The Prodigy first emerged in the underground rave scene in the early 1990s and achieved popularity and worldwide recognition with UK number one singles such as "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both singles coming from their UK and US chart topping album The Fat of the Land (1997). A third single from the album, “Smack My Bitch Up”, was also successful. They earned titles like "the premiere dance act for the alternative masses" and "the Godfathers of Rave", and remain one of the most successful electronic acts of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and received two Grammy Award nominations.
The Prodigy were founded in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett. He had taken piano lessons in his youth and gained the ability to play difficult passages in just a few run-throughs. After he decided to pursue a music career, Howlett met dancer and vocalist Keith Flint in mid-1989 at a rave at which Howlett was DJing. After Flint requested Howlett make a mix tape for him, Howlett obliged, returning a cassette several days later with a collection of his own songs on the other side. Howlett had scratched the word "Prodigy" onto the cassette, the same name as the Moog Prodigy analogue synthesiser, and Howlett's moniker. The tape was well-received by Flint and keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill who developed new dance sequences to the music and suggested to Howlett they begin a group together. They were soon joined by MC and vocalist Maxim, then known as Maxim Reality, and female dancer and vocalist Sharky, a friend of Flint's. Together they became the first line-up of the Prodigy.
On 4 March 2019, Keith Flint was found dead at his home in Essex, just weeks after playing six live dates in Australia and New Zealand. On 5 March, the band announced on Twitter that "all forthcoming concerts in 2019 would be canceled, effective immediately".
Following Flint's death, fans began using the Twitter hashtag "Firestarter4Number1" on various social media platforms to get "Firestarter" to top the British singles charts again. This was done out of respect for Keith Flint and to raise awareness of suicide among men.
On 20 August 2019, one day before his 48th birthday, Liam Howlett posted on the band's official Instagram page, saying he is "back in the studio making noise [...] brand new Prodigy tunes are gonna roll", referring to his intention to keep on releasing music under the Prodigy moniker.
Along with the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. The Prodigy, however, is not considered entirely representative of the genre as their production "often reflected the more intelligent edge of trip-hop, and rarely broke into the mindless arena of true big beat" according to AllMusic. The Prodigy are also considered alternative dance, techno, electronica, breakbeat hardcore, and rave.
Liam Howlett cited early electro as a big influence, mentioning tunes like "Clear" by American music group Cybotron and "Al Naafiysh" by Hashim. Liam Howlett also cited The Bomb Squad, Public Enemy, and Rage Against the Machine as influences.
You Can Never Feel My Pain
The Prodigy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Naw, you can never feel my pain nigga
And you can never feel my pain nigga
Never feel my pain nigga
How do I start it
Nineteen seventy four, mutherfucker I was born with pain
My moms and my pops pass it down to me
'Cause I ain't feelin' you at all, your pain is impure
You cryin cause you grew from the projects
That's not pain, that's emotions, you a bitch
I'm talkin' bout permanent, physical suffering
You know nothin' about that, you just complain cause you stress
Nigga, my pain's in the flesh
And through the years that pain became my friend; sedated
With Morphine as a little kid
I built a tolerance for drugs, addicted to the medicine
Now hospital emergency treat me like a fiend
I rather die sometimes I wish a nigga O.D.
Beggin' God for help, only to find that I'm all by my god damn self
Ay, You can never feel my pain nigga
[Chorus]
And the females ask...P, why you always look mad
Don't mind me if I may come off like that
But see, a nigga depressed, I need smoke
I need me a drink, I'm tryin' to stop those
Experience life, through the shoes of me
What you find, is you can't do that, you ain't built for it
The impact I put on this earth
Is nothin' like you ever seen or heard; so look listen
When I speak, sit up in your seat
Pay attention to the words, cause the story is deep
In and out of crisis, since before I could walk
It gave me strength though, now a days I hardly talk
It made me cold-hearted, anti, I won't play sports
I barely joke or play games, take it how you want
My handicapped took its toll on my sanity
My moms got me at the shrink at like 13
And doctors called the cops on me
'Cause I be throwin' on [unknown] and they ignore me
I gotta, try to calm down and breathe
I can only hold it but for so long; put me to sleep
Do I sound insane...
If I do, then this here was written for you
'Cause you could never feel the pain nigga
[Chorus]
The Prodigy's song "You Can Never Feel My Pain" delves into the deep and personal experiences of the artist, expressing their frustration with others who claim to understand pain but don't truly comprehend the hardships they have faced.
The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the idea that no one can truly understand or feel the artist's pain. They dismiss the pain of others, stating that growing up in a rough neighborhood or experiencing emotional distress is not the same as the permanent physical suffering they have endured. The artist challenges those who complain about trivial matters by asserting that their pain is impure and insignificant in comparison.
The artist then shares their personal struggles, beginning with their birth in 1974, in which they inherited pain from their parents. They describe being familiar with suffering, using drugs as a coping mechanism from a young age. The lyrics suggest that they have built a tolerance to drugs, becoming dependent on medicine to numb their pain.
