The Parlotones’ three studio albums —2005’s Radiocontrolledrobot, 2007’s A World Next Door To Yours, and 2009’s Stardust Galaxies, have racked up numerous platinum and gold certifications and South African Music Awards, while their three live CD/DVD packages (culminating in 2010’s Live Design) have cemented their reputation as a fiery force to be reckoned with onstage. Confronted with the sight of powerfully expressive frontman Kahn Morbee leading the band — which also includes guitarist Paul Hodgson, bassist Glen Hodgson, and drummer Neil Pauw — to soaring emotional heights during their Fall 2011 club tour of the U.S., the Boston Herald predicted that “The Parlotones could become huge here. Killers huge, Muse huge, Coldplay huge.” Filter magazine reckoned that “their earnestness, work ethic, and charm may be their biggest weapons.”
Those qualities will serve The Parlotones well in 2012 as they prepare to expand their loyal fanbase beyond South Africa and Europe (where they also have a devoted following) to the United States with the release of their new album Journey Through the Shadows, via their own Sovereign Entertainment label, on May 8th. “America dictates trends around the world,” Morbee says. “If you’re big there, the rest of the world listens. It has a ripple effect. We would be very proud to achieve success in the U.S. because very few artists from our country have managed it. I think for a long time, South Africans have had an inferiority complex in terms of our place in the world and our relative insignificance compared to the super powers. It would be nice to have a success story, especially in a nation that needs uplifting, and instill in folks back home that ‘can do’ belief.”
To achieve their goal, The Parlotones have crafted the kind of melody-minded arena-filling songs that transcend language and culture barriers on Journey Through The Shadows. First single “Save Your Best Bits,” with its theme of not allowing negative things from the past to affect the good parts of your soul, and the celebratory “I Am Alive” are about catharsis. They chase those moments of universal human experience when everyone in the room is uplifted by a shared emotion. “My goal is to connect with people across the world, and I think the human condition is very similar regardless of where you are,” Morbee says. “I think the theme of these songs is hope and that life is worth living regardless of its ups and downs.”
That theme informs the album’s title, Journey Through The Shadows, which, Morbee explains, is a metaphor for the human experience. “You’re not given a guidebook or map at birth that guarantees the smoothest path,” he says. “Ultimately, we all walk through with a candle that only allows us to see so far in front of ourselves. You never know what’s around the corner, so it’s an analogy for life.”
In keeping with The Parlotones’ big themes are big ideals. Ever since these four school friends formed the band in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort in the late ’90s they have always aspired not only to have fun making music, but also to give back to their community. Over the years, they have raised funds and awareness for a variety of social and environmental organizations, lending their high profile to initiatives such as Live Earth, Earth Hour, The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Carbon Free campaign, Nelson Mandela’s 46664, and Live Earth’s Run for Water, among others. They are also ambassadors for the anti-poaching organization Rhino Force, United Against Malaria, and several other non-profits that combat problems that acutely affect South Africa. In March 2012, they will join with Africa Unites for a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise global awareness about ending violence against women and girls in Africa. The band sees the music and the activism, as well as their other creative business endeavors (the band has its own boutique wine label, which has released three highly successful blends) as one and the same: methods of expression, communication, and connection.
“People in the public eye have the ability to spread a message very quickly and effectively,” Morbee says. “So we try to do so when it concerns issues we feel strongly about. But we never want to come across as a band that's preaching. All we're really doing is drawing attention to causes that we support. South Africa is our home and home to our families and our friends. We certainly want to make sure they have a bright future. If we can get involved and encourage people to get involved, it can only have positive effects.”
The Parlotones are excited to be representing their homeland and shining a spotlight on it in the process. “Every band dreams of making a living, touring, and having a large fan base around the world,” Morbee says. “Those were our aspirations from the beginning, but because the music market in South Africa wasn’t developed, they were very difficult to achieve. We had to pave our own way. For me the success is not in what we may eventually achieve but in actually taking the journey. Yes there's a lot of risk associated, but we’ve soaked up such a wealth of experiences that it makes it all worthwhile.”
Baby Be Mine
The Parlotones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would you say you're not in the mood?
If I asked you to pray
Would you refuse 'cause my intentions aren't any good?
