“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."
about her. again.
Son Little Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she said it was cool
Go on do what you want
Or don't
It's all over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
You go and mess up my head
It takes me over the under
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
There's something about her
Makes me want her
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
She said this ain't workin'
All my work was for nothin', oh no
So I'm sitting here, smoking
With my head in my hands, yeah
Again and again
If you lived here, I'd be home by now
If I lived here, I'd make it home somehow
But I don't and I can't, I won't
There's just something about her
I bet over the under
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
There's something about her, yeah
Makes me want her
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
In Son Little's song "about her. again," the lyrics describe a complicated relationship of longing and confusion. The singer tells the girl that he's "good" and she responds that it's "cool," implying that she doesn't really care. He then says she can do what she wants or not, but the repetition of "it's all over again" suggests that this isn't the first time they've had this conversation. Despite her apparent indifference, there's something about her that "takes me over the under," meaning it completely consumes him. The repetition of "you go and mess up my head" further emphasizes how much this relationship is affecting him.
Later in the song, the girl decides it's not working and the singer is left smoking and with his "head in his hands," feeling defeated once again. He acknowledges that they can't be together because they don't live in the same place. However, the irresistible pull of their connection still lingers, as evidenced by the repetition of the chorus.
Overall, the song captures the emotional turmoil and confusion that can come with a complicated relationship where one person feels deeply for the other, while the other seems indifferent. The repetition of certain phrases throughout the song helps to drive home the message of how much this situation is affecting the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I told her I'm good
He assured her that he was fine.
And she said it was cool
She acknowledged and accepted his response.
Go on do what you want
She gave him the freedom to do as he pleases.
Or don't
She also gave him the option to not do anything if he didn't want to.
It's all over again, yeah
Their interaction repeats itself in a continuous cycle.
You go and mess up my head
Her presence and effect on him are powerful and disorienting.
There's just something about her
There's an undefinable quality about her that attracts him.
It takes me over the under
Her influence makes him feel emotionally overwhelmed and consumed.
Makes me want her
He desires her strongly.
She said this ain’t workin'
She expressed that their relationship wasn't successful.
All my work was for nothin', oh no
All the efforts he put into their relationship seemed to be in vain.
So I'm sitting here, smoking
He's trying to cope with the emotional aftermath.
With my head in my hands, yeah
He's feeling defeated and lost.
If you lived here, I'd be home by now
If they lived in the same place, he would feel more comfortable and settled.
If I lived here, I'd make it home somehow
If he could live with her, he would find a sense of belonging.
But I don't and I can't, I won't
Unfortunately, circumstances prevent them from living together.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Aaron Livingstone, Abby Diamond, Jesse Maynard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Delian Nitu
Son Little Lyrics
"About Her. Again."
Well, I told her I'm good
And she said it was cool
Go on do what you want
Or don't
It's all over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
You go and mess up my head
There's just something about her
I takes me over the under
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
There's something about her
Makes me want her
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
She said this ain't workin'
All my work was for nothin', oh no
So I'm sitting here, smoking
With my head in my hands, yeah
Again and again
Again and again
If you lived here, I'd be home by now
If I lived here, I'd make it home somehow
But I don't and I can't, I won't
There's just something about her
I bet over the under
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head
There's something about her, yeah
Makes me want her
Over again, yeah
You go and mess up my head...
Justin Solum
Welcome "how to get away with murder" crowd! We, the Son Little crowd, welcome you and hope that you continue to explore our beloved artist. This song is only one in his ocean of amazing music!
Mouad Behri
what do you advice other than this one ?
Mairi Clements
What's next?
Jan Sheldon
Only recently discovered him. I caught the song laid down on wdst Woodstock. Oh my God! Where have I been? I've been checking out his other songs and love each and every one of them! I hope he plays live somewhere in New York!
Yudah El
Just saw Ms. Keating dancing to this. I had to come hear for myself who owned this soulful sultry voice. “Takes me over the under” got me
Gifted Lil Thang 884
That takes me over the under got me writing poetry man.. those words are just so yummy omg. That series has got some good songs ..hmm hmmm hmm
Jesús Mendoza
Omg me too
Mgcl
Me too 😂
Joefray Andres Joaquin Montenegro
Me too!!!!!
Diamond Miles
. Omg me right now literally finding this song because of that 😅🤣🤣 .