Brittney Denise Parks, better known as Sudan Archives, is a California-base… Read Full Bio ↴Brittney Denise Parks, better known as Sudan Archives, is a California-based violinist and vocalist, who writes, plays, and produces her own music. Drawing inspiration from the Sudanese fiddle, she is self-taught on the violin, and her unique songs also fold in elements of R&B, and experimental electronic music.

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.

Tdly
Sudan Archives Lyrics

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I tell you again, I stuck to my plan
But holdin' it in won't fix our problems, man
Quote me, don't mock me, you way outta pocket
We was feelin' rocky so I told him, "Darling, get to hiking"
And to all my friends, I'm not trippin'
Have you ever been in love with your fucking best friend?
Sleepin' in the car, we don't wanna be separate
Runnin' from the opps 'cause we runnin' all red flags

But we seed a plant so it's all irrelevant
Gotta take a chance that you will never understand
And that stankness, yes, I got it from my mans
But that fat ass, yes, that's homegrown land (that's why)
Grown land, bitch (I do)
That's why I fuckin' do what I do (they don't love you)
You know these niggas don't fucking love you, bruh (that's why I do)
When was last time you needed them and they was even there for you? (They don't love you)
I don't understand how I ended up in here
2AM spendin' all my cash flow of the year
Sippin' on Heineken, gettin' passed bands to land on her
She told me, "Go with the flow"
Twirl on the floor lookin' like whirling dervishes
Almost caught the holy ghost in her sweet essence
Tryna get closer to God
Oh, my God, it's so hard
As I think to myself
"It's hard to understand
A man with a plan"
With a second chance
But his eyes half open
And the load is heavy
My wheel is steady
Just stick to the plan

That's why I do (they don't)
They don't love you (they don't)
That's why I do (they don't)
They don't love you (they don't)
(That's why I do)
(They don't love you)
(That's why I do)
(They don't love you)

Grown land, bitch (I do)
That's why I fucking do what I do (they don't love you)
You know these niggas don't fucking love you, bruh (that's why I do)
When was last time you needed them and they was actually there for you? (They don't love you)
Grown land, bitch (that's why I do)
That's why I fucking do what I do (they don't love you)
You know these niggas don't fucking love you, bruh (that's why I do)
When was last time you needed them and they was actually there for you? (They don't love you)
Grown land, bitch (I do)
That's why I fucking do what I do (they don't love you)

You know these niggas don't fucking love you, bruh (that's why I do)
When was last time you needed them and they was actually there for you? (They don't love you)

Overall Meaning

The song "Tdly" by Sudan Archives is a powerful exploration of complex relationships and the challenges of pursuing one's goals. The lyrics describe the singer's struggle to stick to their plan while dealing with challenges and setbacks. The song begins by acknowledging that "holdin' it in won't fix our problems," highlighting the importance of facing one's issues head-on. The lyrics also suggest a sense of isolation and alienation, as the singer questions whether anyone is truly there for them.

The lyrics then shift to a reflection on love and friendship. The singer asks, "Have you ever been in love with your fucking best friend?" This line captures the tension and confusion that can arise when two people have a deep connection but are unsure how to define it. Later, the song references "runnin' from the opps 'cause we runnin' all red flags," suggesting that the relationship may be seen as problematic or even dangerous by outside observers.

Despite these challenges, the song ultimately affirms the singer's commitment to their own growth and goals. The repeated refrain of "That's why I fucking do what I do" emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself even in the face of adversity or disapproval from others.

Overall, "Tdly" is a powerful meditation on the complexities of relationships and the importance of staying true to oneself. Through its raw and honest lyrics, the song captures the struggles and triumphs of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

I tell you again, I stuck to my plan
I am determined to follow my plan.

But holdin' it in won't fix our problems, man
Keeping things to ourselves won't solve the issues we're facing.

Quote me, don't mock me, you way outta pocket
Don't make fun of me; you're being disrespectful.

We was feelin' rocky so I told him, "Darling, get to hiking"
We were arguing, so I asked him to leave.

And to all my friends, I'm not trippin'
I'm not stressed out about my problems.

Have you ever been in love with your fucking best friend?
Have you ever been in love with your closest friend?

Sleepin' in the car, we don't wanna be separate
We're choosing to sleep in the car instead of being apart from each other.

Runnin' from the opps 'cause we runnin' all red flags
We're avoiding confrontation because there are warning signs that danger is ahead.

But we seed a plant so it's all irrelevant
We planted something, so everything else doesn't matter.

Gotta take a chance that you will never understand
Sometimes we need to take risks that others may not comprehend.

And that stankness, yes, I got it from my mans
I learned this attitude from my friends.

But that fat ass, yes, that's homegrown land (that's why)
I have a large butt that is natural and derived from my genetics.

Grown land, bitch (I do)
I'm proud of my natural features.

That's why I fuckin' do what I do (they don't love you)
I do what I do because I love myself and others may not.

You know these niggas don't fuckin' love you, bruh (that's why I do)
Others may not love you, so I will.

When was last time you needed them and they was even there for you? (They don't love you)
When was the last time they were there for you when you needed them? They don't truly love you.

I don't understand how I ended up in here
I don't know how I got into this situation.

2AM spendin' all my cash flow of the year
I'm spending all my money for the year at 2 AM.

Sippin' on Heineken, gettin' passed bands to land on her
Drinking, while being passed money to give to someone.

She told me, "Go with the flow"
She advised me to be flexible.

Twirl on the floor lookin' like whirling dervishes
Dancing in circles like a dervish.

Almost caught the holy ghost in her sweet essence
She was so captivating that it almost felt like a spiritual experience.

Tryna get closer to God
I'm attempting to connect with a higher power.

Oh, my God, it's so hard
It's a difficult task.

As I think to myself
As I contemplate things on my own.

"It's hard to understand
It's tough to comprehend.

A man with a plan"
Someone who has a clear goal in mind.

With a second chance
Given another opportunity.