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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Sanctuary
SBTRKT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh
Ah
Ah
Oh
Oh
Ah
Ah
If I get to know you baby
Maybe I can hold you down
If I get to take you down
Maybe I can hold you back
If can love you baby
Maybe I can hold you down
If I get to know you baby
Maybe I can hold you down
If I get to take you down
Maybe I can hold you back
If can love you baby
Maybe I can hold you down
If I get to know you baby
If I get to know you baby
If I get to know you baby
If I get to know you baby
If I get to know you baby
The lyrics to "Sanctuary" by SBTRKT have a simple yet evocative quality that sets the tone for the entire song. The repetition of the "oh" and "ah" sounds right from the start creates a sense of atmosphere and anticipation before any words are even sung.
The lyrics themselves are about a desire to connect with someone on a deeper level. The singer is hoping to get to know the object of their affection and form a strong bond that will hold them together. They want to "hold [them] down" and "hold [them] back" - not in a negative or controlling way, but in a loving and protective way.
The repetition of the phrase "If I get to know you baby" reinforces the idea of the singer's yearning for connection, while also expressing a certain amount of uncertainty. There's a sense of longing and hope mixed with fear and apprehension. The song is a meditation on the way love can bring people together and the vulnerability it requires.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
A vocalization of a feeling, possibly indicating anticipation or excitement.
Oh
A repetition of the first vocalization, possibly amplifying its feeling.
Ah
Another vocalization of a feeling, possibly expressing amazement or disbelief.
Ah
A repetition of the second vocalization, possibly amplifying its feeling.
Oh
A recurrence of the first vocalization, possibly indicating a continuation of the feeling.
Oh
A repetition of the fifth vocalization, possibly emphasizing the continuation of the feeling.
Ah
Another recurrence of the third vocalization, possibly indicating a resumption of the feeling.
Ah
A repetition of the seventh vocalization, possibly underscoring the resumption of the feeling.
If I get to know you baby
The artist expresses a conditional desire to know the addressee, suggesting a potential interest in deeper connection.
Maybe I can hold you down
The artist expresses a possibility of providing emotional support or stability to the addressee, suggesting a willingness to be there for the other person.
If I get to take you down
The singer expresses another conditional desire to influence the addressee, suggesting a potential interest in taking the lead or being a guide.
Maybe I can hold you back
The artist expresses another possibility of preventing the addressee from making mistakes or getting into trouble, suggesting a protective instinct.
If can love you baby
The singer starts another conditional statement, expressing a potential capability to love the addressee.
Maybe I can hold you down
The singer returns to the idea of offering emotional support or stability, accentuating the expression of affinity.
If I get to know you baby
The singer reiterates the desire to know the addressee, possibly emphasizing the importance of the connection.
If I get to take you down
The artist repeats the conditional desire to influence the addressee, possibly emphasizing the assertiveness in the expression.
Maybe I can hold you back
The artist reaffirms the possibility of providing protection, possibly reinforcing the commitment to being there for the other person.
If can love you baby
The singer rephrases the earlier conditional statement, possibly evoking a hopeful or expectant tone.
Maybe I can hold you down
The singer repeats the idea of emotional support or stability, possibly indicating its centrality in the expression of affection.
If I get to know you baby
The artist repeats the desire to know the addressee, possibly indicating the persistence of this urge.
If I get to know you baby
The artist once again repeats the desire to know the addressee, possibly underscoring its importance.
If I get to know you baby
The artist finishes by iterating the desire to know the addressee, possibly concluding the expression of longing.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: AARON JEROME FOULDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind