Smoke City was a London, UK band whose music blended modern styles like aci… Read Full Bio ↴Smoke City was a London, UK band whose music blended modern styles like acid jazz and trip hop with Brazilian styles like samba and bossa nova. Vocalist Nina Miranda formed Smoke City around 1994 with former schoolmate Mark Brown and guitarist Chris Franck, formerly of the Brighton-based Brazilian percussion group Batu.

Smoke City are best known for their single Underwater Love, which was a major hit in 1996. The music video is notable for predating the film The Matrix in its use of bullet time motion.

In 1997 the band released their first album, Flying Away, which included several hits like Underwater Love and Mr. Gorgeous (and Miss Curvaceous).

While Flying Away was hard to classify because it had everything from light trip-hop to gentle guitar ballads, Smoke City's next album, Heroes of Nature (released in 2001), was considered too odd even by fans, combining even more styles and incorporating dance beats in some of the tracks. An extended version of Heroes of Nature had three more tracks than the original, one of them being a cover of John Lennon's famous song Imagine.

The group disbanded in 2002.

What It Was
Smoke City Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What it was or what it is
You took me off where I left it
Guessing and wandering what I did
All through the night and we drift a little

I knew you before
I think you're with me, I'm not sure
Didn't know what it was

Don't you know who I am
'Cause I don't know myself anymore
'Cause I didn't know what it was before
I didn't what it was

What it is or what it was
You took me in when I got off
Forever keeping me just a bit
Back in a way that still tilts a little

I know you before, a feeling, a motion a wave
I look at you now and question the future

Don't you know who I am
'Cause I don't know myself anymore

'Cause I didn't know what it was before
I didn't what it was

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Smoke City's "What It Was" convey a sense of uncertainty and confusion about one's identity and past experiences. The lines "What it was or what it is, you took me off where I left it, guessing and wandering what I did, all through the night and we drift a little" suggest that the singer is struggling to remember their past actions and is relying on someone else to help them piece together their memories.

The lyrics "Don't you know who I am, 'cause I don't know myself anymore, 'cause I didn't know what it was before, I didn't what it was" further emphasize this feeling of disorientation and loss of self. The singer is grappling with their identity and trying to figure out who they are, but they seem to be struggling to do so on their own.

The song also explores the theme of change and growth, as seen in the lines "I look at you now and question the future." The singer is uncertain about what the future holds and seems to be seeking reassurance or guidance from the person they are addressing in the song.

Line by Line Meaning

What it was or what it is
This line introduces the theme of uncertainty and confusion, unsure of whether the past or present is being discussed.

You took me off where I left it
The singer acknowledges that the subject has provided helpful guidance, leading them somewhere they could not have reached alone.

Guessing and wandering what I did
The singer admits to being lost and unsure, seeking answers to their previous actions.

All through the night and we drift a little
The artist passed time with the subject, but both drifted in thought and feeling.

I knew you before
The artist has some prior relationship with the subject.

I think you're with me, I'm not sure
The singer is uncertain of their connection, possibly due to changes over time.

Didn't know what it was
The singer was unsure of the nature of their relationship.

Don't you know who I am
The artist asks if the subject understands them, possibly out of insecurity.

'Cause I don't know myself anymore
The artist expresses a loss of identity, possibly influenced by their relationship with the subject.

'Cause I didn't know what it was before
The artist lacked understanding of their relationship with the subject, leading to confusion.

I didn't what it was
This line repeats the sentiment of previous lines regarding the singer's confusion.

What it is or what it was
Again blurring the line between past and present, the artist reflects on their relationship with the subject.

You took me in when I got off
The subject helped the singer during a time of need.

Forever keeping me just a bit
The singer acknowledges they are held close by the subject, but not completely.

Back in a way that still tilts a little
There is still some imbalance or uncertainty in the relationship.

I know you before, a feeling, a motion a wave
The artist remembers the subject from their past, signifying a deeper connection.

I look at you now and question the future
The artist is unsure if their relationship will endure.

Don't you know who I am
Repeating the earlier question, the singer seeks validation of their identity from the subject.

'Cause I don't know myself anymore
Again acknowledging a loss of identity due to the relationship.

'Cause I didn't know what it was before
This line reiterates the artist's lack of understanding of their past relationship.

I didn't what it was
The final line repeats the previous sentiment, emphasizing the artist's confusion and uncertainty.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NINA ISABELA ROCHA MIRANDA, CHRISTIAN FRANCK, MARC LEE BROWN, TONI ECONOMIDES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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