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.
My Evil Is Strong
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you test, know what's going on,
I've been around for long, my evil is strong
I lie awake and hate you,
Maybe that's strong enough to make you
12 12 catch up
Before you test, know what's going on,
I lie awake and hate you,
Maybe that's strong enough to make something happen-
A car crash, make you pay with a weapon
A gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind.
Before you test, know what's going on,
I've been around for long, my evil is strong
I lie awake and hate you
Maybe that's enough to make you do something-
Make it happen
A car crash, make you pay with a weapon
A gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind.
Sleep and I'll find you,
Put my mind to
Am I strong enough?
Watch me rock a thousand stage
My funny valentine, I don't find you funny
Seaside, the Sony, the fame the money
Who am I to say, do you wannabe?
No, I can't say it
My mouth is like a
Bitter sweet and twisted, deceitful and gifted
Even got god scared
Mend the things we did
Making children
Strong enough to take a life,
Are you strong enough to take care of one?
I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay on (in) it and stay in it
Before you test, know what's going on,
I've been around for long, my evil is strong
I lie awake and hate you
Maybe that's enough to make something happen,
A car crash, make you pay with a weapon
A gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind
Sleep and I'll find you,
Put my mind to
Am I strong enough?
Watch me rock a 50,000 stage
Cannot tell me-do you feel it?
Is this energy strong enough to work you like a blade?
I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay on it
My funny valentine, I don't find you funny
Seaside, the Sony
The fame, the money
Who am I to say, do you wannabe?
No, I can't say it
My mouth is like a
Bitter sweet and twisted,
Deceitful and gifted,
Even got god scared
Mend the things we do
Making children strong enough to take a life
Are you strong enough to look after one?
I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay in it
My funny valentine, I never find you funny
Seaside, the Sony,
The fame, the Money
Who am I to say?
Still want to be?
No, I can't say it
My mouth is like a
Bitter sweet and twisted,
Deceitful, rough and gifted,
Even got god scared
Even God's--God's scared
Mend the things we do
Making children strong enough to take a life,
But are you strong enough to take care of one?
I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay in it
The lyrics to Tricky's song My Evil Is Strong are a reflection of the artist's inner turmoil and struggle to deal with his own emotions. He starts by warning the listener to be careful before they test him, as he has been around for a long time and his evil is strong. His hatred for someone is so intense that it keeps him up at night, and he contemplates using his anger to cause harm, suggesting a car crash or a gun in their mouth.
Despite the violent imagery, the song is not just about anger and revenge, but also about introspection and personal growth. Tricky questions his own strength and ability to handle his emotions, wondering if he is "strong enough" to face his demons and make positive changes in his life. He also touches upon the theme of fatherhood, making a reference to "making children strong enough to take a life," but then questioning if one is "strong enough to take care of one."
Overall, the lyrics reveal Tricky's complex personality and the struggles he faces in dealing with his emotions and relationships with others, as well as his own role as a parent and a public figure.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I see it so much
Before you test, know what's going on, I've been around for long, my evil is strong
I lie awake and hate you
Maybe that's strong enough to make something happen, a car crash, make you pay with a weapon, a gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind
Sleep and I'll find you, put my mind to
Am I strong enough? Watch me rock a thousand stage
My funny valentine, I don't find you funny. Seaside, the Sony, the fame, the money
Who am I to say, do you wannabe? No, I can't say it. My mouth is like a bitter sweet and twisted, deceitful and gifted. Even got god scared. Mend the things we did, making children strong enough to take a life, are you strong enough to take care of one? I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay on (in) it and stay in it
Before you test, know what's going on, I've been around for long, my evil is strong
Maybe that's enough to make something happen, a car crash, make you pay with a weapon, a gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind
Sleep and I'll find you, put my mind to
Am I strong enough? Watch me rock a 50,000 stage. Cannot tell me-do you feel it? Is this energy strong enough to work you like a blade? I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay on it
My funny valentine, I never find you funny. Seaside, the Sony, the fame, the money
Who am I to say, do you wannabe? No, I can't say it. My mouth is like a bitter sweet and twisted, deceitful, rough and gifted. Even God's scared. Mend the things we do, making children strong enough to take a life, but are you strong enough to take care of one? I'm a work on it, pray on it, stay in it
I lie awake and hate you
Maybe that's strong enough to make something happen, a car crash, make you pay with a weapon, a gun in your mouth, my voice in your mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: EWART DEWGARDE, WALTER DEWGARDE, W HENRY, J MCNAIR, TEKOMIN WILLIAMS, DARRYL YATES, ADRIAN THAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@modernmartyr
One the best Tricky song (for me)