“I was always a writer," says the man formerly known as Aaron Livingston. "Before I really learned music, I was serious about writing. Didn’t matter what it was. Just playing with words.”
Considering how long he's been making music, that's saying something. Born in Los Angeles to a preacher and a teacher, as a kid he absorbed songs from dusty family records and learned saxophone and piano, though he felt more at home inventing his own language on those instruments rather than following the lesson plan. Adapt or die, as they say.
Cycling through jazz, rock and R&B history, the hungry young son was beginning his true education. A few years later, the Livingstons moved to Queens, introducing Aaron to the active arts of hip-hop, basketball and city life. High school in suburban Jersey left him wanting more, so he headed to Manhattan and Columbia University, where he discovered art, recreational substances, and girls, girls, girls. He dropped out, got a job, got sad, kept journals. He moved to Philly, enrolled at Temple University, met the legendary Roots crew, even played music with them; they put his voice on an album, undun. He had a daughter, then a son. He was happy, still writing all the while.
Then, slowly, the music stalled. Faded. He got another dead end job. He checked out of days. He got sad again. He forgot how to adapt.
But, as it has the ability to do, the songwriting saved him. It was in his blood, he remembered. Coltrane. Hendrix. Santana. Tribe. And this time he vowed to never let it go. That's not to say he's always happy; he's human, after all. But making music helps keep things in perspective.
"I feel the weight of life as I always did, as everyone does," he says. "But I feel the weight lifted, because I love doing this. And the more I do it, the more I love it."
Son Little writes everywhere, every day, finding inspiration on the train, in a car, on the street, in the supermarket, with his children. Sometimes the ideas are fresh. Sometimes a tune comes from his past, a single spark. Nothing is off limits.
"It could be just a thought, and everything else comes from that," he says. "In one of my books could be a phrase that later is a song, and then the song becomes a whole catalog. It’s gotta germinate from somewhere."
Inspiration firmly struck, the song begins to bloom. There are many channels to Son Little's broadcast, varied stops on the dial, from blues to soul to funk to folk, and jook-joint jazz and chamber pop and back again. His voice—raw, weary yet alert, grave and gravelly, Marvin and Otis and Stevie all at once—soars and creeps, cracks and moans. His songs haunt, thrill, yearn and stomp like all the best work of his heroes.
And the learning never stops. Little has collaborated with highly respected artists like The Roots and the producer/DJ RJD2, mentoring under the former and creating a duo with the latter called Icebird, which allowed him to flex his considerable vocal chops and song arrangement skills.
"I've always loved the studio, but RJ helped me see how I can use it more effectively and find ways to challenge myself, and be inventive with sound. And The Roots, it’s hard to quantify what I’ve learned from them. Everything from how to rehearse to how to occupy the stage and command it…two things that are very fundamental in this business, and they are masters."
This fall sees the release of the first recorded output from Son Little for Anti- Records, an EP called, wouldn't you know it, Things I Forgot. Six songs: three babies (released first as videos), two twins, and an RJD2 remix. It's all there, all those misremembered things: Triumph and trophies, hardship and heartache, soft sentences, loud chapters, facts and birthdays, faces and places and scrapes and scales, nights and weeks and years all lost, gone into the ether, slipped away, out-sizing our normal human bandwidth.
"The singles, 'Cross My Heart' and 'Your Love Will Blow Me Away When My Heart Aches' and 'The River,' were more or less written consecutively," he says. "And so I think they were sort of internal responses to one other, complements. It's harder to place but I’ve been tinkering with the other two, 'Joy' and 'Alice,' for a long time. They’re sort of akin to one another in terms of mood. This is a small collection and maybe it's not as much a singular vision...it's more of a handful.”
A grip of memories; Things He Forgot. Son Little writes to remember, matching the disparate vibes of his full, full life with a patchwork blanket of sound, experience and inspiration. Inventing, observing, adapting. And still, it grows.
"I don’t see any end to the learning," he says. "And to understanding more of something that you immerse yourself in. Could be anything, again. Right now I’m immersed in this music and I feel that my understanding appreciates and changes scope and perspective. It's really rewarding in its own way."
Blue Magic
Son Little Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
I got blue, so tragic
Probably forty-four moons or more
I don't want to count how many days
I don't want to be a bad man
But I'm a bad man just the same
Ain't no I in we I mean, I mean we
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
And I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
I got blue automatic on my first trip around the sun
Now I got the blue in Spanish
Damn I'm always on the run
And I don't want to be a bad man
But 'm bad man just the same
Let me know if you can manage
'Cause I got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Yeah, I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Got your mana
Here in bowls yeah
Blue skies, sunshine
Waves will roll, ah
I got blue drip no static
I got a habit of making time
I might rock the blue in traffic
I might look to the sky for a sign
Never wanted to be a bad man
But I'm a bad man just the same
Let the sun through nothing else to do
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah)
And I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Said I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Yeah, I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
In the song Blue Magic by Son Little, the singer describes the power of the "blue magic" he possesses. He claims that he cannot hear anything else because he is so consumed with this magic. The repetition of the phrase "I got the blue magic" emphasizes the singer's confidence in his ability to wield this magic to his advantage. He also mentions the tragic nature of this power, hinting that it may have come at a great cost to him.
