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.
Stereo Colour Cloud
Sampha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Samph, bro, wake-
I wish you, could, time
Time, missile, back, forward
I miss you, time, misuse
Time flies, life issues
Hardwired, forever seeking out
Walking through them now
I see you mirror me, we oscillate
Around each other's smiles
I think we found ourselves a sacred place
A space to dream out loud
Zero in on your eyes, the safest place
For this troubled child (are you dreaming?)
Facing infinity, my demons fly
And chase me on the ground
We grow a pair of wings and fly on high (nah, you're flying)
The forest in the clouds
The trees are talking in a frequency
Something close to sound
I hear them questioning like
Who do you care about? (Care about)
Who's there when you're down? (You're down)
Who do you care about? (Care about)
Watch who you care about
I miss you
Time misuse, time
Who keeps talking through my dreams?
Time flies, life issues (flying about th-)
Time, missile, back, forward
I miss you, time misuse
Time flies, life issues
Time flies, life issues
Back, forward, I miss you
Back, forward, I miss you (I miss you, time misuse)
I miss you, time misuse (time flies, life issues)
Time flies, life issues
Falling through (falling through, falling through)
I was falling through clouds and (through clouds and, through clouds and)
That's where I felt it (that's where I felt it, that's where I felt it)
Some (some), some kind of spirit (kind of spirit, kind of spirit)
Or something (or something, or something)
In "Stereo Colour Cloud," Sampha explores the themes of time, love, and the human connection. The song begins with a sentiment of longing and nostalgia, as he wishes he could turn back time and reconnect with someone. He reflects on the passage of time and the way it can shape our lives and create challenges. The lyrics "Time flies, life issues" suggest that time can sometimes be misused or wasted, leading to personal struggles.
As the song progresses, Sampha delves into a more introspective and dreamlike state. He describes a sacred place where he and the other person can be their true selves and dream freely. Their connection is so profound that they mirror each other and create a safe space for each other's troubles. It's a place where they can face their demons together and find solace.
The second half of the song moves into a more ethereal realm, as Sampha discusses a forest in the clouds where the trees communicate in a frequency similar to sound. The trees seem to ask questions about who and what matters in life, challenging the listener to consider their own priorities and connections.
Overall, "Stereo Colour Cloud" is a introspective and poetic exploration of the passage of time, the complexities of relationships, and the pursuit of inner peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Bro
Hey, my friend
Samph, bro, wake-
Hey Sampha, wake up
I wish you, could, time
I wish you could control time
Time, missile, back, forward
Time feels like a weapon that can take us back or move us forward
I miss you, time, misuse
I miss you and I've wasted time
Time flies, life issues
Time passes quickly and life presents challenges
Hardwired, forever seeking out
Inherently driven, always searching
Subjects mysterious like time and love
Topics as perplexing as time and love
Walking through them now
Navigating through these experiences currently
I see you mirror me, we oscillate
I notice how you reflect me, our interactions fluctuate
Around each other's smiles
Revolve around the happiness we bring each other
I think we found ourselves a sacred place
I believe we discovered a special, holy space
A space to dream out loud
A place where we can freely express our dreams
Zero in on your eyes, the safest place
Focusing on your eyes feels like the most secure place
For this troubled child (are you dreaming?)
For someone like me who struggles (are you also dreaming?)
Facing infinity, my demons fly
Confronting endless possibilities, my inner struggles become airborne
And chase me on the ground
And pursue me even when I'm grounded
We grow a pair of wings and fly on high (nah, you're flying)
We develop the ability to fly and soar above (no, you're already flying)
The forest in the clouds
A metaphorical forest existing within the clouds
The trees are talking in a frequency
The trees communicate in a particular wavelength
Something close to sound
Something resembling sound
I hear them questioning like
I perceive them asking as if
Who do you care about? (Care about)
Who holds importance to you?
Who's there when you're down? (You're down)
Who supports you during your low moments?
Who do you care about? (Care about)
Who do you have genuine concern for?
Watch who you care about
Be cautious about the people you invest your care in
I miss you
I long for your presence
Time misuse, time
I've wasted time, time passes
Who keeps talking through my dreams?
Who continues to speak in my dreams?
Time flies, life issues (flying about th-)
Time moves quickly, bringing various challenges (flying around)
Falling through (falling through, falling through)
Descending rapidly (falling through, falling through)
I was falling through clouds and (through clouds and, through clouds and)
I experienced a downward descent through clouds (through clouds and, through clouds and)
That's where I felt it (that's where I felt it, that's where I felt it)
That's where I sensed it deeply (that's where I felt it, that's where I felt it)
Some (some), some kind of spirit (kind of spirit, kind of spirit)
An indescribable essence or presence (kind of spirit, kind of spirit)
Or something (or something, or something)
Possibly anything beyond explanation (or something, or something)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Giles King-Ashong, Sampha Lahai Sisay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Otaku Haven
Bro this album was such a fun and unique experience anyone who’s hating must not have listened to it with headphones 😭
Gabriel 45Alien 产
MY EARPHONES BROKE NOOO 💀💀
Paul Schiavoni
Thank you, Sampha, for gracing us with yet another mesmerizing song and a captivating album. The anticipation was wholly rewarded with your musical brilliance.
Kirby Moses
This song really does sound like how a dream feels🤍
Lelli Beats
Obrigado mano Sampha por essa reflexão e esse instrumental 🙏🏽🔥
rockkiller124
This album is a spiritual experience
Chris Gallup
This shit goes incredibly hard. 🤧
shelz Black
Gets better everytime i listen to this ❤
Azariah The Alkhemist
Man I thought we’d never get another sampha project
pxsoul
This is beautiful