Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Numb
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How is your life?
Has something in you died?
Please don′t think me rude
I've got a good excuse
Oh, coz I′ve been ticking like a time bomb
I've bit my tongue so much it's all gone
So numb, so numb, so numb
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation′s so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
Come dance while we still can
Coz the plans they have for man ain't no good
I tried to warn you all, you all, you all
Coz I′ve been ticking like a time bomb
I've bit my tongue so much it′s all gone
My hands are tied and I've become so numb
So numb, so numb, so numb
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation′s so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
The lyrics to Robbie Williams' song "Numb" convey a sense of frustration, disconnection, and longing for a different place or state of being. The song begins with the singer asking how the listener's life is, questioning whether something inside them has died. They apologize for potentially being rude but provide a good excuse for their behavior. This introduction sets the tone for the rest of the song, which explores the singer's feelings of numbness and dissatisfaction.
The singer describes themselves as ticking like a time bomb, implying that they have been suppressing their true emotions and opinions for a long time. They feel as if they have bitten their tongue so much that their ability to speak up or express themselves has vanished. Their hands are tied, suggesting a lack of control or power over their own life. Being numb is a metaphor for feeling emotionally disconnected and desensitized.
In the second verse, the singer sends out a message to the corners of the universe, a metaphorical cry for help. They describe the situation as worse than they initially thought, possibly referring to the state of the world or their personal circumstances. The mention of standing in the middle of the Milky Way from ten billion miles away symbolizes their sense of isolation and alienation. They express that this is not where they belong, emphasizing their desire to be taken home, which could represent a longing for a place of comfort, belonging, or understanding.
Overall, "Numb" explores themes of personal frustration, disconnection from oneself and others, and the desire for authenticity, understanding, and a sense of belonging. It reflects the singer's struggle with suppressing their true feelings and their longing for a different, more fulfilling existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you
Greetings to you
How is your life?
How are things going in your life?
Has something in you died?
Have you lost a part of yourself?
Please don't think me rude
I hope you don't consider me impolite
I've got a good excuse
I have a valid reason for my actions
Oh, coz I've been ticking like a time bomb
Because I've been feeling anxious and stressed
I've bit my tongue so much it's all gone
I've held back my thoughts and opinions to the point of silence
My hands are tied and I've become so numb
I feel powerless and emotionally numb
So numb, so numb, so numb
Completely devoid of feeling and sensation
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
Sharing a plea or cry for help with everyone, even beyond Earth
A mayday from mother earth
An urgent distress call from our planet
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Things are far more dire than I initially imagined
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
Can you perceive the voice of someone feeling lost and insignificant in the vastness of the galaxy?
From ten billion miles away?
From an immense distance
This is not where I belong
I feel out of place in this world
Never was, take me home
I've never felt like I truly belong here, please bring me back to where I belong
Come dance while we still can
Let's enjoy ourselves and have fun while we have the opportunity
Coz the plans they have for man ain't no good
Because the intentions and schemes devised for humanity are negative and detrimental
I tried to warn you all, you all, you all
I made an effort to caution and alert everyone
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
Sharing a plea or cry for help with everyone, even beyond Earth
A mayday from mother earth
An urgent distress call from our planet
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Things are far more dire than I initially imagined
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
Can you perceive the voice of someone feeling lost and insignificant in the vastness of the galaxy?
From ten billion miles away?
From an immense distance
This is not where I belong
I feel out of place in this world
Never was, take me home
I've never felt like I truly belong here, please bring me back to where I belong
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
Sharing a plea or cry for help with everyone, even beyond Earth
A mayday from mother earth
An urgent distress call from our planet
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Things are far more dire than I initially imagined
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
Can you perceive the voice of someone feeling lost and insignificant in the vastness of the galaxy?
From ten billion miles away?
From an immense distance
This is not where I belong
I feel out of place in this world
Never was, take me home
I've never felt like I truly belong here, please bring me back to where I belong
Writer(s): Edward James Drewett, Robbie Williams, Steve Robson
Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Magalí Rizzo
Hey you
How is your life?
Has something in you died?
Please don't think me rude
I've got a good excuse
Oh, coz I've been ticking like a time bomb
I've bit my tongue so much it's all gone
My hands are tied and I've become so numb
So numb, so numb, so numb
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
Come dance while we still can
Coz the plans they have for man ain't no good
I tried to warn you all, you all, you all
Coz I've been ticking like a time bomb
I've bit my tongue so much it's all gone
My hands are tied and I've become so numb
So numb, so numb, so numb
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
Sending out a message to the corners of the universe
A mayday from mother earth
The situation's so much worse than I thought
Can you hear the boy stood in the middle of the Milky Way
From ten billion miles away?
This is not where I belong
Never was, take me home
Milan Mottl
This is a masterpiece! Why would anyone put it on B-sides? Same with Eyes on the highway, they both should be on the main album.
Randy K.
I'll never understand how songs like How Wow Yeah Yeah make the cut and songs like this don't
FTh
My exactly instant thought: MASTERPIECE !
Ricardo Hernández Vega
You've beat me to input the starting 4 words on your comment
Ricardo Hernández Vega
@Randy K. I like Hey wow yeah yeah :P
Ronnie May
I agree with you totally! x
FTh
This song is a MASTERPIECE. Please release it as a single and sing it live!! This whole album is super top notch quality . Other artists would dream of having so much fab material ! Your talent is immense 😍🎶🎧❤️💓
Purple Moon
This song should never have been a b side - it’s BEAUTIFUL 😍
Rachael Wood
Instantly loving the whole of UTR2 but this song is the one on repeat. Absolutely love it, your voice, the tone...woahhhh 😍
germanfailer
wow this song really touches me.. I am absolutely in love with parts where you hit those high notes! the whole song is so meaningful and I think you really opened yourself in this song, at least I feel some kind of vulnerability and pain in your voice and I love that you show real emotions.
Keep it coming Rob! hope you´ll never retire