His extravagance, combined with tenderness and complimented by a whole lot of 'Funkiness', is enriched through years of recording with award-winning stars like Steve Vai, Cindy Lauper, Little Steven, Tina Turner and Billy Joel. A former member of he Pretenders, TM recorded on the platinum album "Get Close" and also produced and arranged, amongst others, the album "Tribute to Deep Purple According to New York" on which artists like Yngwie Malamsteen, members of Living Colour and Bernie Worrell (P-Funk) all participated. It was TM who contributed the compelling groove with his unmistakable style on Joe Cocker's mainstream classic "Unchain my Heart." Together with Narada Michael Walden he penned the billboard hit "I Should Have Loved Ya." (Source: http://www.tmstevens.com)
Raw
T.M. Stevens Lyrics
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The movies had that movie thing
But nonsense has a welcome ring
And heroes don't come easy
Now nonsense isn't new to me
I know my head, I know my feet
But mischief knocked me in the knees
I saw the ocean meet the man
I saw you buried in the sand
A friend was there to hold your hand
Said, "walk on by"
So, I went walking through the street
I saw you strung up in a tree
A woman knelt there said to me
Said, "hold your tongue, hold your tongue"
You don't owe me anything
You don't want this sympathy (waste your breath)
Don't you waste your breath (waste your breath)
For the silver screen
That nonsense doesn't mean a thing
They tried to bust you in a sting
But virtue isn't everything
So, don't waste time
Now, here's a rhyme that you can steal
Put this on your reel to reel
Mischief threw a rotten deal
Monty's laying low, man
He is laying low
Just let go
Just let go
You don't owe me anything
You don't want this sympathy (waste your breath)
Don't you waste your breath (waste your breath)
Monty, this seems strange to me
The lyrics of T.M. Stevens's song "Raw" depict a character's struggle with self-identity and insecurity in their pursuit of love. The character describes running around town in search of a new identity and dreaming of insecurity. They also describe the feeling of chasing their heart through the streets of their mind, indicating a state of confusion and disorientation. The character seeks to fill the void by engaging in sexual behavior, but the experience is characterized by tension and anxiety.
The character encounters a woman who exudes sensuality and danger, described as having "fire on her breath and chilli on her lips," and "jazz on her hips." The encounter is intense and intimidating, with the character feeling like "a galvanised nerve" that cannot relax. The lyrics suggest that the character is not in control of the situation, with the woman taking charge and demanding that the character give in to the raw, primal desire that she represents.
As the character drives out of town, they are overwhelmed by a sense of fear and uncertainty. The lyrics describe a surreal and foreboding experience, with references to a thunderstorm, a Mambo Mamma, and a man preaching fire on the corner. The encounter with the mysterious woman has left the character shaken and vulnerable, and they struggle to make sense of the strange idea of love that they have encountered.
Overall, the lyrics of "Raw" convey a sense of desperation and confusion in the pursuit of love and sexual fulfillment. The encounter with the mysterious woman represents a primal, raw desire that is both alluring and frightening, and the character is left questioning their own identity and motives.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been running round town for a new identity
I have been searching for a new sense of self by engaging with the external world around me.
I've been dreaming hot dreams of insecurity
I have been fixating on fearful and uncertain thoughts in my sleep, which has led to an increased sense of vulnerability.
I've been chasing my heart through the streets of my mind
My emotions have been difficult to pin down and are leading me through a winding mental journey.
I've been clinging to the bed the sweat is turning me blind
I am holding onto something so tightly that it is causing me physical discomfort and obscuring my vision of the world around me.
Well I'm plugged all the holes and sealing all the cracks
I am taking measures to protect and secure myself from outside threats.
I'm like a galvanised nerve I just can't seem to relax
I am on edge and tense, unable to let my guard down and find a sense of inner peace.
She's got fire on her breath and chilli on her lips
The person I am interested in is passionate and exhilarating with a fiery and spicy demeanor.
Teeth around her neck and she's got Jazz on her hips
This person displays a level of sexual energy and mystique that captivates me and is accentuated by her physical and musical movements.
There's a flash in my brain like a shot from above
My thoughts are interrupted suddenly and forcefully, leaving me disoriented and perplexed.
It's a strange idea of love
The intense emotions and behaviors that come with love are unfamiliar and perhaps difficult to understand.
Like a wolf at the door
The sense of danger and unpredictability that love can bring is comparable to the threat of a wild animal seeking entry.
Like a scratch of a claw
The feeling of being wounded or attacked is evoked by this reference to a physical injury.
She says "come on baby I want it raw"
This person desires a raw and passionate form of intimacy, perhaps without the requisite emotional barriers present in more conventional romantic relationships.
Well I'm driving out of town I'm on the verge of a storm
I am literally or metaphorically leaving a place of safety and heading towards danger and uncertainty.
I'm sucking my St. Christopher and trying to keep calm
I am engaging in a ritual practice meant to keep me safe and calm in the face of danger.
A Mambo Mamma on the back of my heels
This is likely a reference to a specific person or type of individual who is pursuing the artist with passionate and sensual energy.
And this incantation can trap my wheels
The artist feels as though there is a cosmic force beyond their control that may lead to disaster if they're not careful.
There's a heat in my car there's a fog on my screen
The physical environment around the singer is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate due to the presence of a metaphorical 'storm.'
I've never felt so scared never dreamt such a dream
The fear and anxiety present within the singer is more intense than they've ever experienced before, perhaps even in their dreams.
There's a man on the corner preaching fire above
The person preaching on the corner is likely a religious or spiritual figure invoking powerful and frightening imagery.
A wolf at the door
The artist once again references the fear and unpredictability that can come from pursuing love and intimacy with another person.
A scratch of a claw
The entry of something harmful or dangerous, perhaps as a result of romantic desires or pursuits, is evoked through this line.
"I want it raw!"
The person that the singer desires offers a sense of danger, intensity, and passion that they cannot find elsewhere.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Billy Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Mills, Michael Stipe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind