“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."
Lay Down
Son Little Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once,
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
And watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Lay down with me a moment
Let me ease, let me ease your worried mind
Lay down and drift a moment
Let's not waste anymore of our precious time
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Said baby, won't you lay, lay down
And watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Just this once,
Let your hair down and pull the curtain
Let me see, let me see you in the light
Just lay down, your words are worthless
Let me hold, let me hold you through the night
Said, baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
And watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Just this once,
Said, baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Said baby, won't you lay, lay down
Lay down, lay down, lay down
Let the others run run run run run around
Son Little's "Lay Down" is a slow, romantic song that is about a couple that is taking some time for themselves. The song is an invitation to his lover to stay still and enjoy moments together, letting the world run around them while they focus on their relationship. The water symbolizes life and how things can get out of control, but 'watching the water boil' suggests focusing on something small and simple, being present for the moment. By using the image of water boiling, he invites his lover to see the beauty in the small things and take a break from the world's troubles.
The lyrics express a need for a moment of peace and intimacy between them, where they can leave their worries aside and be present for each other. It is a call to their partner to drop their guard, be vulnerable and share themselves wholly. The line "let me hold you through the night" is a promise of comfort and security, telling his lover that they are there for them and that they do not have to face the world alone.
Overall, "Lay Down" is a beautiful song that encapsulates the need for intimacy and connection in a relationship, reminding us of the importance of taking a break from the chaos and focusing on our loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Asking the partner to take a rest and relax together
Let's watch this water boil
Imagery for waiting and enjoying the moment
Let the others run around
Ignoring the noise and chaos of the outside world
For once
Suggesting a break from routine or expectations
Let me ease, let me ease your worried mind
Promising comfort and reassurance
Lay down and drift a moment
Letting go of worries and being present
Let's not waste anymore of our precious time
Emphasizing the value of time spent together
Let your hair down and pull the curtain
Encouraging vulnerability and openness
Let me see, let me see you in the light
Requesting honesty and intimacy
Your words are worthless
Words cannot express the depth of emotion felt
Let me hold, let me hold you through the night
Offering physical comfort and closeness
Lay down, lay down, lay down
Repeated plea for rest and relaxation
Let the others run run run run run around
Reinforcing the idea of ignoring distractions and focusing on each other
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@priscillanatalia2492
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once,
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Just this once
Lay down with me a moment
Let me, let me ease your word mind
Lay down and drift a moment
Let's not waste anymore of our precious time
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Just this once,
Let your hair down
and pull the curtain
Let me see, let me see you in the light
Just lay down, with words I work less
Let me hold, let me hold you through the night
Said,
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
And watch this water boil
Let the others run around
Just this once,
Said,
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Let's watch this water boil
Let the others run around
For once
Baby, won't you lay, lay down
Lay down lay down lay down
Let the others run run run run run around
@victoriavopata434
I’ve loved Son Little for years now and have decided to use this as my first dance at my wedding bc it’s so beautiful and you can feel all the emotion it!!!..
@lukemyer6722
Awesome! We are also having this as our first dance song! It's so beautiful
@annacndo
This song makes me feel in love even when I’m actually going through a heartbreak
@tonywalker8989
same
@kaybee3798
☝🏿☝🏿☝🏿 perfect explanation
@aidencarter2179
Definitely
@MrKiberch
Love is in you!!! Loves belong to you, even if someone else doesn't appreciated.
@jarvismosley5120
Wait till u hear Alice 😂. And his whole albums. 💪💪💪
@helenataavao4292
me and my husbands first dance at our wedding :,) one of the happiest days of our lives thank you for this heavenly song
@nelsonnelson999
Just found his music first time in 2023 after heard Blue Magic at a local restaurant , had to find out who it was! played that over and over for a week ; ) Pure Magic this guy has...brilliant...video is pure...songs are arrows straight to the soul.....
Please come to Cali and play for us out here on the west coast! 💙