Tori Kelly first rose to attention when her cover of Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” went viral, racking up over 22 million views. To date, her YouTube channel boasts over ONE MILLION YouTube Subscribers with over 89 million views. Now, two EP’s later Handmade Songs, which Kelly self-penned, produced, mixed and released, and Foreword, she plans to release her first full length debut this spring.
Kelly co-wrote “Nobody Love” off her 2015 Spring debut alongside Rickard Goransson and Max Martin. Martin says, "After hearing Tori sing, we felt so inspired that we had no choice but to get involved. It’s been such a pleasure to be a part of her journey.” She also co-wrote with such vets as Savan Kotecha, Toby Gad, Claude Kelly, Chuck Harmony, Wolf Cousins, and Ed Sheeran. The album, she says, does not depart from her soulful roots. “It’s like a marriage between that soulful urban thing and a mainstream pop vibe. It was hard to get to that place, but once we had ‘Nobody Love,’ I knew we’d cracked the code. It felt seamless.”
Working with one of the most successful hit makers in the industry is a long way from Kelly’s early years making songs in her bedroom and posting them online. Born and raised in Temecula, California, Kelly is the daughter of musicians, her dad is a singer and bassist and her mom plays piano and saxophone. She sites early influences like gospel singer Crystal Lewis, Jill Scott, Jeff Buckley, and Maxwell.
Over the past year and a half, Kelly has sold out shows in several major cities (including The Troubadour and The Roxy in Los Angeles, the Bowery Ballroom and Gramercy Theatre in New York City, and Bush Hall in London), headlined a nine-city sold-out U.S. tour, and supported Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith on tour.
“I'm excited to get out and play for people. That's always the dream.”
CELESTIAL
Tori Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oceans turn to gold right before my eyes
That vibrant color I crave
Wish I could taste
Take me there, take me there
I'll dive in the sky, oh the water's alive
I'll float down to soak in the stars
Swim away from the night, I am swallowed by light
Here in this castle that sits on a cloud
Something consumes this heart, rooted deep down
Now slowly I'm falling
But I don't need saving
You've already got me
You've already got me
This celestial glow is blinding
I'll dive in the sky, oh the water's alive
I'll float down to soak in the stars
Swim away from the night, I'm swallowed by light
Suddenly love doesn't seem very far
Take me there, take me there
The lyrics to Tori Kelly's song Celestial are both captivating and enigmatic. The words describe an otherworldly experience, perhaps a dream or a vision of some kind. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the oceans turning to gold, a fantastic and seemingly impossible event that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer then longs to taste this vibrant color and be immersed in it. They want to "dive in the sky" and "float down to soak in the stars," suggesting a desire to escape from reality and be transported to a higher realm. As they do so, they are swallowed by light, and suddenly, love doesn't seem very far away.
The next verse deepens the sense of detachment from reality the singer is experiencing. They describe being in a castle on a cloud, as if they are in a different dimension altogether. Something is consuming their heart, rooted deep down, but they are falling slowly and don't need saving because they are already in the hands of their beloved. The celestial glow that surrounds them is blinding, further emphasizing the otherworldliness of their surroundings. The lyrics are rich in metaphor and symbolism, suggesting a sense of longing and the desire to transcend the mundane aspects of life and be consumed by beauty and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, what a marvelous sight
Expressing awe and wonderment at the spectacular nature of the event or scenery being witnessed.
Oceans turn to gold right before my eyes
Metaphorically depicting how an amazing sight of the horizon or scenery involves a beautiful transformation from bare sight to magnificence.
That vibrant color I crave, Wish I could taste
Describing a longing to experience and relish in the beauty of the scene with all senses, beyond just sight.
Take me there, take me there
A desire to move closer to the scene, or that the current location is not enough to experience its full beauty.
I'll dive in the sky, oh the water's alive
Blending elements of the earth to describe a surreal atmosphere, one that draws in the listener to experience along with the artist.
I'll float down to soak in the stars
Continues to describe the surreal setting, with the desire to soak in and enjoy the surrounding beauty even more intimately.
Swim away from the night, I am swallowed by light
Metaphorically depicting an escape from darkness or negativity, drawn in by the light and beauty of the current surroundings.
Suddenly love doesn't seem very far
A realization that the beauty being experienced is akin to love, and that love is not as far away as once thought.
Here in this castle that sits on a cloud
Creating an imaginative setting, one that can only be found in dreams or fantasies.
Something consumes this heart, rooted deep down
A feeling of intense emotion and passion, even beyond just witnessing and enjoying beauty.
Now slowly I'm falling
Describing a transition from observing to fully experiencing, becoming consumed by the beauty of the moment.
But I don't need saving
Feeling safe and secure in the moment, needing no assistance or aid from outside forces.
You've already got me
A realization that the beauty being experienced is a result of being in the presence of someone special, perhaps even a significant other.
This celestial glow is blinding
A recognition that the beauty being experienced is not of this world, nor is it something that can be easily ignored or forgotten.
Take me there, take me there
A desire to fully embrace and revel in the beauty being experienced, and an innate longing for more of it.
Writer(s): Victoria Kelly
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@keziaavelino9802
Oh, what a marvelous sight
Oceans turn to gold right before my eyes
That vibrant color I crave
Wish I could taste
Take me there, take me there
I’ll dive in the sky,
oh the water’s alive
I’ll float down to soak in the stars
Swim away from the night,
I am swallowed by light
Suddenly love doesn’t seem very far
ooh ooh oooh ahh
ooh ooh ooh
oh
Here in this castle that sits on a cloud
Something consumes this heart
rooted deep down
Now slowly I’m falling
But I don’t need saving
You’ve already got me
You’ve already got me
This celestial glow is blinding
I’ll dive in the sky,
oh the water’s alive
I’ll float down to soak in the stars
Swim away from the night,
I am swallowed by light
Suddenly love doesn’t seem very far
Take me there, take me there
@Striball
Can we just appreciate her songwriting abilities for a second
@naty9948
yesssss all in its magical essentials
@CassieJazz96
Yes, because they are so under appreciated by the industry. Brilliant vocalist and lyricist.
@stevenmatthews11
all day, every day....👂
@hazy1935
i will appreciate forever <3
@swedishfish5622
Lets
@fatimaperez8703
her talent is irreplaceable.
@Bv0n
check dis vid again
@peekakuchu6878
Its frustrating that she isnt as popular as other stars who manage to spew out shit music over and over yet this girl gets moderate success, I want her to have 100 million subs and 1billion views per video :D make it happen!
@stevenmatthews11
let's do this!!!!!!