Sampha's artful and emotive mix of pop, R&B, and electronic music isn't eas… Read Full Bio ↴Sampha's artful and emotive mix of pop, R&B, and electronic music isn't easily categorizable, and is further distinguished by a heartfelt vocal style that tends to sound as if it's on the brink of choking back tears. The artist established himself as a valued remixer and studio collaborator sought by emergent underground talents and mainstream stars alike, including SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Beyoncé, and Kanye West. Process (2017), his full-length debut, went Top Ten in his native U.K. and won the Mercury Prize, yet Sampha has humbly continued to assist a similarly vast range of artists, including Florence + the Machine, Alicia Keys, and Actress, since its release.

The singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer, born Sampha Sisay, started making music in his early teenage years. In 2009, the South London native broke through with a remix of the xx's "Basic Space," which led to a busy schedule across 2010 and 2011. This period entailed collaborations with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, and Lil Silva, as well as a solo debut with Sundanza, an EP issued on the Young Turks label. After a less eventful 2012, the following year Sampha was featured on Drake's "Too Much" and Beyoncé's "Mine," and issued Dual, his second Young Turks EP, an abstract and skeletal showcase for his fragile-sounding yet expressive voice. As he continued to work with fellow U.K. natives SBTRKT, Bullion, and FKA twigs, Sampha was also sought by more high-profile North American artists, and in 2016 alone appeared on Kanye West's The Life of Pablo, Frank Ocean's Endless, and Solange's A Seat at the Table. His own "Timmy's Prayer" (co-written by West) and "Blood on Me" were out by the end of the year as previews of his first full-length. Process, recorded while Sampha was grieving the death of his mother, and released in February 2017, hit number seven in the U.K. and narrowly missed the Top 50 in the U.S. Later in the year, Sampha made appearances on Drake's More Life and releases from Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded project. Process went on to win the 2017 Mercury Prize, as well as Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards Album of the Year. Over the next few years, Sampha contributed in various capacities to recordings by Loyle Carner, Alicia Keys, Headie One and Fred again.., Actress, and many other artists across genres. An expanded "bonus edition" of Process, released in 2022, added two tracks previously available only in Japan.

Kora Sings
Sampha Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's no one here for miles
It's just me in the burning sun
It's just me, myself, and my gun
Remembering the times
Oh, grapes of my vines
But with family I
I don't have the time
Time to be questioning life

(You just gotta be there)

A mother needs a sons, oh she needs them near
We don't need to talk, I just need you here
But if you go away, please don't disappear
The heat is making light of a heavy year

I really hope there's rainfall
My hands together, looking at the stars
I really hope there's angels
Because the world is turning, turning way too fast
She says she can't turn tables
Well I say, "You don't know how well you are
Or just how strong you are
You don't know how strong you are"

A pillow on your face soaking up those tears
Who's anyone to say you should have no fear?
A mouth full of smoke really made things clear (yeah)
You've been with me since the cradle
You've been with me, you're my angel
Please don't you disappear

It's just me in the burning sun
It's just me, myself, and my gun

Overall Meaning

The song "Kora Sings" by Sampha is an emotional piece that tackles themes of loneliness, family, and self-discovery. The opening lines "There's no one here for miles, it's just me in the burning sun, it's just me, myself, and my gun" set the tone for the song, emphasizing the feeling of being alone in a harsh, unforgiving environment. Sampha paints a picture of himself in the middle of the desert, with no one around to share his thoughts and emotions with. As he walks through the scorching heat, he reminisces about the times he spent with his family, longing for their presence but acknowledging that he doesn't have the time or opportunity to be with them.

The chorus of the song is a plea to his loved ones to stay close and not disappear, demonstrating the fear of abandonment and the importance of human connection. The verse "A pillow on your face soaking up those tears, who's anyone to say you should have no fear?" shows the vulnerability of the human condition and how everyone faces their own struggles and challenges. The final lines "It's just me in the burning sun, it's just me, myself, and my gun" serve as a powerful conclusion, highlighting the loneliness and isolation that Sampha feels despite his success and accomplishments.

Line by Line Meaning

There's no one here for miles
I am alone in a desolate place with no one around for miles.

It's just me in the burning sun
I am alone under the scorching sun, with its rays burning down on me.

It's just me, myself, and my gun
I have only myself and my gun to protect me, as there is no one else around.

Remembering the times
I am reminiscing about the past, thinking about all the memories I hold dear.

Oh, grapes of my vines
These memories are precious to me, like the grapes of my vineyard.

But with family I
Even though I have family, I don't spend enough time with them.

I don't have the time
I am always busy and occupied with my own life, and thus do not make time for my family.

Time to be questioning life
I do not have the luxury to sit and ponder about the meaning of life.

(You just gotta be there)
I wish I could be there more for my family.

A mother needs a sons, oh she needs them near
A mother needs her sons close by, to feel their presence and know they are safe.

We don't need to talk, I just need you here
I don't need to speak, just having you close to me is enough.

But if you go away, please don't disappear
But if you have to leave, please let me know so I can prepare myself, rather than disappearing without a trace.

The heat is making light of a heavy year
The heat is so intense that it seems to be making light of all the hard times I've had this year.

I really hope there's rainfall
I wish it would rain to bring relief from the intense heat and to help my crops grow.

My hands together, looking at the stars
I am praying and looking up at the stars in the hope for a better future.

I really hope there's angels
I hope that there are divine beings out there watching over me and my loved ones.

Because the world is turning, turning way too fast
The world is moving too fast that it's hard to keep up with the changes.

She says she can't turn tables
Someone close to me says that they cannot change their situation.

Well I say, "You don't know how well you are
I disagree, and believe that they are better off than they think.

Or just how strong you are
They are also stronger than they give themselves credit for.

You don't know how strong you are"
I want to encourage them to believe in themselves and their own strength.

A pillow on your face soaking up those tears
Sometimes, when we're overwhelmed with emotions, we just need to cry and let it out.

Who's anyone to say you should have no fear?
No one has the right to tell you that it's wrong to feel fear, as fear is just a natural human emotion.

A mouth full of smoke really made things clear (yeah)
After smoking, things became clearer to me. This could mean different things to different people, but it could mean that after engaging in this activity they feel more relaxed and at peace with their thoughts.

You've been with me since the cradle
You've been with me since I was a baby, symbolizing a deep emotional connection.

You've been with me, you're my angel
You have been with me in all the ups and downs of my life, acting as my guardian angel.

Please don't you disappear
I don't want to lose you, as you hold a special place in my life.

It's just me in the burning sun
I am still alone and exposed to the sun's burning heat.

It's just me, myself, and my gun
I am still relying solely on myself and my gun for protection, with no one else around to help.

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Sampha Sisay

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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