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
For All These Years
Tanita Tikaram Lyrics
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(It's) somebody's slice of life
I had it tailor made, I had it soaken, shaken and shown around the world
And for all these things you tell me, well
I can't quite believe
You are still there and trying to be somebody
Always on the upkeep, always trying to reach the rest of us
Well, it blows away
I have another chance, I may have two lives
But both my lives will be brief lives
And then, you all will wonder why
I was nearly sixteen years old
You were only seventeen, life isn't so complicated
But then life isn't 'sposed to be
For all these years
For all these years
Could somebody tell them
To hurry on, hurry on down
Would somebody tell them to hurry on, hurry on down
Every censor, everybody loses their way
I have a wealth of material, I have a well of people to share with you
Every lover
Well they all tell lies
Yes, I have his wife in the background
But I have more than this, I have more than this
And if Mr Chaste, he has a past
Give it to me
I was nearly sixteen years old
You were only seventeen, life isn't so complicated
But then life isn't 'sposed to be
For all these years
For all these years
The lyrics to Tanita Tikaram's song For All These Years touch on themes of identity, authenticity, and the passage of time. The opening lines, "I got a scent on you. I got something here to show," signal a desire to uncover something hidden or veiled about the person she is addressing. She then refers to this discovery as "somebody's slice of life," suggesting that it is a window into the person's true self, rather than just a surface-level persona. She goes on to describe how she has "soaken, shaken and shown [it] around the world," indicating that this discovery has been thoroughly examined and tested for its authenticity.
However, despite all of this, the person tells her things that she "can't quite believe," suggesting that even this deep understanding of their true self may still be incomplete or inaccurate. She describes the person as "trying to be somebody," implying that they are struggling to live up to a certain expectation or image. Meanwhile, she positions herself as an observer, noting that "We don't have anything to say, nothing to give / Well, it blows away," suggesting a sense of futility or purposelessness.
The chorus then brings in a sense of nostalgia, with the repeated phrase "For all these years," emphasizing the sense of time passing and memories accumulating. She goes on to ask someone to "tell them to hurry on, hurry on down," which could be interpreted as a desire for the passage of time to speed up, or a wish that someone else would come and share in her memories. She then mentions "every censor" and how "everybody loses their way," which could suggest a sense of disillusionment or feeling lost. Overall, the lyrics to For All These Years paint a picture of someone trying to make sense of their own identity and place in the world, while grappling with the fact that time is slipping away.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a scent on you. I got something here to show
I have evidence that implicates you, and I am ready to reveal it
(It's) somebody's slice of life
This evidence is a small but significant part of someone's life story
I had it tailor made, I had it soaken, shaken and shown around the world
I carefully crafted and extensively presented this evidence to make a strong case
And for all these things you tell me, well
I can't quite believe
You are still there and trying to be somebody
Despite your denials and attempts to maintain your image, I find it hard to believe that you are truly innocent
Always on the upkeep, always trying to reach the rest of us
We don't have anything to say, nothing to give
Well, it blows away
You constantly try to impress and engage with others, but we are unimpressed and indifferent
I have another chance, I may have two lives
But both my lives will be brief lives
And then, you all will wonder why
I have the opportunity to start over or pursue different paths in life, but ultimately both will be short and insignificant. Others will question the purpose of it all.
I was nearly sixteen years old
You were only seventeen, life isn't so complicated
But then life isn't 'sposed to be
For all these years
For all these years
Our youth was relatively simple and carefree, but as we've grown older, life has become more complex and uncertain. This has been the case for many years.
Could somebody tell them
To hurry on, hurry on down
Would somebody tell them to hurry on, hurry on down
I wish someone would tell those who are lost or misguided to make their way here as soon as possible.
Every censor, everybody loses their way
I have a wealth of material, I have a well of people to share with you
Those who try to suppress or control information often end up misguided themselves. I have access to many valuable resources and people that I am willing to share.
Every lover
Well they all tell lies
Yes, I have his wife in the background
But I have more than this, I have more than this
And if Mr Chaste, he has a past
Give it to me
All romantic partners are untruthful to some extent. I have knowledge of an affair involving someone's spouse, but I have additional evidence and would like to obtain anything else that may be relevant.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TANITA TIKARAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind