Parks grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, US, where she "messed around with instruments in the house" and took up violin in the fourth grade, eventually teaching herself how to play the instrument by ear. When she discovered the violin playing style of Northeast Africa, her eyes opened to the possibilities of the instrument. "The way they played it was different from classical music. I resonated with the style, and I was like, 'Maybe I can use this style with electronic music,'" she says. She has released two projects to date, including the self-titled Sudan Archives in July 2017, and Sink in 2018, both on Stones Throw Records.
Flue
Sudan Archives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doesn't even know
Green like aloe
You don't wanna see
What's beneath all these leaves
Where will we be
If I'm lookin' at me?
The untold, it's so close
You don't wanna go that way
You don't wanna go that way
I saw you runnin' down the street
And you told me demons are after me
I saw you in the fight
You gave me all my time
I want it to be alright
You're runnin' on my mind
Runnin' on (saw you in the fight)
Runnin' out
(Saw you in the fight) oh my, my
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
Oh
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
Oh
You achin', you sneezin', you snitchin', you itchin'
It's not what it looks like, what you thought
You feel like it's something, you blame it on others
It's my fault, it's my fault, I'm not tough
You achin', you sneezin', you snitchin', you itchin'
It's not what it looks like, what you thought
You feel like it's something, you blame it on others
It's my fault, it's my fault, I'm not tough
Woke up today with a rude awakening
He so two-faced lookin' at me sideways
Hopped on the freeway, pulled in my place
Baby, what you gotta say?
I fantasize the times we had it right
'Cause I need it, yes, I freaked it
I find it hard to reconcile that night
Can't believe it, stay with me, sweetie
He wants to stay, I wanna go
He wants to go, I wanna stay
Why can't we stay at home
And find out where we've gone?
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
Oh
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't got to give in to the flue
Oh
In "Flue", Sudan Archives uses metaphorical language to reflect on the difficulties of dealing with internal struggles. The first verse seems to explore the idea of a person trying to run away from their problems, hiding behind a facade of green leaves as a way to avoid facing their inner demons. The singer highlights the fear of confronting oneself with the line "where will we be/if I'm looking at me?", suggesting that it's easier to ignore the deeper issues rather than deal with them.
In the second part of the song, the lyrics shift to a conversation about illness, represented by the "flue". The singer addresses the stigma around getting sick, with lines like "you blame it on others/it's my fault, it's my fault, I'm not tough". In this context, "flue" may symbolize the daily challenges that one tries to cover up and pretend are not affecting them, whether they are physical or mental. The chorus keeps repeating the sentence "we don't got to give in to the flue", suggesting that the key might be to embrace the struggle and not give up.
Overall, "Flue" is a beautifully crafted song with a powerful message about self-acceptance and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you in the fight
I witnessed you in a difficult situation
Doesn't even know
This situation is not easily understood
Green like aloe
The environment is lush and vibrant
You don't wanna see
The potential consequences of this situation are unwelcome
What's beneath all these leaves
The true nature of this situation is obscured
Where will we be
What will happen if we don't address this situation?
If I'm lookin' at me?
How will my own actions contribute to the outcome of this situation?
I don't wanna see (no)
I'd rather not face the reality of this situation
The untold, it's so close
The unknown is present and looming
You don't wanna go that way
This path may lead to undesirable outcomes
I saw you runnin' down the street
I observed you trying to escape this situation
And you told me demons are after me
You feel pursued by negative forces
You gave me all my time
You provided me with attention and care
I want it to be alright
I desire for things to be resolved
You're runnin' on my mind
I can't stop thinking about you
We don't got to give in to the flue
We don't have to succumb to the negative effects of this situation
You achin', you sneezin', you snitchin', you itchin'
You are experiencing symptoms of distress or illness
It's not what it looks like, what you thought
The situation may be more complex than it appears
You feel like it's something, you blame it on others
You may be projecting your own issues onto others
It's my fault, it's my fault, I'm not tough
You may be too hard on yourself and blame yourself for problems
Woke up today with a rude awakening
You experienced a jarring realization or revelation
He so two-faced lookin' at me sideways
Someone close to you may be acting deceitfully or untrustworthy
Hopped on the freeway, pulled in my place
You took action to remove yourself from a problematic situation
Baby, what you gotta say?
You're seeking communication and resolution with a partner
I fantasize the times we had it right
You idealize past successes and wish to recapture them
'Cause I need it, yes, I freaked it
You crave connection and are willing to work for it
I find it hard to reconcile that night
You struggle to come to terms with a past event
Can't believe it, stay with me, sweetie
You feel disbelief or betrayal and seek comfort from a partner
He wants to stay, I wanna go
You and your partner have different desires or priorities
Why can't we stay at home
You wish for a sense of stability and security
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Brittney Denise Parks, Ben Dickey, Simon Hessman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grimm
lowkey the best song on the album
Ranch Man Tubular Space Sausage
High key
Aura Palmer
Wow this whole album is so beautiful. I really enjoyed Athena but this has such a different vibe and I'm loving it.
Moon Kitty
I love all your music! 🥰🌺💖
Arturo Ramirez
This is amazing
Eric Toribio
Amazing.
Ryan Clarke
2:12 chillssss
Lorenzo Simeoni
💕🌞🥂
Primitive In The Extreme
🎧▶🎶🎻