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.
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.
Only
Sampha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only
Still here, only God knows why
Still here, only God knows why (only God knows why)
Dreams of a beach with a house behind (beach with a house behind)
Deep thought on the speed of life
Sun's in perfect reach each time (oh)
Then I wake up clean to a different light (light, light, light)
And I see problems, jump and hide (hide, hide, hide)
I can't see trap doors in my mind
Blurry signs that I can't define
Like predictin' movements ahead of time
Projectiles comin' from the side
Projectiles comin' for my life
War zone when I close my eyes
La-la-la, it's fingers in my ears
I was not tryna hear
I'm movin' on faith and faith only
Desires crush me numb
I would chase and then some
From love I would run
Like it's just here to disown me
That's why I keep my distance, even if I miss it
Wire me the wisdom to pick up when it phones me
Take my body for a walk, call somebody just to talk
Take a mic and press record and speak the truth only
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
I was chasin' highs (I was chasin' highs)
On diagonal (on diagonal)
Started lookin' down (started lookin' down)
Like "where the middle go?" (Where the middle go?)
I been on this grind like it's gonna break my fall (gonna break my fall)
Careerism pot hole, like "where my love ones goes?" (Where my love ones goes?)
Obediently blindly, I trust you and you know (trust you and you know)
I don't wanna judge, but I need to save my soul (need to save my soul)
I question your priorities, isn't in this boat
Wired to a system, born into a cold
Has a way of keepin' self-esteem on the low (self-esteem on the low)
Betting on myself, like "how wise is this hope?" (How wise is this hope?)
Betting on myself, like "how wide is this hole?" (How wide is this hole?)
You tell me it's the wrong choice
You tell me it's the wrong choice, but I-
La-la-la, it's fingers in my ears
I was not tryna hear
I'm movin' on faith and faith only
Desires crush me numb
I would chase and then some
From love I would run like
It's just here to disown me
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only
Only, only, only, only, only, only
Still here, only God knows why
Still here, only God knows why (only God knows why)
Dreams of a beach with a house behind (beach with a house behind)
Deep thought on the speed of life
Sun's in perfect reach each time (oh)
And I see problems, jump and hide (hide, hide, hide)
I can't see trap doors in my mind
Blurry signs that I can't define
Like predictin' movements ahead of time
Projectiles comin' from the side
Projectiles comin' for my life
War zone when I close my eyes
La-la-la, it's fingers in my ears
I was not tryna hear
I'm movin' on faith and faith only
Desires crush me numb
I would chase and then some
From love I would run
Like it's just here to disown me
That's why I keep my distance, even if I miss it
Wire me the wisdom to pick up when it phones me
Take my body for a walk, call somebody just to talk
Take a mic and press record and speak the truth only
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
I was chasin' highs (I was chasin' highs)
On diagonal (on diagonal)
Started lookin' down (started lookin' down)
Like "where the middle go?" (Where the middle go?)
I been on this grind like it's gonna break my fall (gonna break my fall)
Careerism pot hole, like "where my love ones goes?" (Where my love ones goes?)
Obediently blindly, I trust you and you know (trust you and you know)
I don't wanna judge, but I need to save my soul (need to save my soul)
I question your priorities, isn't in this boat
Wired to a system, born into a cold
Has a way of keepin' self-esteem on the low (self-esteem on the low)
Betting on myself, like "how wise is this hope?" (How wise is this hope?)
Betting on myself, like "how wide is this hole?" (How wide is this hole?)
You tell me it's the wrong choice
You tell me it's the wrong choice, but I-
La-la-la, it's fingers in my ears
I was not tryna hear
I'm movin' on faith and faith only
Desires crush me numb
I would chase and then some
From love I would run like
It's just here to disown me
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only you
Only, only, only, only, only, only
The lyrics of Sampha's song "Only" explore themes of self-reflection, perseverance, and the challenges of navigating through life. The repeated refrain "Only, only, only, only, only, only you" suggests a sense of yearning or longing for someone or something. It expresses a deep connection to a particular person or entity that provides solace or meaning in life.
The lyrics also touch on the elusive nature of happiness and fulfillment. The line "Still here, only God knows why" suggests a sense of uncertainty or questioning of one's purpose, while the reference to dreams of a beach with a house behind symbolizes the desire for a peaceful and stable life. The contrast between the dream state and waking reality underscores the difficulties faced when confronting life's problems and challenges.
The lyrics also allude to the internal struggles faced by the singer. The mention of "blurry signs" and "predictin' movements ahead of time" suggests a sense of confusion or inability to fully understand or control one's circumstances. The line "Projectiles comin' for my life/War zone when I close my eyes" paints a vivid picture of the turmoil and chaos experienced within one's mind.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sampha Sisay, Pablo Diaz-Reixa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@majesticcasual
beautiful video! 🥰
@karlblakeman720
😂
@siya_jpg
can’t wait for this new sampha era— truly one of the most underrated artists of our generation
@reigniv4044
He's no longer underrated at all
@siya_jpg
@@reigniv4044 i beg to differ tbh
@luther2399
Underrated? Words have meaning people.
@Therealdangerboy54
I agree with you, I ask people if they've heard of Sampha and they have no idea.@@siya_jpg
@amynunes3940
@siya_jpg underground not under rated!
@nelsonbakari_
In my language, thanking you for good music we say, “Siyabonga Sampha ngomculo wakho om’nandi” 👊🏽
@vuyanindawo215
🇿🇦🇿🇦❤️