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.
Ghost Town
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Terry : All the clubs have been closed down..
Tricky : This place is coming like a ghost town..
Terry : Bands won't play no more..
Tricky : Too much fighting on the dance floor.
Terry : Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town..
Tricky : We danced and sang and the music played in natty boom town.
Terry : Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
Terry : This town is coming like a ghost town.
Tricky : Why must the youth fight against itself?
Terry : This place is coming like a ghost town.
Tricky : Government leaving the youth on the shelf.
Terry : Can't go on no more...
Tricky : People getting angry. (x3 last two lines)
Terry :
Can't go on no more (x2)
This town is coming like a ghost town
The lyrics to Tricky's "Ghost Town" capture a bleak and desolate picture of a town that has lost its soul. Tricky and Terry lament that all the clubs have been shut down and bands won't play any more. Instead, there is too much fighting on the dance floor. The two singers reminisce about the good old days when they danced and sang in "natty boom town." But now, the town is coming like a ghost town, and nobody seems to care.
The song is a commentary on the state of the UK in the late 1990s, when the country was plagued by social unrest, high unemployment, and a burgeoning drug epidemic. Tricky and Terry blame the government for leaving the youth on the shelf, and the youth for fighting amongst themselves. They are frustrated and angry about the situation and question whether there is any hope left for the future. The lyrics are mournful and reflect a sense of loss that is palpable throughout the song.
Overall, "Ghost Town" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the zeitgeist of a particular moment in time. Its message is still relevant today, as many communities around the world continue to suffer from neglect and disinvestment. Despite the bleakness of the lyrics, there is a sense of resilience and defiance that comes through. Tricky and Terry refuse to give up, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Line by Line Meaning
This town is coming like a ghost town.
The town is slowly becoming deserted and inactive.
All the clubs have been closed down.
The nightlife has taken a hit and there are no more clubs left for entertainment.
This place is coming like a ghost town.
The area is resembling a deserted and abandoned town.
Bands won't play no more.
There are no more bands playing and entertaining the people.
Too much fighting on the dance floor.
The fighting and violence on the dance floor has become too common and excessive.
Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town..
Recalling the enjoyable and lively times before the town became deserted.
We danced and sang and the music played in natty boom town.
Remembering the vibrant and lively atmosphere of the town before it became deserted.
This town is coming like a ghost town.
Reiterating the fact that the town is becoming inactive and deserted.
Why must the youth fight against itself?
Questioning the reason for the youth to fight against each other.
Government leaving the youth on the shelf.
Blaming the government for not providing enough opportunities and support to the youth.
People getting angry. (x3 last two lines)
The frustration and anger of the people in the deserted town.
Can't go on no more... (x2)
Expressing the desperation and hopelessness in the face of the deteriorating town.
This town is coming like a ghost town.
The repeated statement emphasizes the slow decline of the town.
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lencar Peter
Tricky : This town is coming like a ghost town..
Terry : All the clubs have been closed down..
Tricky : This place is coming like a ghost town..
Terry : Bands won't play no more..
Tricky : Too much fighting on the dance floor.
Terry : Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town..
Tricky : We danced and sang and the music played in natty boom town.
Terry : Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?
Tricky : This town is coming like a ghost town.
Terry : This town is coming like a ghost town.
Tricky : Why must the youth fight against itself?
Terry : This place is coming like a ghost town.
Tricky : Government leaving the youth on the shelf.
Terry : Can't go on no more...
Tricky : People getting angry. (x3 last two lines)
Terry :
Can't go on no more (x2)
This town is coming like a ghost town
Read more: Tricky - Ghost Town Lyrics | MetroLyrics
The 2nd Coming
Oh okay😎
katoness
Trick'y's a massive Specials fan.
Riquinhorico
Do you remember??... .