The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
Letting Go
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And stabs the wind we fear
But we must find ourselves
Before we disappear
By knowing when to move on
We keep the peace with our pride
We seldom live our moments
Before the leaves have dried
But it's a peaceful feeling when
We surrender
And there is healing power in
Letting go
Alone, confused, and naked
Is when we are most sacred
Fear is the enemy
That strikes out at our sanity
By keeping faith in our promise
We drink from Eros fountains
We confirm that we are here
Moving up on higher mountains...
And it's a peaceful feeling when...
We surrender
And there is healing power in...
Letting go
And it's a peaceful feeling when...
We surrender
There is healing power in...
Letting go
Letting go
Hush, hush I hear music
Falling down like rain
Hush, I feel mercy
And forgiveness
I see Golden Light...
Shining ever-bright
Into the light I'll go...
And it's a peaceful feeling when
We surrender
And there is healing power in
Letting go
And it's a peaceful feeling when
We surrender
There is healing power in...
In letting go
Letting go...
The song "Letting Go" by Terence Trent D'Arby talks about the importance of moving on and surrendering in order to find peace and healing. The knife's edge symbolizes the hardships of life that can inflict pain and fear upon us, but we must find ourselves and let go of our attachments before we disappear. The lyrics suggest that we often hold onto things and fail to live in the present moment before it's too late, and that the act of surrendering and letting go can grant us a peaceful feeling and healing power.
The lines "Alone, confused, and naked/ Is when we are most sacred" could be seen as a reference to vulnerability and the ability to connect with our true selves. The verse goes on to caution against fear, which can wreak havoc on our sanity, and encourages us to keep faith in our promises to ourselves and ascend higher mountains. The repetition of the lines "And it's a peaceful feeling when/ We surrender/ And there is healing power in letting go" reinforces the message of the song and emphasizes the transformative power of surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
The knife's edge pierces Autumn
We confront harsh times when they come, brutal and sudden like the onset of winter
And stabs the wind we fear
Our apprehensions can be piercing as well, inflicting injury to ourselves and causing unnecessary pain and suffering
But we must find ourselves
We must delve deep within ourselves to understand who we are and what we want, in order to chart our own course
Before we disappear
If we don't find ourselves and discover our true purpose, we risk being obscured by the past and living a life of insignificance
By knowing when to move on
We should be cognizant of when it is time for us to move on, whether from a situation, relationship or even an idea
We keep the peace with our pride
While it is important to maintain our dignity and self-respect, sometimes holding onto our pride can cause unnecessary strife and conflict
We seldom live our moments
Often we are so preoccupied with the past or future that we miss out on opportunities to fully experience and appreciate the present moment
Before the leaves have dried
Just as leaves turn brown and wither, our lives can pass us by if we fail to seize moments while they're still fresh and vibrant
But it's a peaceful feeling when
Letting go of our fears and anxieties can bring about a sense of calmness and inner peace
We surrender
We release control and allow life to unfold as it will, trusting that things will work out as they're supposed to
And there is healing power in
By letting go of our fears, we create space for healing and growth in our lives
Alone, confused, and naked
At times we feel vulnerable and exposed, uncertain of our path forward
Is when we are most sacred
However, it is during these times that we are most connected to our true selves and the divine
Fear is the enemy
Fear can be a powerful adversary that hinders us from living our lives to the fullest
That strikes out at our sanity
Our fears can cause us to act irrationally and lose our sense of reason
By keeping faith in our promise
When we remain committed to our goals and dreams, we can overcome our fears and move forward with purpose
We drink from Eros fountains
When we embrace passion and desire, we ignite a spark that propels us forward
We confirm that we are here
By following our passions, we affirm our existence and purpose in this world
Moving up on higher mountains
As we overcome our fears and pursue our goals, we continue to grow and evolve
Hush, hush I hear music
There is a melody that can be heard when we silence our minds and tune into our souls
Falling down like rain
The music within us flows freely like rainfall, nourishing and renewing our spirits
Hush, I feel mercy
When we let go of our fears and anxieties, we experience a deep sense of compassion and grace
And forgiveness
Forgiving others and ourselves opens up new avenues for healing and growth
I see Golden Light...
Within us all is a shining light of hope and possibility that can guide us towards our true purpose
Shining ever-bright
This light within us can never be extinguished, but only grows brighter with each passing moment
Into the light I'll go...
When we follow our inner light, we can transcend our fears and limitations and reach our full potential
Letting go...
Ultimately, when we let go of our fears and attachments, we free ourselves to live fully and embrace life's infinite possibilities
Contributed by Joshua L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ShanTheMan73
One of DeNiro's most underrated films I would say....
@Nosferigatoni
"A simple thank you would have been nice"
@devangill6596
This is one of those songs that stays with you immediately after hearing it. I remember how effectively it was used on "The Fan"; in fact, it really transformed that ending into much more of a haunting refrain than it could have been had this song not been used. It's so sad and yet so, so good.
@erving25
Beautiful song. Damn good movie, highly underrated
@VantageCigarretes
Cause the film was never commercially successful make only under 20 million dollars. But many movies share similar fate but they are acclaim. I really don't know why critics doesnt like this. Great cast and story.
@crh2010
Terence killed it in this song
@ubiquitousdiabolus
Bobby! Now do you care? (nods) Just a little bit!
@sebastianmoon2319
Terence Trent D'arby sang it beautifully, but that incredible string theme was by the master Hans Zimmer!
@AngelCaught
omg since `96 i searched for this Song..a long time i forgot..now i found it..i am so happy..!!
@TibetanSherpa
In my opinion one of the most underestimated soundtracks!...
I always got the goosebumbs when it comes on! ;)