Written by Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs
Produced by Saint Etienne

Rel… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs
Produced by Saint Etienne

Released April 1991 on Nothing Can Stop Us.

Notes This track samples the Andrew Weatherall remix of Only Love Can Break Your Heart. 'Speedwell' is a number of things - an area of Bristol (home of Massive Attack), one of the Falkland Islands, the partner ship of the Mayflower that did not make it to the New World and is also a herb (part of the veronica arvensis genus).

"It's Pete doing Moby 8 years before Moby did it - it's just an old gospel vocal with piano underneath. Years ahead of their time!" (engineer Ian Catt, 2009).

"Paul Heaton in some end of year round up named 'Speedwell' his favourite piece of art of the year. It's the only time anyone's ever mentioned it, I think." (Bob Stanley, 2009).

Speedwell
Saint Etienne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[the vocals for this song are some lovely over-the-top male soulful pose singing. there are a few real words:]

Oh / yeah!

Didn't know / the reason why, / yeah, / yeah.

[the remixes also contain some spanish lyrics:]

Yo te quiero / me haca falta tu amor /
Te necesito / te adoro /
Lo unico que yo quiero que tu hagas es a conocerme /
? ? ? / ? ? ? /
Tu seras para mi / yo sere para ti /
Lo unico que yo quiero que tu hagas es a conocerme /

[english translation: I love you, I need your love, I need you, I adore you, the only thing I want you to do is know me... you will belong yo me, I will belong to you, the only thing I want you to do is know me.]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Saint Etienne's song "Speedwell" are a mix of English and Spanish, with the male soulful vocals adding an extra layer of emotion to the already melancholic vibe of the song. The lyrics open with the lines "Oh/ yeah!/ Didn't know/ the reason why, yeah, yeah," which set the tone for a song that is questioning and searching for meaning. The ambiguity of the lyrics is intentional, with the words conveying a sense of loss and a desire for connection, without revealing the underlying cause.

In the remixes of the song, the Spanish lyrics come into play, adding another layer of longing and desperation. The translated lyrics reveal a deep desire for love and connection, with the singer declaring "I love you, I need your love, I need you, I adore you, the only thing I want you to do is know me... you will belong to me, I will belong to you, the only thing I want you to do is know me."

Overall, "Speedwell" is a song that speaks to the universal human experience of searching for connection, meaning and love, while grappling with confusion and loss.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh / yeah!
An exclamation of enjoyment and excitement.

Didn't know / the reason why, / yeah, / yeah.
Admitting not knowing the cause of something while indicating agreement and affirmativeness.

Yo te quiero / me haca falta tu amor / Te necesito / te adoro / Lo unico que yo quiero que tu hagas es a conocerme / ? ? ? / ? ? ? / Tu seras para mi / yo sere para ti / Lo unico que yo quiero que tu hagas es a conocerme /
I love you, I need your love, I need you, I adore you, the only thing I want you to do is know me... you will belong yo me, I will belong to you, the only thing I want you to do is know me.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB STANLEY, PETER STEWART WIGGS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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