"That's Not My Name" rose to the top of the U.K. charts in May 2008, the same month that the duo's debut album, We Started Nothing, appeared. The Ting Tings spent the rest of 2008 and a large part of 2009 touring in support of the album, which eventually sold over two million copies worldwide, won the 2009 Ivor Novello Award for Best Album, and earned the group a Best New Artist Grammy nomination that December. Early in 2010, De Martino and White moved to Berlin to work on songs for their second album. Inspired by the city's atmosphere and the cold weather, they went in a darker, more electronic direction with their new songs. In August 2010, the Ting Tings offered a taste of their new material, premiering the single "Hands" -- which was mixed by Calvin Harris -- on BBC Radio 1 and officially releasing it that October. After extensive touring and over eight months recording in Germany and Spain, in March 2012 the Ting Tings offered their sophomore album, Sounds from Nowheresville, a collection of songs inspired by the exuberant freedom of the Beastie Boys' classic Paul's Boutique. Two years later, third album Super Critical surfaced. Its October release date was preceded by the April release of first single "Wrong Club."
Basement
The Ting Tings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's where we like time wasted
Hide from all the things that we're hating
It's got a trapdoor and everything
And it's got a little sofa
We sleep down there, though it's colder
And it's a Friday night but the music got shut
Small things make big shadows
Skyscrapers in the walls follow us down
Every mistake we made, we build ourselves a town
In the basement, oh
In the basement
In the basement, yeah
In the basement, ha
We drink our tea in the basement
We smoke 'til three in the basement
We live our dreams in the basement
We're finally in the basement
Small things make big shadows
Skyscrapers in the walls follow us down
Every mistake we made, we build ourselves a town
In the basement
In the basement
In the basement
In the basement, ha
Small things, big shadows
Small things, big shadows
Small things, big shadows
Small things make big shadows, oh
In the basement
In the basement
In the basement
Small things make big shadows
The lyrics to "Basement" by The Ting Tings depict a sense of refuge and escape from the outside world. The basement serves as a safe space where the singer and their companion can hide from the things they dislike and the problems they face. It represents a retreat from the chaos of everyday life. The trapdoor mentioned in the lyrics symbolizes the hidden entrance to this sanctuary, emphasizing the secrecy and seclusion of the basement.
The lyrics also touch upon the comfort and coziness of the basement. Despite its colder temperature, the singer and their companion sleep on a little sofa within the basement. It becomes their own little haven, especially on Friday nights when the music is shut off elsewhere. They find solace in the old stuff surrounding them, indicating that they appreciate a simpler, nostalgic atmosphere.
The phrase "small things make big shadows" hints at the idea that even the smallest of actions or mistakes can have significant consequences or impacts on one's life. The skyscrapers in the walls following them down suggest that these consequences are inescapable and surround them wherever they go. Yet, instead of being burdened by their past mistakes, they utilize them to construct their own world in the basement. They create a town within the confines of their refuge, building a new reality where they can live their dreams.
Overall, "Basement" conveys a desire for a retreat from the outside world, a yearning for a space where one can find respite, live their own dreams, and escape the consequences of their past actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go down in our basement
Let's escape to a place where we can hide and waste time
It's where we like time wasted
We enjoy wasting time in this secluded space
Hide from all the things that we're hating
We seek refuge here from the things we dislike
It's got a trapdoor and everything
The basement has all the necessary elements for our escape
And it's got a little sofa
There's even a small sofa to make it cozy
We sleep down there, though it's colder
Despite the cold, we choose to sleep in the basement
And it's a Friday night but the music got shut
The music was abruptly turned off on this Friday night
So we stay here with the old stuff
We remain in the basement with the familiar and nostalgic things
Small things make big shadows
Even the smallest details can have significant impact
Skyscrapers in the walls follow us down
Metaphorically, our problems and regrets surround us
Every mistake we made, we build ourselves a town
We construct our own place amidst the consequences of our errors
We drink our tea in the basement
We find solace in simple activities like drinking tea in this hidden space
We smoke 'til three in the basement
We indulge in smoking until the early hours of the morning in the basement
We live our dreams in the basement
In the basement, we find a place to fulfill our aspirations
We're finally in the basement
Being in the basement is a long-awaited escape for us
Small things, big shadows
Trivial matters can have significant repercussions
Small things make big shadows
Even the smallest details can have significant impact
In the basement
In this secluded space
Small things make big shadows
Even the smallest details can have significant impact
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jules De Martino, Katie White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind