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.
Demise
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was the same back when
Then and now, I want to change
But don't know how
Do's and don'ts, don'ts I don't like
She's not Tina and I'm not like Ike
But what was Ike like
Is Ike what you write
We'll disarm ya, ask Julian Palmer
Only joking, too much smoking
But It's OK, it's OK
We've been through too much yesterday
Tell you what we'e gonna do
They'll protect me from me, I'll protect from you
By any means by any means
Please won't you try
Stop me talking like a tough guy
Subject matter's love
Subject matter's love
What would I need another enemy
I know I love you I can feel you in my energy
I'm too scared to be a gun totting gangster want to-be
I've got too much love inside of me
Met you on Mandalay
Or next week
If I'm Tina I guess I'm weak
Big take making my head ache
It's not your fault
You don't understand
Take our hand
We give so don't be negative
You don't feel the 'cause you feel yourself
Stuck up in your own head
Leave that till I'm dead
What do I think
I think instinct.
The lyrics to Tricky's "Demise" are a thought-provoking exploration of the artist's inner turmoil and desire for change. The first verse speaks to Tricky's past as a writer who reveled in discussing death and destruction, but who now wants to break out of that pattern. The line "Do's and don'ts, don'ts I don't like" suggests a dissatisfaction with the constraints of social norms, and a desire to live life on his own terms. The reference to Tina Turner and Ike suggests a complicated relationship, with Tricky questioning whether his own artistic output is reinforcing harmful stereotypes. The second verse speaks to Tricky's struggle with his own masculinity and the hyper-masculine image that he feels is expected of him in his music. He references love as a subject matter, suggesting a desire to write more tender and meaningful lyrics. However, he feels caught between two worlds - he accepts that he loves someone, but feels like he needs to defend against the possibility of being seen as "a gun totting gangster want-to-be." The bridge of the song implores the listener to focus on love and connection, and to avoid getting trapped in their own head.
Line by Line Meaning
So you like to demise with your pen
You enjoy writing about negative experiences or situations.
I was the same back when
I also used to write about negative experiences in the past.
Then and now, I want to change
I want to change my writing style and focus on more positive things.
But don't know how
I'm not sure how to change my writing style.
Do's and don'ts, don'ts I don't like
I don't like following rules or restrictions for my writing.
She's not Tina and I'm not like Ike
Our relationship is not like Tina Turner and Ike Turner's relationship.
But what was Ike like
I'm not sure what Ike Turner was really like.
Is Ike what you write
Are you using Ike Turner as inspiration for your writing?
I don't know, I don't know
I'm unsure about the meaning behind your writing.
We'll disarm ya, ask Julian Palmer
We will make you feel at ease by introducing you to Julian Palmer, who is not threatening.
Only joking, too much smoking
We are just kidding around, possibly due to the effects of smoking too much.
But It's OK, it's OK
Everything is alright between us.
We've been through too much yesterday
We have gone through difficult times in the past and should move on from them.
Tell you what we'e gonna do
Let's make a plan for our future together.
They'll protect me from me, I'll protect from you
We will protect each other from ourselves and our negative tendencies.
By any means by any means
We will use any method necessary to achieve our goals.
Please won't you try
Can you please try to understand where I am coming from?
Stop me talking like a tough guy
Don't let me continue to talk aggressively.
Subject matter's love
The main focus of our discussion or writing is about love.
What would I need another enemy
I don't want to make any more enemies in my life.
I know I love you I can feel you in my energy
I have a deep love for you that I can feel in my being.
I'm too scared to be a gun totting gangster want to-be
I'm afraid of being associated with violence or aggression.
I've got too much love inside of me
I have a lot of love to give to others.
Met you on Mandalay
We met each other at Mandalay, a place or event.
Or next week
We could have met next week instead.
If I'm Tina I guess I'm weak
If I am like Tina Turner, then I must be vulnerable in some way.
Big take making my head ache
I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed by a big task or problem.
It's not your fault
You are not to blame for the current situation.
You don't understand
You are unable to comprehend the complexity of the situation.
Take our hand
Let's work together to solve the problem.
We give so don't be negative
We are willing to compromise and be positive, so please don't be negative.
You don't feel the 'cause you feel yourself
You are too focused on your own feelings to understand the emotions of others.
Stuck up in your own head
You are preoccupied with your own thoughts and feelings.
Leave that till I'm dead
I'll deal with my own negative thoughts and emotions on my own in due time.
What do I think
I rely on instinctual thoughts and emotions to guide me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@boxanova66
fuck yeah man, thanks for posting this awesome song!
@jamesdengman2126
Love this
@gigasakhvadze1546
დოლი უხდება.
@concretecorner
mickey mouse!
@DEMORSEIFY
@Tokennm1 pahahahaha cmu