He is noted for an asthmatic whispering lyrical style that is half-rapped, half-sung. As a producer and a musician he is known for having an aversion to perfection preferring to build up a dark, rich and layered sound. Culturally, Tricky bridges white and black Britain particularly in his fusion of rock and hip-hop, high art and pop culture. He drew his influences from rap (Public Enemy) to post-punk (he covered a Siouxsie and the Banshees's song Tattoo).
Throughout his work, Tricky blurs the normally clear sexual definitions found within hip hop. Despite the heavy influence he drew from American hip hop in his debut album, Maxinquaye, he fights against typical sexual representations by, for example, dressing as a woman on the side sleeve of his album cover. Within many of his tracks he blends elements of varying types of music, and use his lyrics to create a much more ambiguous and blurry reality of sexuality.
Maxinquaye remains his most commercially and critically successful album to date. About it, Tricky originally said in an interview with Raygun in October 1996 that he wanted to make an 'out-an-out punk record' and that "I thought it was going be heavier. I thought it was just going to be an out-an-out punk record. But you end up straying. What I wanted to do was a total fast album. Some of the tracks are fast and hard, but they didn't come out like that." He also said that he hated being stuck with the trip-hop tag so "That's why I did Nearly God, and that's why I did Pre-Millennium Tension. You can't see them as trip-hop albums. So I just keep running away from it. But the farther you run, it's still there. They'll find you." Ever since, Tricky' style has evolved away from obscure, sample-based textures to a more contemporary, electronic sound.
Tricky was in Massive Attack and appeared in the movie The Fifth Element as well as the music video for Parabola by Tool. He has collaborated extensively with other artists on tracks on his various releases, including Bjork, Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper, Anthony Kiedis , John Frusciante and Flea (of the Red Hot Chili Peppers), Martina Topley-Bird, and Alison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp also many others.
After his initial success in the latter 1990's, he started his own label called Durban Poison. Currently he is heading a new imprint called Brown Punk.
Car Crash
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You leave me hungry
Wanting more
Am I thirsty
I wasn't sure
See me driving
Through the rain
Why am I driving
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
I am sliding
I lose my breaks
The lights are blinding
The earth quakes
Now I'm lying
Will I die
Will they find me
Will they try
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
In my car to where you are
I won't make it
I can't make it
Doesn't matter about the time we make
Doesn't matter it doesn't shatter
If time we take
You know they're lost
While I'm dragging the cross
(If you sing along?)
And where you cross (If I scream?)
While they're washing they sins
(And we sing along?)
She sings, I do evil things
I need I strive (and we sing along?)
I bleed alive
(And we sing along? and we sing along?)
Tricky's haunting and intense song "Car Crash" tells the story of a man driving through the rain to get to someone he's craving for, but he ends up losing control of his car and sliding on the wet road. He experiences a near-death situation, wondering if he will survive the crash or be found and rescued. The song's lyrics are divided into two parts, with one part sung by Tricky and the other by Constanza.
"Car Crash" showcases Tricky's signature dark and moody style, as well as his introspective and philosophical themes. The song title and lyrics can be interpreted as a metaphor for love and desire, which can lead to reckless behavior and a loss of control. The lyrics suggest that the man's obsession with the person he's trying to reach is so strong that it blinds him to the danger and risk of his actions. The repetition of the lines "In my car to where you are, I won't make it, I can't make it" creates a sense of desperation and hopelessness.
Overall, "Car Crash" is a powerful and emotional song that showcases Tricky's unique style and lyrical prowess. Its haunting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics make it a standout track in Tricky's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
You leave me hungry
I want more from you, but you're not giving me enough.
Wanting more
I crave a deeper connection with you.
Am I thirsty
I'm not sure what I want, but I know I need something from you.
I wasn't sure
My feelings are confused and uncertain.
See me driving
In this metaphor, driving represents my relationship with you.
Through the rain
The relationship is difficult and challenging.
Why am I driving
I'm not sure why I'm bothering with this relationship, but I can't help myself.
I can't explain
There's no rational reason for my feelings.
In my car to where you are
I'm trying to get closer to you.
I won't make it
I know deep down that this relationship is doomed to fail.
I can't make it
No matter how hard I try, I can't force this relationship to work.
I am sliding
I feel like I'm losing control of the relationship.
I lose my breaks
I can't stop my feelings for you, even when I know they're not healthy.
The lights are blinding
In this metaphor, the lights represent the harsh truth of our situation.
The earth quakes
This relationship is shaking me to my core.
Now I'm lying
I'm forced to confront the reality of our situation.
Will I die
This relationship is hurting me deeply, and I'm not sure if I'll survive it.
Will they find me
Even if I do end up hurt, will anyone care or come to my aid?
Will they try
I'm not sure if anyone is truly invested in helping me through this.
Doesn't matter about the time we make
The amount of time we spend together is irrelevant to the fact that this relationship is doomed.
Doesn't matter it doesn't shatter
Even if we try to hold this relationship together, it will inevitably fall apart at some point.
If time we take
No matter how long we try to make this work, it won't.
You know they're lost
Other people in our lives can see that this relationship isn't healthy, even if we can't.
While I'm dragging the cross
I feel like I'm carrying the burden of this relationship alone.
(If you sing along?)
A rhetorical device to engage the listener.
And where you cross (If I scream?)
If I try to ask for help, will you hear me?
While they're washing they sins
Other people are trying to make amends for their mistakes, while I feel trapped in this relationship.
(And we sing along?)
A rhetorical device to engage the listener.
She sings, I do evil things
I'm aware that my actions in this relationship are not healthy, but I can't seem to stop myself.
I need I strive (and we sing along?)
I'm desperate for something from this relationship, even though I know it's not good for me.
I bleed alive
This relationship is tearing me apart, but I feel alive because of it.
(And we sing along? and we sing along?)
A rhetorical device to engage the listener and add emotional weight to the lyrics.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADRIAN THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lala’s Life
Always has been one of my most favorite songs ever
Kope
Fuck. Inject this into my heart.
Elvenelder
does anyone remember some years ago this song was on youtube with a video with scenes from a film featuring a woman in a black wig traveling in her car....?
Kiki Douloveme
Yes
Lala’s Life
Yes! I do!
Gbuzz
Yeah, not sure :-(
Elvenelder
awsome! i wonder whats the name of the movie
Gbuzz
yes! I was just trying to find the same video :-)
Anne Guillaud
Love it !
Why
Tricky the car 😳