back to life
Soul II Soul Lyrics
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Back to the here and now yeah
Show me how, decide what you want from me
Tell me may be
I could be there for you
However do you want me,
However do you need me
How, however do you want me,
Back to life, back to the present time,
Back from a fantasy
Yeah, tell me now, take the iniative
I'll leave it in your hands until you're ready oh
However do you want me,
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me,
However do you want me
However do you need me
How, however do you want me
However do you need me (x5)
I live at the top of the block,
No more room for trouble or fuss
Need a change, a positive change look
Look it's me writing on the wall
However do you want
However do you
Back to life, back to the day we have
Let's end this foolish game
Hear me out don't let me waste away
Make up your mind so
I know where I stand
The song "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul is a powerful message about moving on from a fantasy and returning to reality. The song's repetitive chorus serves as a reminder that sometimes we need to take a step back and focus on the present. The verses convey a sense of longing for clarity and direction, with the singer urging their partner to decide what they want from them. The final verse speaks to the need for closure and resolution, as the singer urges their partner to make a decision so that they can move on and know where they stand.
The song's message is all the more powerful when one considers its cultural context. Soul II Soul emerged from London's underground club and rave scenes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, at a time when the city was undergoing significant social and cultural changes. The band's music blended elements of soul, funk, and hip hop with electronic dance music, creating a unique sound that reflected the energy and diversity of London's nightlife. "Back to Life" was a major hit for the group, reaching number one on the UK singles chart in May 1989, and helping to cement their place in music history.
Line by Line Meaning
Back to life, back to reality ( x3)
Returning to the real world, away from a dream or illusion.
Back to the here and now yeah
Returning to the present moment.
Show me how, decide what you want from me
Give me guidance and express your desires.
Tell me may be I could be there for you
Suggesting that the singer can support the other person in some way.
However do you want me,
Asking how the other person wants the singer to behave or what they want from them.
However do you need me
Asking how the other person needs the singer to act or provide assistance.
Back to life, back to the present time, Back from a fantasy
Reasserting the return to reality from an imagined reality.
Yeah, tell me now, take the iniative
Asking the other person to take the lead and make decisions.
I'll leave it in your hands until you're ready oh
Giving control to the other person until they've decided what they want.
However do you want me,
Reiterating the desire to assess the other person's needs.
However do you need me
Reiterating the desire to understand the other person's requirements.
I live at the top of the block, No more room for trouble or fuss
Describing the singer's home as being at the top of a street, with a desire for a calm and serene environment.
Need a change, a positive change look, Look it's me writing on the wall
Desiring change, and perhaps literal change through writing on a wall as an expression of discontent with the status quo.
Back to life, back to the day we have, Let's end this foolish game
Looking to return to the reality of the present and no longer play games or engage in fantasy.
Hear me out don't let me waste away
Asking the other person to hear and listen to what the singer has to say, so that they don't wither away.
Make up your mind so, I know where I stand
Asking the other person to make a decision so that the singer can know where they stand in the relationship and in life.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NELLEE HOOPER, RICHARD BERESFORD, CARL WHEELER, SIMON LAW, ERNESTO DAVID JR SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind