On 17 August 2009, the group released their debut album xx on Young Turks label. The album was recorded in a small garage and produced by the band. It garnered critical acclaim and has been generally well-received, scoring an average of 86/100 based on 24 professional reviews. Also it ranked on "best of the year" lists with Rolling Stone placing it at #9 and NME placing it at #2.
Four singles were released from their debut album: "Crystalised", "Basic Space", "Islands" and "VCR".
The xx also remixed the classic song "You've Got The Love" originally written by The Source and covered by Florence + the Machine. They also added their own vocals on the song. The group won the 2010 Mercury Prize for their album on 7th September 2010. After being the bookies' favourites for many of the weeks leading up to the announcement, they beat eleven other acts.
"Angels" was the first single from The xx’s second album, Coexist. It was released on July 16 2012. A second track from the album, "Chained", was released on line prior to the official Coexist launch on 11 September.
In June 2014, it was revealed in an interview with Dazed that the trio were working on their third studio album, with producer Rodaidh McDonald at the Marfa Recording Company studio in Marfa, Texas. Further writing and recording sessions were held in London, New York, Reykavik and Los Angeles. The 2016 album 'I See You' title and tracklist, were revealed after untitled audio clips uploaded to Spotify were matched on Shazam. 'On Hold' was launched on November 10th.
http://thexx.info
Shelter
The xx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under cover hideaway
And can you hear when I say
I have never felt this way?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Could I be? Was I there?
It felt so crystal in the air
I still want to drown whenever you leave
Please teach me gently how to breathe
And I'll cross oceans like never before
So you can feel the way I feel it too
And I'll mirror images back at you
So you can see the way I feel it too
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
In "Shelter," The xx's lead singer Romy Madley Croft sings about finding comfort and safety with someone special. She finds solace in this person's company and hides away from the rest of the world. She questions whether she may have said something wrong to them, but hopes that turning the lights on might make things right. The song is essentially an ode to the perfect relationship, with its mellifluous harmonies and poignant lyrics conveying a sense of emotional intimacy and connection.
The opening lines of the song, "I find shelter in this way / Under cover hideaway," suggest a yearning for emotional security and a retreat from the chaos of the outside world. This sentiment is reinforced later on with the lines, "I still want to drown whenever you leave / Please teach me gently how to breathe," which suggest that the singer feels incomplete without this person's presence. The repeated chorus, "Maybe I had said something that was wrong / Can I make it better with the lights turned on?" shows a desire to fix whatever issues may be present, and for the relationship to thrive in the open light instead of being kept hidden.
Overall, "Shelter" is a beautiful and tender song that explores the deep emotional connections between two people in love. Its haunting melodies and heartfelt lyrics create a sense of bittersweet longing that captures the essence of a perfect relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I find shelter in this way
I seek refuge in the way we are together
Under cover hideaway
We have a safe place to be together
And can you hear when I say
Do you understand the depth of my feelings?
I have never felt this way?
This love is unique and intense for me
Maybe I had said something that was wrong
I fear my actions or words may have hurt you
Can I make it better with the lights turned on?
Can I fix things and make our relationship clear again?
Could I be? Was I there?
Did our connection actually happen or was it just in my head?
It felt so crystal in the air
Our bond was clear and unmistakable
I still want to drown whenever you leave
I feel lost and empty when you're not here
Please teach me gently how to breathe
I need your guidance and support to keep going
And I'll cross oceans like never before
I will go to great lengths to be with you
So you can feel the way I feel it too
I want you to understand how much I love you
And I'll mirror images back at you
I'll reflect back to you all the love you give me
So you can see the way I feel it too
I want you to recognize the intensity of my love for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Romy Anna Madley Croft, Oliver David Sim, James Thomas Smith, Baria Qureshi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind