As a singer-songwriter, Tikaram scored her greatest hit to date with Twist in My Sobriety, from her debut album Ancient Heart in 1988, when she was 19 years of age. After two years she released her second album The Sweet Keeper, containing songs such as Sunset's Arrived and Harm in Your Hands.
Other albums released by Tanita are: Everybody's Angel, Eleven Kinds of Loneliness, Lovers in the City, Cappuccino Songs and Sentimental.
As of April 2009, Tanita is living in London, England, and is currently recording a new album. Tanita is also releasing free live versions of older songs on her blog. You can subscribe here: http://tanitatikaramblog.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
Bloodlines
Tanita Tikaram Lyrics
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A quiet town
But you walked so shell-shocked
Have you found a way to stand?
Your head is high
You have, oh, such curious hands
Did they mantion?
And your young mind
And foreign places
And I wonder
Where you come from
I know they have no answers
But their bloodlines
Can you call?
This land a friend
You looked so hopeful
Have you found a way to send this soul
To, oh, such a curious end
For this sadness
Am I made strong?
For my sadness
Must be shared by someone
And I wonder
Where you come from
I know I have no answers
But my bloodlines
To know that I am not the only one
To know that my love is for everyone
To hold it in my heart
To hold it in my heart
To hold it in my heart
And I wonder
Where you come from
I know I have no answers
But my bloodlines
The lyrics of "Bloodlines" by Tanita Tikaram evoke a sense of confusion and uncertainty about one's identity, place in the world, and the meaning of their experiences. The opening lines "You can't call hell a quiet town, but you walked so shell-shocked, have you found a way to stand?" suggests that the singer has been through some traumatic experiences, perhaps in a war or a similar situation. The following lines "Your head is high, you have such curious hands" may indicate that despite everything, the singer has managed to maintain a sense of dignity and curiosity about the world.
The chorus "And I wonder where you come from, I know they have no answers, but their bloodlines" seems to express a desire to understand one's roots and heritage, even if the answers are not readily available. It also suggests that one's bloodline or ancestry may offer some clues to one's identity, and that it is worth exploring. The second verse "And can you call this land a friend, you looked so hopeful, have you found a way to send this soul to such a curious end?" seems to express a sense of alienation or disconnection from one's surroundings, and a longing to find a way to connect or make sense of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't call hell
There are places in the world that are so bleak and miserable that you can't even conjure up a word strong enough to describe them.
A quiet town
Despite the fact that this place is far from peaceful or calm, it still seems like a sanctuary compared to the atrocities you've witnessed.
But you walked so shell-shocked
You're carrying some heavy emotional baggage with you, and it's wearing you down.
Have you found a way to stand?
Despite the weight you're carrying, do you manage to keep going and stay upright?
Your head is high
Even when things are really tough, you keep your chin up and remain determined.
You have, oh, such curious hands
You're constantly exploring and searching for answers, trying to figure out the best way forward.
Did they mention?
Were you ever told about?
Special faces
People who stand out from the rest, who have something unique about them.
And your young mind
When you were still inexperienced and impressionable.
And foreign places
Locations that are distant and unfamiliar to you.
And I wonder
I'm curious to know.
Where you come from
What your background is and how you came to be the way you are.
I know they have no answers
Even though I'm curious, I'm aware that there may not be any concrete answers to my questions.
But their bloodlines
Perhaps there are some clues hidden in your family history that can shed light on your current situation.
Can you call?
Do you consider?
This land a friend
Do you feel a sense of closeness or camaraderie with the place you call home?
You looked so hopeful
At some point in the past, you had a lot of optimism and believed that good things would come your way.
Have you found a way to send this soul
Do you know how to set your spirit free and move on from the pain and sadness you're feeling?
To, oh, such a curious end
If and when you do move on, where will you go and what will you do?
For this sadness
As a result of this feeling of despair and defeat.
Am I made strong?
Do these intense emotions actually make me more resilient and able to tackle whatever comes my way?
For my sadness
As a result of my personal grief and sorrow.
Must be shared by someone
I can't be the only one going through this, there must be others who understand what I'm feeling and can empathize with me.
To know that I am not the only one
It's comforting to realize that you're not alone in experiencing this particular hardship and that others can relate to your situation.
To know that my love is for everyone
Regardless of who you are or where you come from, I have love and empathy for you as a fellow human being.
To hold it in my heart
I carry this understanding and sense of compassion with me wherever I go, as a constant reminder to treat others with kindness and understanding.
And I wonder
I'm still curious.
Where you come from
Again, I'm interested in learning more about your past and how it's led you to where you are now.
I know I have no answers
I don't have all the solutions or explanations to everything I'm curious about.
But my bloodlines
Regardless, I believe that some of the answers I'm searching for may be connected to my ancestors and family history.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TANITA TIKARAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind