychedelic rock with a towering guest vocal from early supporter Emeli Sande. But it's on the delicate, bluesy title track that Mike offers a brutally naked account of his own life story; the all-too-common tale of a violent, drug-abusing father and a mother who was unable to cope. When she found the salvation of a new life in Canada, his life could have one of two ways. Mike's wit and spirit meant he swerved young offenders, and along with producer cousin Dave Stone and guitarist Lee Royle, harnessed his talent and found the determination to walk out of his job at a PPI call centre and focus on music full time.
That Jerry Maguire moment paid off. Three years and a few boring music industry processes later, PROSE are ready for their close-up. Not just proud, they're compelled to put a rocket back up the city that made them who they are, and do it on their own terms. Because there is, of course, no place like home. And PROSE are a band to write home about, wherever you've laid your hat.
Mountains
Prose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for the day I'm coming back,
is it lonely when you wait on your own?
I've been holding up your sky,
and it's hard to say goodbye,
and I'm choking on the city smoke.
It's draining tears from the man of stone,
We'll never stand alone,
I may have left but I won't ever leave
You may not understand,
we didn't make the plan,
we're only here to see how it ends.
I knew I had to go,
'cause our roads they led to wrong,
you'll get promises of gold instead.
Oooooo stay strong, while I'm gone
It's draining tears from the man of stone,
crumble like the mountain to the sea
We'll never stand alone,
I may have left but I won't ever leave
Just as long as I got you,
then I don't wanna fan,
if I have you,
they can take it all back from yeah
just want you (just want you)
to be next to you (next to you)
I've done this all for you
I think I owe you an apology
'cause when I met you I know I made you promises,
I would always be there for you
no matter what was stopping me,
and honestly I meant every word, swear on my honesty.
Nothing could possibly mean more than you to me,
but lately I ain't always been seeing you when you wanted me
the irony of it is me writing this song
is the same exact reason I ain't seeing you properly,
well some of you is the reason that I'm doing it
is that I'm hoping you can have a better life because of it,
don't wanna go hunch, right now your only worry
is nothing to do with money, is just for you to be comforted
It's draining tears from the man of stone,
crumble like the mountain to the sea
We'll never stand alone,
I may have left but I won't ever leave
It's draining tears from the man of stone,
crumble like the mountain to the sea
We'll never stand alone,
I may have left but I won't ever leave
The song "Mountains" by Prose explores the difficulty of leaving a loved one behind while embarking on one's journey, whether it is for personal growth, career or other reasons. The opening lines of the song, "Leave the keys under the mat, for the day I'm coming back" indicate that the singer will be returning someday but in the meantime they have to leave. The singer expresses the feeling of being torn between the two worlds, the one they are leaving behind and the new one they are entering. The line "I've been holding up your sky, and it's hard to say goodbye" implies that the singer has been supporting the person they're leaving behind, and it's difficult to let go.
The chorus "It's draining tears from the man of stone, crumble like the mountain to the sea, we'll never stand alone, I may have left, but I won't ever leave" invokes the concept of resilience, and how both the singer and the person they're leaving behind will overcome the challenges that life throws at them. Even though the singer is physically not around, they assure their loved one that they will always be there. The bridge "Just as long as I got you, then I don't wanna fan, if I have you, they can take it all back from yeah, just want you (just want you), to be next to you (next to you)" emphasizes the importance of the person they're leaving behind and how they form the anchor that keeps the singer grounded.
This song is an emotional tribute to enduring relationships despite the physical distance between the individuals. It tells an evocative story of separation, personal growth, and resilience. The song also has a deeply personal message that can resonate with anyone who has had to leave someone behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Leave the keys under the mat
I will be coming back to see you soon, so leave the keys under the mat for me to get into the house.
For the day I'm coming back
I can't wait to come back and see you again.
Is it lonely when you wait on your own?
Do you feel lonely when you have to wait for me all by yourself?
I've been holding up your sky
I have been your support system, holding up your world, and keeping you on track.
And it's hard to say goodbye
It's difficult to say farewell to someone special, but sometimes it's necessary.
And I'm choking on the city smoke
The pollution of the city is suffocating me, and I am having trouble breathing.
It's draining tears from the man of stone
The situation is affecting me emotionally, even though I may seem tough on the outside.
Crumble like the mountain to the sea
We are all vulnerable, just like a mountain can crumble and fall into the sea.
We'll never stand alone
We will always have each other, and we can rely on our love and support.
I may have left but I won't ever leave
Even though I had to leave physically, I will always be there for you emotionally.
You may not understand
You might not comprehend the reasons behind what is happening.
We didn't make the plan
We have no control over the events unfolding, and we just have to deal with them as they come.
We're only here to see how it ends
Life is unpredictable, and we can't predict how everything will turn out in the end.
I knew I had to go
I understood that I had to move away and pursue new opportunities.
'Cause our roads they led to wrong
Our paths were no longer aligned, and we had to go our separate ways.
You'll get promises of gold instead
Others may make promises to you, but I can guarantee that their value won't match what I have to offer.
Oooooo stay strong, while I'm gone
I am leaving, but I want you to stay strong while I am away.
Just as long as I got you
As long as I have you in my life, I will be content.
Then I don't wanna fan
I don't need anything else, as long as I have your love and support.
If I have you
Your presence in my life is enough for me.
They can take it all back from yeah
Even if I lose everything else, I know that I will always have you by my side.
Just want you (just want you)
All I want is you and your love.
To be next to you (next to you)
Being physically close to you is all I need.
I've done this all for you
Everything I have done has been with your best interests at heart.
I think I owe you an apology
I feel bad and want to apologize for not always being there for you when you needed me.
'Cause when I met you I know I made you promises,
When we first met, I promised to always be there for you, but I haven't kept that promise lately.
I would always be there for you
I promised to support you and be a source of comfort whenever you need me.
No matter what was stopping me
I intended to be there for you no matter the obstacles I had to overcome.
And honestly I meant every word, swear on my honesty
I genuinely meant every word of my promise to you and would never lie about it.
Nothing could possibly mean more than you to me
You are the most essential person in my life, and nothing means more to me than you.
But lately I ain't always been seeing you when you wanted me
I haven't been there for you as often as you needed me to be, and I'm sorry for that.
The irony of it is me writing this song
It's ironic that I'm currently writing this song about being there for you and not always being present.
Is the same exact reason I ain't seeing you properly
The reason I haven't been there for you is that I've been focusing on my music career.
Well some of you is the reason that I'm doing it
You are one of the main reasons why I'm writing music.
Is that I'm hoping you can have a better life because of it
I want my music to help you have a better life and make things easier for you.
Don't wanna go hunch,
I don't want to live in regret, knowing that I could have done more for you.
Right now your only worry
I want you to relax and not worry about anything right now.
Is nothing to do with money, is just for you to be comforted
I don't want anything from you except for you to feel comforted and at ease.
Contributed by Ella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Caroline brennan.
Writes all his own lyrics .. So very talented.
David Wright
Love this
Pietro Ronzoni
I love it! 😍
CHUBBY MAGIKZ
Don't get enough attention 1 day you'll get what you deserve keep making music
Sam Walsh
Pure talent this!
Mancgrower
fantastic track boys..loved it...
jane collinge
LOVE THIS <3
Daniel J Dempsey
Wicked! pure n proper.
lynda murphyy
♥️♥️♥️ Love love love.
Amanda Nolan
Love you 😘😂