Selah started playing classic guitar when she was 15. When she was 17, she participated in an open mic night in 'Het Depot', a small venue in Leuven. Organiser of the event and successful Belgian singer Milow (born Jonathan Vandenbroeck) saw her perform and asked her to be his support act..
Her playlist consists of some covers (most notably The Zutons' Valerie), but mainly of her own songs. Late 2008 saw the release of the Black Part Love EP with six of them. This EP can be listened to integrally at her official website, www.selahsue.be. Thanks to multiple media and support appearances for the likes of Jamie Lidell, Novastar, Simply Red and Prince, Selah Sue is steadily gaining fame and respect.
On occasions she features as a vocalist for dubstep formation Addicted Kru Sound in local venues.
She's recently been named by the Rolling Stone magazine as one of the New Faces of 2012.
Break
Selah Sue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
before I make the big mistake
And, how long will it take
before my eyes speak out the truth
How hard will I break
When all the rules no longer stand
And thoughts are running out of air
When I can't deal with this at all
It's getting darker, break my wall
but no one gets my point, at all
And how long will it take
Before the mask falls off my face
And how long will it take
before my eyes speak out the truth
How hard will I break
When all the rules no longer stand
And thoughts are running out of air
And how hard will I fall
When I can't deal with this at all
It's getting darker, break my wall
but no one gets my point, at all
The song "Break" by Selah Sue is about the fear of vulnerability and the struggle to be authentic in a world where it can be challenging to express oneself honestly. In the opening lines, she expresses the fear of making a major mistake and the unwillingness to speak the truth. She wonders how long it will take before she is no longer able to hide her true feelings and emotions behind a mask.
As the song progresses, Selah Sue reflects on the difficulties of navigating life when the rules no longer make sense and her thoughts are suffocating her. She acknowledges the fear of breaking and falling apart completely in the face of these challenges. She feels the weight of the wall she's built up around herself, but despite efforts to break it down, no one truly understands her struggles.
The chorus of the song repeats the questions of how long it will take before Selah Sue can be truthful and vulnerable, and how hard she will break and fall in the process. These questions capture the tension and the conflict that the artist feels as she grapples with her need to be authentic versus her fear of rejection and judgment.
Overall, Selah Sue's "Break" is a powerful meditation on vulnerability and the cost of hiding one's true self from the world. The anxiety, tension, and hopelessness that she expresses are all too familiar to anyone who has ever felt the pressure to conform to expectations and hide their true self from the world.
Line by Line Meaning
How long will it take,
Selah Sue wonders about the time it will take before she makes a big mistake.
before I make the big mistake
She worries about committing a big error that could negatively affect her life.
And, how long will it take
She reiterates her question about the amount of time required for her to reveal the truth.
before my eyes speak out the truth
She wonders when she will be able to show her true self to everyone.
How hard will I break
Selah Sue questions how much pressure she can endure before she collapses.
When all the rules no longer stand
She is concerned about living in a world with standards that conflict with her beliefs.
And thoughts are running out of air
She expresses how suffocating it is to be in a state of anxiety.
How hard will I fall
Selah Sue muses about the severity of the consequences after not managing her problems correctly.
When I can't deal with this at all
She acknowledges that she is not capable of handling her issues alone.
It's getting darker, break my wall
As the situation becomes more oppressive, she calls for someone to help her overcome her barriers.
but no one gets my point, at all
She laments that nobody understands her struggles or pain.
Before the mask falls off my face
She questions herself about when she will finally drop her facade and express her true emotions.
And how long will it take
She repeats her query about the length of time it will take before she can be herself.
before my eyes speak out the truth
She reiterates her aspirations to reveal her genuine self to others.
When all the rules no longer stand
She explains that she is looking forward to living in a world that aligns with her values.
And thoughts are running out of air
She admits that her stress levels continue to rise, leaving her feeling suffocated.
And how hard will I fall
Selah Sue circles back to her concern about the severity of the consequences if she doesn't receive help.
When I can't deal with this at all
She reiterates that handling her struggles without assistance is beyond her capabilities.
It's getting darker, break my wall
She pleads with someone to help her overcome her obstacles before the situation worsens.
but no one gets my point, at all
She concludes that nobody comprehends the depth of her problems.
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lozzymagoo
I remembered this song earlier after years of not hearing it. This one, and 'summertime'. I use to play both those songs on loop and they helped me in my depression in my 20s. Theres such a sad nostalgia though.
@rubisiakannejoelle
Ce morceau d'une grande douceur m'amène vraiment dans un espace où je me sens bien. Merci, selah pour provoquer de si belles émotions, mon âme se réjouit avec cette douce mélodie
@Bombchellebettie
The kind of music you feel way down in your core! This being is divine for sure. ..
@miroushathomann
Selah Sue... Tu me fait toujours autant rêver, tu es une perle rare <3
@dirkdiggler1242
🇧🇪
@taracotton2
I love this song it makes you feel ur not alone
@steffischander8289
So beautiful! Listened to this album over and over in my car.
@dirkdiggler1242
Me 2
@dirkdiggler1242
Where'd she go?
@cindyj1904
Love it!!!