1.) Tinashe Fazakerley (b… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with this name:
1.) Tinashe Fazakerley (born April 4, 1984), now professionally known as Rationale is a Zimbabwe-born British singer-songwriter, formerly known as Tinashé. He is known for his soulful R&B and indie pop style with electric influences. His alias Tinashé, was known for his synthpop sound and his African influences.
Fazakerley was born in the Harare township of Highfield. At the age of 9, he and his three siblings moved to the United Kingdom in the Camberwell district of London, where his single mother was working as a nurse. Later, at the age of 11, he moved to the London borough of Hackney and music began to play a more significant role in his life as he learned to play the guitar. His influences were varying, ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Pat Metheny, Donnie Hathaway and Al Green, to Tupac Shakur, A Tribe Called Quest and the Notorious B.I.G.
In 2010, after releasing two EPs and three singles, Fazakerley released the album Saved under the stage name Tinashé, but it had limited success.He took a break from singing and went on to become a songwriter and producer, working with producer Mark Crew, while writing songs for blues artist Rag'n'Bone Man, among others. He also wrote songs for the Swiss version of The Voice talent show.
In 2015, he relaunched his career as Rationale, releasing songs such as "Fast Lane" and "Something for Nothing" on Soundcloud and Spotify. It was on these streaming platforms that he gained notable recognition, with a mention by Pharrell Williams on his Apple Music Beats1 radio show, OTHERtone, calling him someone who had "found the beauty in their voice". This elevated Fast Lane to No. 2 within its first week on the Spotify Global Viral Chart, reached No. 1 on Hype Machine, and amassed more than 1.3 million views on Soundcloud. Rationale also received praise from Justin Timberlake and Elton John. He became one of the first artists to be signed to Dan Smith of Bastille's new record label, Best Laid Plans. His debut self-titled album is due for release in 2017, under exclusive license to Warner Music UK.
2.) Chicago pop-punk allies Dan Lambton (vocals, Real Friends), Joe Taylor and Ryan Rumchaks (guitar/vocals and drums, respectively, of Knuckle Puck) have aligned for rationale. They released their debut ep, "confines" on December 9, 2015.
Oil and Water
Rationale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on, so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
I can't deny I've got an ego
And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
The song "Oil and Water" by Rationale is a beautiful and painful ode to a failed relationship. In the song, the singer and his partner are stuck in a toxic relationship where they cannot seem to get along despite their love for each other. The lyrics reveal that their relationship is like oil and water, two substances that cannot mix. They clash at every corner and never seem to be able to find common ground. The singer acknowledges that they can't keep playing the same old song of making up and carrying on. He asks how long will they continue this pattern before they face up to reality.
The lyrics talk about the ego of the singer and how his partner knows how to push his buttons. They both are emotional but have been the opposite of happy for a long time. They are fighting for control, or as the lyrics say, "fighting for the wheel," but neither can understand why they are doing it. The chorus of the song repeats the metaphor of oil and water, emphasizing how incompatible they are. In the end, the singer calls their relationship a necessary evil and confesses that breaking his partner's heart might be the only way they can survive. The song's last line acknowledges that they are just ordinary people who do not always get the happy ending they hoped for.
Line by Line Meaning
Call it a necessary evil
Acknowledging that the things we do might hurt, but they are inevitable
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We have to face the harsh truth to move on and survive
We are just ordinary people
We are flawed and make mistakes like everyone else
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
Life is unpredictable and doesn't always give us what we want
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't continue living our lives the same old way
We can't move on, so we make up
We can't let go of our conflicts so we ignore them temporarily
And carry on like nothing's wrong
We pretend that everything is fine even when it's not
How long before we face up?
When will we confront our problems instead of avoiding them?
You and I are like oil and water
We don't mix well and are incompatible
Clash at every corner
We argue and fight frequently
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we let go of this toxic relationship?
Plain and pure disaster
Our relationship is simply a complete mess that's hard to fix
I can't deny I've got an ego
I have a big ego that causes problems in our relationship
And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
You know exactly how to trigger me and make our fights worse
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We both feel strongly, but we express it in negative ways
We've been the opposite of happy for some time
Our relationship has been unhappy and unsatisfying for a while
Call it the lesser of two evils
Choosing between two bad options
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
It's becoming more difficult to find any positive aspects to our relationship
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why are we still trying to control something that's not working?
Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you be the one to leave this relationship?
Why can't you walk away?
Reiterating the question of why we can't just end this relationship
Contributed by Miles J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Magdalena Sz
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
I can't deny I've got an ego
You pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away? Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
Alberta Gyesy
LYRICS:
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on, so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
I can't deny I've got an ego
And you pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on so we make up
And carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away?
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
Why can't we walk away?
Why can't we walk away?
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
Magdalena Sz
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
I can't deny I've got an ego
You pushed the buttons no one else could ever find
It ain't like we're lacking in emotion
We've been the opposite of happy for some time
We can't keep on playing this song
We can't move on
So we make up
We carry on like nothing's wrong
How long before we face up?
You and I are like oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Call it the lesser of two evils
Those silver linings getting harder now to find
Why are we fighting for the wheel?
Why can't you walk away? Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Why can't you walk away?
Oil and water
Clash at every corner
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
You and I are like oil and water
Plain and pure disaster
(Why can't we walk away? Why can't we walk away?)
Call it a necessary evil
Breaking your heart's the only way we might survive
We are just ordinary people
Don't always get the happy ending we would like
Michellaneous Me
My mom used to say my sister and I were like oil and water.
We always clashed with each other.
It’s a shame it took my mother passing away for us to grow closer.
So this song really hits home.
Kaliyah Mitchell
I'm so sorry
Andreas Fox
Love it. Love your music. Voice and lyrics are out of this world. The music is a true work of art. Thank you.
usher caronell
this song is really good. really underated
Crussaunt
Don't you ever wish that uk good songs like these before Sean danced to them? 💀😂
Lara Sampaio
Pot
Starry Sheikh
Hey seanmaniac...wassup
MrTheKunzer
what the hell.. can this guy just.. like.. get more recognition, please?? right now??
Dasja
Came here after watching Sean Lews choreo to this. Very unique sound, love the lyrics