The song also touches on the artist's perpetual depression, expressing a need for substances like smoking and drinking to alleviate their emotional turmoil. They emphasize that their life experiences are unique and cannot be understood by others who are not "built for it." The artist reveals their cold-hearted and withdrawn nature, stating that their pain has taken a toll on their sanity and affected their ability to engage in normal activities like playing sports or making jokes.
The lyrics further delve into the artist's troubled relationship with their mother, who took them to a psychiatrist at a young age. The artist recounts being treated with disregard by doctors, leading to confrontations and police involvement. They end by questioning their own sanity and suggesting that those who can relate to their experiences are the intended audience for the song.
Overall, "You Can Never Feel My Pain" is a raw and introspective exploration of the artist's unique struggles and the frustration they feel toward those who claim to understand but have never truly experienced the depths of their pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Nineteen seventy four, mutherfucker I was born with pain
I have been burdened with pain since the day I was born in 1974.
My moms and my pops pass it down to me
My parents have passed down their pain to me.
So don't talk to me about can I feel yours
Do not expect me to understand or relate to your pain.
'Cause I ain't feelin' you at all, your pain is impure
I cannot connect with your pain because it lacks authenticity.
You cryin cause you grew from the projects
Your tears are a result of emotional experiences, not true pain.
That's not pain, that's emotions, you a bitch
What you perceive as pain is merely emotional turmoil, making you weak.
I'm talkin' bout permanent, physical suffering
I am referring to enduring physical agony that lasts a lifetime.
You know nothin' about that, you just complain cause you stress
You have no understanding of real pain; you only complain due to stress.
Nigga, my pain's in the flesh
My pain is deeply rooted in my physical body.
And through the years that pain became my friend; sedated
Over the years, I have grown accustomed to my pain, finding solace in numbing it.
With Morphine as a little kid
Even as a young child, I relied on morphine to alleviate my pain.
I built a tolerance for drugs, addicted to the medicine
As I grew older, my body developed a tolerance to drugs and I became dependent on them.
Now hospital emergency treat me like a fiend
Whenever I visit the hospital, they treat me like a drug addict.
I rather die sometimes I wish a nigga O.D.
At times, I would rather die, even wishing for a drug overdose.
Beggin' God for help, only to find that I'm all by my god damn self
I pray to God for assistance, only to realize I am alone in my struggles.
Ay, You can never feel my pain nigga
No matter what you claim, you will never be able to comprehend my suffering.
And the females ask...P, why you always look mad
Women inquire why I constantly appear angry.
Don't mind me if I may come off like that
Please excuse my demeanor if it seems that way.
But see, a nigga depressed, I need smoke
The truth is, I am deeply depressed and I rely on smoking to cope.
I need me a drink, I'm tryin' to stop those
I crave alcohol as well, although I am attempting to quit.
Experience life, through the shoes of me
Try to understand life from my perspective.
What you find, is you can't do that, you ain't built for it
However, you will discover that you are not capable of enduring what I have experienced.
The impact I put on this earth
The influence I have had on this world
Is nothin' like you ever seen or heard; so look listen
Is unlike anything you have ever witnessed or heard before, so pay attention.
When I speak, sit up in your seat
Listen attentively when I address you.
Pay attention to the words, cause the story is deep
Take heed of the words I speak, as they reveal a profound story.
In and out of crisis, since before I could walk
I have been facing continuous crises since before I even learned to walk.
It gave me strength though, now a days I hardly talk
Despite the hardships, it has made me resilient, resulting in my reserved nature.
It made me cold-hearted, anti, I won't play sports
My experiences have made me emotionally distant and uninterested in sports.
I barely joke or play games, take it how you want
I rarely engage in humor or games, interpret that how you wish.
My handicapped took its toll on my sanity
My disability has greatly affected my mental well-being.
My moms got me at the shrink at like 13
At the age of thirteen, my mother sent me to a therapist.
And doctors called the cops on me
Doctors even went to the extent of calling the police on me.
'Cause I be throwin' on [unknown] and they ignore me
Due to my erratic behavior, they disregarded me and my pleas for help.
I gotta, try to calm down and breathe
I constantly struggle to regain control and find a moment of peace.
I can only hold it but for so long; put me to sleep
However, my ability to endure is limited; I yearn for an escape through sleep.
Do I sound insane...
Do I appear mentally unstable...
If I do, then this here was written for you
If that is the case, then these lyrics were written specifically for individuals like you.
'Cause you could never feel the pain nigga
Because you can never truly understand the extent of my pain.
[Chorus]
Naw, you can never feel my pain nigga
And you can never feel my pain nigga
And you can never feel my pain nigga
Never feel my pain nigga
Never feel my pain nigga
How do I start it
How do I begin to express it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN, ANGELA BOFILL, JEFFREY COHEN, ALBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind