TOSHI REAGON (Singer, Composer, Musician, Curator, Producer) is a multi-talented and versatile singer, composer, musician, with a profound ear for sonic Americana—from folk to funk, from blues to rock. While her expansive career has landed her at Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House and Madison Square Garden, you’ll just as easily find Toshi turning up at a music festival, an intimate venue, or at your local club.
Website: Toshi Reagon
You
Toshi Reagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
None I understand
None I wish to show
None I wish to know
Caught from the inside
Caught to late to hide
Or fade away
Watch out for what I say
Or the games I play
Hard to tell the truth
And so hard to move
Still trying to be quick
Don't want to go down sick
Trying to hold my will
So I turn the shy to steel
And run from you
You got what you know
Your young eyes your old soul
Your mind full of mess
Your hours counting stress
Still you get it right
Turn day and your night
They both mean the same
And I don't stay away from you
In Toshi Reagon's song "You," the opening stanza expresses a sense of confusion and avoidance towards certain aspects of life. The singer feels overwhelmed and unable to comprehend all that she holds in her hand; she doesn't wish to reveal her emotions nor does she seem interested in understanding them. The second stanza highlights the urgency of a problem that the singer has been trying to ignore. She realizes that it's too late to hide anymore, and she needs to find a way out with the help of the person addressed in the song. The third stanza explains the singer's fear of vulnerability, expressing a hesitancy in telling the truth and revealing her true self. She is trying to keep herself together but recognizes the difficulty of doing so.
The chorus makes a shift in tone, bringing attention to the second person referred to as "you." In contrast to the first verse, the chorus speaks of this person with admiration. They possess a strong sense of self-awareness, understanding that their experiences have aged them beyond their years. This person can take on the chaos of their day-to-day with wisdom, and the singer seems to be drawn to that.
One theory behind the song is that it's about navigating a romantic friendship, where one person is too afraid to reveal their feelings while the other understands the complexity of emotional intimacy. The song's arrangement features an experimental rock sound that blends harmonies and rhythmic grooves. Reagon's music is heavily influenced by the rock and blues genres, and she has been known to incorporate those sounds into her performances.
Line by Line Meaning
All this held in hand
I carry a lot of burdens and emotions
None I understand
I don't fully comprehend all of my feelings
None I wish to show
I don't want to reveal my vulnerabilities
None I wish to know
I don't want to confront certain truths about myself
Caught from the inside
I'm trapped within my own feelings
Caught too late to hide
I can't conceal my emotions any longer
Or fade away
I can't simply disappear and forget
Now to find a way with you
I need someone to help me navigate my struggles
Watch out for what I say
I struggle to express myself and may say things I don't mean
Or the games I play
I may engage in manipulative behavior to protect myself
Hard to tell the truth
It's difficult for me to be honest about my feelings
And so hard to move
I feel stuck in my situation
Still trying to be quick
I'm constantly working to protect myself
Don't want to go down sick
I don't want my emotions to consume me
Trying to hold my will
I'm doing my best to stay strong
So I turn the shy to steel
I use my shyness as a defense mechanism
And run from you
I try to avoid opening up to others, including you
You got what you know
You understand me
Your young eyes your old soul
You have a youthful appearance, but seem wise beyond your years
Your mind full of mess
You have your own problems and issues to deal with
Your hours counting stress
You're constantly under a lot of pressure
Still you get it right
Despite your own struggles, you understand me
Turn day and your night
You're always there for me, no matter the time of day
They both mean the same
No matter the time of day, your support is consistent
And I don't stay away from you
I'm slowly learning to open up to you and rely on your support
Writer(s): Toshi Reagon Copyright: Black Elephant Music
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
helenfayes
She is amazing!!!! I love her voice!
Philosophy Underground
Massively underrated song.
sherry gypsy S
DANG!!!!!! SHES AWESOME!!!!!
Wendy McCarroll-Gallegos
Amazing!
Funvideofan1
My Mom Loves This
Emily Maleah Tench
I love her moma too <3
LongHaulsCloseCalls
Yes, she is a woman. her voice is feminine and if you really know women then you can tell she's a woman because 1 - she has breasts. 2 - she does look like a woman, she's just a thick black woman and to the other person way below - Yes, she is a lesbian. <3