In a world full of thieves, killers and cheats
Wanting you shouldn't be a crime
I'm not asking much
All I'm saying is Baby be mine
If I asked you to dance with me
Would you lie and say you don't know how?
If I send you bad poetry
Would your face crease into a frown?
In a world full of thieves, killers and cheats
Wanting you shouldn't be a crime
I'm not asking much
All I'm saying, Baby be mine
And baby be mine
I'm not asking for miracles
I'm not asking for promises of your hand
All that I'm saying is give me a chance
If I picked you wild flowers
Would you say "I'm not that type of girl"?
If I stared at your photo for hours
Would I be weird and out of this world?
And billions of blue blistering barnacles
Fantasies have got to come true
And all that I ask is for a moment with you
Baby be mine
And baby be mine
And baby be mine
And baby be mine
The Parlotones's song "Baby Be Mine" is a love song that expresses the feelings of the singer to the person he desires to be with. The singer questions the potential object of his affections if they would reject him if he asked them to be with him, to pray, to dance, or even to accept bad poetry. The singer is aware of the world's challenges, with many people committing crimes, but he seeks a chance with the person he loves, without the need for a miracle or a promise of marriage. The song expresses the singer's willingness to try his luck in love, and his desire for his love interest to be his.
The lyrics of "Baby Be Mine" refer to the desire for love despite the risks and uncertainty in life. The singer acknowledges that the world is tough and full of people who commit immoral acts, but he seems to suggest that the person he desires shouldn't reject him outright simply because of that. He is asking for love, and patience from the person he desires, and is hopeful that they will at least give him a chance. The song is a call to take a chance on love despite the odds, and the possibility of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
If I asked you to lay with me
If I requested your companionship, lying close to me
Would you say you're not in the mood?
Would you decline, claiming you're not interested?
If I asked you to pray
If I requested for us to pray together
Would you refuse 'cause my intentions aren't any good?
Would you decline, given your doubts of my true intentions?
In a world full of thieves, killers and cheats
In a world full of untrustworthy and dishonest people
Wanting you shouldn't be a crime
Loving and wanting your affection should not be a punishable offense
I'm not asking much
I'm not making an unreasonable request
All I'm saying is Baby be mine
I'm simply asking for your love and commitment
If I asked you to dance with me
If I requested that we dance together
Would you lie and say you don't know how?
Would you say you don't know how to dance when you actually do?
If I send you bad poetry
If I send you poorly written romantic poems
Would your face crease into a frown?
Would you show disapproval or annoyance on your face?
I'm not asking for miracles
I don't expect the impossible
I'm not asking for promises of your hand
I'm not asking for a proposal or commitment to marriage
All that I'm saying is give me a chance
All I'm asking for is an opportunity to show you my love
If I picked you wild flowers
If I gave you flowers picked from nature
Would you say "I'm not that type of girl"?
Would you reject my gesture, citing that it's not something you're interested in?
If I stared at your photo for hours
If I admired your photograph for a long amount of time
Would I be weird and out of this world?
Would my actions be perceived as strange and unusual?
And billions of blue blistering barnacles
This phrase doesn't have a clear meaning in this context and may be a reference to the Tintin comics.
Fantasies have got to come true
Dreams and desires must become reality
And all that I ask is for a moment with you
All I'm asking for is a chance to spend time with you
Baby be mine
Please be mine and show me your love
And baby be mine
And stay with me forever
And baby be mine
And never leave my side
And baby be mine
And love me the way I love you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lesleyvanzyl4333
Love their live songs. Have seen them a few times and never disappoint
@Cyamonicaa
Gosh I miss this 😢
@fanileh66
Love this song, its my fav on their DVD
@WhyURnotPerfect
This song is how the world should think, exist in relationships and in the beauty of being.
@wesselsevenster-xx6om
The Best
@paulagreyling9912
Love this guys stage presence!!!!
@bettinabehnisch5593
All that i ask is for a moment with the parlotones ...one of the best Bands
@Tartinhand
This song is wonderfully amazing, i love you guys, Khan your amazing, fantastic voice
@llewellynmorland
Seared into my memory forever with the most significant and important person I've known
@anne-mariewelman3545
I am your biggest fan. This is my nr.1 song