The singer further reveals that he has been dragged around on the floor for a significant amount of time, possibly 44 moons or more. He admits to being a "bad man" but insists that he and the listener have "no time for games." The repetition of the phrase "whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa" between stanzas serves as a transitional element throughout the song.
Overall, the song Blue Magic seems to be about personal power and the internal struggles that come along with it. The blue magic is symbolic of something that has consumed the singer and given him immense strength, but also a sense of tragedy and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't hear anything
The singer is so absorbed in their own blue magic that they are unaware of their surroundings.
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
The singer possesses a powerful and addictive energy, which they attribute to their blue magic, that is capable of captivating others.
I got blue, so tragic
The singer associates their blue magic with sadness or tragedy.
Probably forty-four moons or more
I don't want to count how many days
I've been dragged all around the floor
The artist has suffered for a long time and has lost count of the days they have endured pain and hardship.
I don't want to be a bad man
But I'm a bad man just the same
Ain't no I in we I mean, I mean we
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
The artist acknowledges their flaws and is part of a group that values authenticity and sincerity over playing games or pretending to be something they are not.
I got blue automatic on my first trip around the sun
Now I got the blue in Spanish
Damn I'm always on the run
The singer has had their blue magic with them since birth and has since gained more control over it. They feel restless and always on the move.
Let me know if you can manage
'Cause I got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
The singer is upfront about their demanding personality and has little tolerance for those who cannot handle it.
Got your mana
Here in bowls yeah
Blue skies, sunshine
Waves will roll, ah
The artist imbues others with their own blue magic and enjoys the natural beauty and power of the world around them.
I got blue drip no static
I got a habit of making time
I might rock the blue in traffic
I might look to the sky for a sign
The artist is always attuned to their blue magic and incorporates it into their daily life and routine, using it to find inspiration and meaning.
Let the sun through nothing else to do
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah)
The artist sees the value in being honest and transparent about their blue magic and focusing on what truly matters in life, rather than wasting time on trivial pursuits.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AARON EARL LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Jade_Everfrost
Many of the lyrics I’ve read either refer to getting buzzed or getting high from the sound of it, but if you must know what the lyrics are, here:
I don't hear anything
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
I got blue, so tragic
Probably forty-four moons or more
I don't want to count how many days
I've been dragged all around the floor
I don't want to be a bad man
But I'm a bad man just the same
Ain't no I in we I mean, I mean we
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
And I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
I got blue automatic on my first trip around the sun
Now I got the blue in Spanish
Damn I'm always on the run
And I don't want to be a bad man
But 'm bad man just the same
Let me know if you can manage
'Cause I got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Yeah, I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Got your mana
Here in bowls yeah
Blue skies, sunshine
Waves will roll, ah
I got blue drip no static
I got a habit of making time
I might rock the blue in traffic
I might look to the sky for a sign
Never wanted to be a bad man
But I'm a bad man just the same
Let the sun through nothing else to do
We got no time for games (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah)
And I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Said I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Yeah, I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
'Cause I got the blue magic, I got the blue magic
And I rock you so savage, 'cause I got the blue magic (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
@CharisseArrington
Its 4am in the morning and I playing this song over and over again.. gettin my happy party on. Havin' a ball too. Singing...Yeah I got the Blue Magic😄
@livetobe2079
Saw him live at the X ambassadors concert instanly fell in love!
@thegarbwire7443
Bottled sound of summer.
@kevinjames9845
And Now, a Justin Timberlake impression by Little Son..... rrrrrrrrrIP
@user-bd4hj5ru4b
It’s funny cuz this song plays on the speaker at my job and it lives in my head rent free I love this freaking songgg!!!!!
@Armidillodude
Yes I have obtained the blue magic
Yes I have received the blue magic
And I rock it so savage
Because I am in possession of the blue magic
@antondredoublee7727
This song takes me to places I've never been, places I'd like to go back to, places I've been and don't remember, and places I don't even know exist. All at the same time.
@TheXJCherokee
Last week was in Amsterdam, sat in a caffee and ....... heard the song on the radio, fantastic vibe!
@alandemsky
This should be more popular
@andrewperez5764
Exactly. Its literally perfect!