Wise was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up amongst a religious family; his father owned a Christian bookstore and his mother was a choir director. Wise joined the church choir as a child and grew up with classical and gospel music as a primary influence.
He attended the University of the Arts and sang with a couple of neo-soul bands in Philadelphia, before re-locating to New York City where he started working with Robin Carolan of Tri Angle Records. The blisters EP was released in September 2016 with previously available songs 'flickering', 'blisters' and 'four ethers' , alongside 'penance' and 'redemption'. The EP was co-written and produced with The Haxan Cloak.
Wise is openly gay and from a young age used gospel music to express his sexuality.
http://tri-anglerecords.com/serpentwithfeet
fragrant
SERPENTWITHFEET Lyrics
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I needed to know if they still carried your fragrance
Baby boy, as their mouths, their mouths consumed mine
Their lips were sweet as yours, I hope your flavor stays in mind
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
I'll enjoy this illegal love
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
I love all your ex-boyfriends, I love the way they kiss
I'm happy to know, we all carry your assets
Baby boy, as their bodies, their bodies coiled around mine
We sang your name in harmony, we sounded just fine
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
I'll enjoy this illegal love
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
I'll enjoy this illegal love
Having or better not to have
I guess it doesn't matter
I'm glad I have them
Having or better not to have
I guess it doesn't matter
I'm glad I have them
Having or better not to have (Yes, we all miss you)
I guess it doesn't matter
I'm glad I have them
Having or better not to have (Yes, we all miss you)
I guess it doesn't matter
I'm glad I have them
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
The lyrics to SERPENTWITHFEET's song "fragrant" are a complex mix of emotions and desires. The song talks about the singer's deep longing for someone who is no longer around. They are looking for ways to feel close to that person and to relive the memories that they shared. In the first verse, the singer calls all of their ex-boyfriends and asks them for a kiss. They needed to know if any of them still carried the fragrance of their beloved, hoping that the memory of the scent would bring them closer to the missing person. The singer describes the kisses as "sweet" just like their beloved, and they hope that the flavor of their missing lover stays in their mind.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how they love all their ex-boyfriends and the way they kiss. They are happy to know that they all carry a part of their beloved's essence, and as they embrace and coil around the singer, they sing out their lost lover's name in harmony. The singer seems to be finding a bittersweet satisfaction in the presence of these ex-lovers, even if it's temporary.
Overall, "fragrant" is a melancholic reflection on the power of smell and memory to keep a long-gone beloved alive. It deals with the theme of missing someone and the lengths one goes to in order to cling to the memories they shared.
Line by Line Meaning
I called all your ex-boyfriends and asked them for a kiss
I contacted your former lovers to taste your lingering scent
I needed to know if they still carried your fragrance
I wanted to experience your essence through them
Baby boy, as their mouths, their mouths consumed mine
As they kissed me, I felt you and reminisced our intimacy
Their lips were sweet as yours, I hope your flavor stays in mind
I tasted you in them and wished to hold onto your memory
Yes, we all miss you, but since you won't come around
We long for you, but since you won't return, we indulge in what we can
I'll enjoy this illegal love
I'll cherish and relish this forbidden affection
I love all your ex-boyfriends, I love the way they kiss
I adore all the people who have experienced you in that way
I'm happy to know, we all carry your assets
I'm glad we all possess a piece of you in our memories and souls
Baby boy, as their bodies, their bodies coiled around mine
As we intertwined, I felt their love but wished it was yours
We sang your name in harmony, we sounded just fine
Collectively, we honored you and your impact on us
Having or better not to have
It's unsure if it's better to have something or not
I'm glad I have them
But I'm grateful to have experienced their intimacy and connection to you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Josiah Wise, Michael Volpe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind