SBTRKT debuted in 2009 with remixes of artists like Radiohead, M.I.A, Basement Jaxx (‘Scars’) and Franz Ferdinand (‘Send Him Away’). These remixes gained the attention of radio DJs and tastemaker blogs, leading to more releases on Brainmath label, Ramp and Young.
His 2011 eponymous debut SBTRKT was critically acclaimed, featuring starmaking turns from artists like Jessie Ware and Sampha. Jerome's collaboration with Sampha had begun in 2010, with the two working to hone their music production skills together in Jerome's London apartment. The creative bond would extend across all of the subsequent SBTRKT albums. Jerome followed up his debut album with 2014's Wonder Where We Land, featuring contributions from Caroline Polachek, A$AP Ferg, alongside Ware, Sampha, and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig.
SBTRKT's third project -- 2016's Save Yourself -- saw Jerome tackling xenophobia, political corruption, and the toils of being an artist under capitalism. Featuring contributions from Shelley FKA DRAM, The-Dream, and Sampha, the project was initially positioned as a rejection of the traditional album format, with Jerome writing upon release that "this is not an album" and that "culturally, albums now feel like a means to prove you are a "real" artist. To release an album, you turn yourself over to traditional label cycles and the end of increasing sales, leaving behind the creative spirit that brought the music to life in the first place."
After releasing Save Yourself, Jerome took an extended hiatus, returning in 2023 with his fourth project The Rat Road. Again inspired by the dire sociopolitical context, Jerome sought to send up the idea of the "rat race," while also stepping more fully into the spotlight and reclaiming his artistry and the narrative surrounding the SBTRKT project. In the lead-up to the album's release, Jerome discussed his South Asian heritage, how the initial anonymity of the SBTRKT project alienated him from his art, and how during his hiatus from the project he sought to hone his skills. The album was released on May 5, 2023.
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Never Never
SBTRKT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the other hand it's hard to talk to anyone else
You can't help-can't help where your mind goes
So lets' harvest on the moon with the autumn snow
'Cause I've never never had so much to gain and threw it all away
And if I ever ever had the chance again I'd probably do the same
Singing ooh I've only let you down
Singing ooh I've left you the crown
Watching yourself in your dreams like wide awake
Hoping hoping you'll return my calls
Convince myself on my health that it's not my fault
'Cause I've never never had so much to gain and threw it all away
And if I ever ever had the chance again I'd probably do the same
Singing ooh I've only let you down
Singing ooh I've left you the crown
No one ever had so much to gain or so much to lose
No one ever had so much to gain or so much to lose
No one ever had so much to gain or so much to lose
No one ever had so much to gain or so much to lose
If I ever had If I ever had if I ever had If I ever had another
See I've never never had so much to gain and threw it all away
And if I ever ever had a chance again I'd probably do the same
Singing ooh I've only let you down
Singing ooh I've left you the crown
See I've never never had so much to gain or had so much to lose
And if I ever ever get past the shame and get through the bruises
Singing ooh I'll never let you down
Singing ooh I never left the crown
In the song "Never Never" by SBTRKT, the lyrics speak to the internal struggle of wanting to connect with others while also being drawn towards your own thoughts and feelings. The chorus repeats the lines "Cause I've never never had so much to gain and threw it all away / And if I ever ever had the chance again I'd probably do the same," conveying a sense of regret for missed opportunities and a fear of repeating past mistakes.
The lines "Open up open up to see your, see your face / Watching yourself in your dreams like wide awake" suggest a longing to connect with someone, but also a feeling of being disconnected from oneself. The lyrics capture a sense of internal conflict and confusion, as the singer grapples with their own desires and fears.
Overall, "Never Never" is a powerful reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the struggle to understand and connect with oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
It's complicated when you gravitate towards yourself
Being too focused on one's own thoughts and feelings can create difficulty in interacting with others
On the other hand it's hard to talk to anyone else
At the same time, it can also be challenging to communicate with others given the complexities of personal experience
You can't help-can't help where your mind goes
It's difficult to control one's thoughts and feelings
So lets' harvest on the moon with the autumn snow
Let us seek new and unusual experiences to escape from the limitations of our own minds
'Cause I've never never had so much to gain and threw it all away
The artist has had great opportunities in life but has sabotaged their own success
And if I ever ever had the chance again I'd probably do the same
Given the chance to succeed again, the singer would likely make the same mistakes
Singing ooh I've only let you down
Expressing regret for disappointing others
Singing ooh I've left you the crown
Acknowledging that others may have benefited from the artist's failures
Open up open up to see your, see your face
Encouraging others to express themselves honestly and authentically
Watching yourself in your dreams like wide awake
Feeling acutely aware and in control of one's own subconscious mind
Hoping hoping you'll return my calls
Longing for connection with another person
Convince myself on my health that it's not my fault
Rationalizing one's own failures and absolving oneself of blame
No one ever had so much to gain or so much to lose
Reflecting on the high stakes and risks involved in life
If I ever had If I ever had if I ever had If I ever had another
Considering the possibility of a fresh start, despite past failures
See I've never never had so much to gain or had so much to lose
Reiterating the magnitude of the potential consequences of one's actions
And if I ever ever get past the shame and get through the bruises
Expressing hope that one may recover from past mistakes and regain confidence
Singing ooh I'll never let you down
Promising to be more reliable and accountable in the future
Singing ooh I never left the crown
Asserting that the singer's past failures do not detract from their innate worth or potential
Lyrics © BEGGARS MUSIC, LTD.
Written by: AARON THOMAS JEROME FOULDS, SAMPHA SISAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind