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.
Over Me
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya fool boy think say moreÂ
A comearound yo!Â
Let's take the downtownÂ
Me have me gone in a me yardÂ
A me guard so if a boy wantÂ
Me seen of a the sceneÂ
And come back without a clueÂ
Me pop off and ease offÂ
To me want the marathon crewÂ
When love is lostÂ
All I hear are gunshots over meÂ
When love is drawnÂ
It soaks and floats all over meÂ
All over meÂ
Over meÂ
Over meÂ
When you think a one or twoÂ
Do and yaÂ
They ready to kill them couldn't cross the borderÂ
Shot a lick them right middle left to centerÂ
Like sunshine they shot them over and overÂ
The make sure them dead their body in a cornerÂ
Blood run down like some stagnant waterÂ
When lonelyÂ
It gives and gives all over meÂ
When love is strongÂ
It goes on and onÂ
All over meÂ
Over meÂ
Over meÂ
Will ever since then they get me blood warmÂ
I never come so I'd wish I wasn't bornÂ
Another punk guys ring the alarmÂ
Now what's left is C-P-R but he already goneÂ
When love is lostÂ
All I hear are gunshots over meÂ
When love is drawnÂ
It soaks and floats all over meÂ
Over meÂ
Over meÂ
When lonelyÂ
It gives and gives all over meÂ
When love's strongÂ
It goes on and onÂ
All over meÂ
Over meÂ
Over meÂ
The song "Over Me" by Tricky features raw and emotional lyrics that seem to talk about the pain of lost love and the violence associated with it. In the first verse, the singer seems to be warning someone, possibly a younger man or a subordinate, to be careful not to underestimate him. He indicates that he is ready to defend himself against anyone who might come around his property. He even suggests that he could harm someone who tries to intimidate him. The tone of the verse is defensive and perhaps a bit aggressive, which could be reflective of the heightened emotions that come with traumatic events like lost love.
The chorus, "When love is lost, all I hear are gunshots over me. When love is drawn, it soaks and floats all over me," seems to suggest a direct link between the pain of lost love and the violence that often follows. The metaphor of gunshots alludes to the emotional trauma that losing love can bring, while the line "it soaks and floats all over me" adds a visceral quality to the feelings associated with heartbreak. The repetition of the line "over me" at the end of each chorus serves to emphasize the all-consuming nature of these emotions.
The second verse follows a similar theme of violence and loss. The singer talks about the brutality of those who seek revenge on those they feel have wronged them. The lines "Shot a lick them right middle left to center, like sunshine they shot them over and over" conjure up images of violent acts repeated relentlessly. The line "blood runs down like some stagnant water" adds a sickening element to the already graphic and disturbing scenarios that Tricky paints.
Overall, "Over Me" seems to be a reflection on the intense emotional pain that comes with lost love and the violent impulses that can follow in its wake. The imagery evoked by the lyrics is graphic and hard-hitting, leaving a long-lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy take man F clune
A young and foolish boy thinks he's tough and can handle himself, but he's really no match for a real man.
Ya fool boy think say more
The foolish boy is overconfident and talks a big game, but he has no idea what he's getting into.
A comearound yo!
Someone is coming around, and trouble is brewing.
Let's take the downtown
We need to go to the city center and handle some business.
Me have me gone in a me yard
I've gone back home to my house or neighborhood.
A me guard so if a boy want
I have protection and won't hesitate to use it if someone tries to mess with me.
Me seen of a the scene
I've witnessed what's happened and know what's going on.
And come back without a clue
Anyone who tries to cross me won't have any idea what hit them.
Take me feel afraid
I won't be scared of anyone or anything.
Me pop off and ease off
I'm ready and willing to use violence to defend myself if necessary, but I'm not looking for trouble.
To me want the marathon crew
I want my crew of tough and loyal friends on my side.
When love is lost
When a relationship ends and love fades away,
All I hear are gunshots over me
I feel like everything around me is falling apart, and all I can hear are the sounds of violence and destruction.
When love is drawn
When love is intense and passionate,
It soaks and floats all over me
I feel overwhelmed and consumed by the intense feelings of love.
When you think a one or two
If you think you can handle a few people,
Do and ya
Think again, because you're probably in over your head.
They ready to kill them couldn't cross the border
Those people you underestimated are ruthless and won't hesitate to use violence.
Shot a lick them right middle left to center
They'll attack from all sides and leave no stone unturned.
Like sunshine they shot them over and over
They'll keep attacking relentlessly until they've achieved their goal.
The make sure them dead their body in a corner
They won't leave any loose ends and will dispose of the bodies to ensure that no evidence remains.
Blood run down like some stagnant water
The violence is so intense that it looks like a river of blood is flowing.
When lonely
When I'm alone and feeling isolated,
It gives and gives all over me
I feel like the loneliness is suffocating me, and there's no escape from it.
When love is strong
When I feel deeply in love with someone,
It goes on and on
The love seems endless, and I can't imagine ever feeling differently.
Will ever since then they get me blood warm
Ever since that intense experience, I've been on edge and ready for anything.
I never come so I'd wish I wasn't born
I feel like I'm facing a situation that's so intense and dangerous that I wish I'd never been born in the first place.
Another punk guys ring the alarm
Someone else is trying to warn me about the danger ahead.
Now what's left is C-P-R but he already gone
The situation is so dire that even life-saving measures like CPR won't be enough to save someone's life; they're already dead.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Adrian Thaws, Amber Smith, Ian Bromfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind