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.
Right Here
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a person
Not a number
You take your time
It makes me wonder
She's by my side
Until we stop
To disco rock
Come and get me
I feel alone
So don't you stop
So don't you stop
Oh Land:
My teeth and soul, my hair
My person, oh my care (?)
You're my parents, you're my fears
My grief, my soul, right here
My teeth and soul, my hair
My person, oh my care (?)
You're my parents, you're my fears
My grief, my soul, right here
We slide across the floor (?)
We learn (?) my turn
Go slow but be firm
Be good, be bad
Be mad, be sad
Be first, be twice
Be good, be nice
Lose you, you're my real fear
Need more, ...
Leave ... new car
Don't you stop
Oh Land:
My teeth, my soul, my hair
My person, oh my care
You're my parents, you're my fears
My grief, my soul, right here
So don't you stop
So don't you stop
Oh Land:
I'm on the stairs
Do you care
I was there
I'm the wicked I can do (?)
Where you go
The door, the door
I'm so sick and tired
Lying low
The door, the door
So don't you stop
Oh Land:
My teeth and soul, my hair
My person, oh my care
You're my parents, you're my fears
My grief, my soul, right here
My teeth and soul, my hair
My person, oh my care
You're my parents, you're my fears
My grief, my soul, right here
The lyrics of "Right Here" by Tricky feat. Oh Land are intriguing and open to interpretation. The song speaks of the importance of human connection and the fear of being alone. The opening lines "I'm a person, not a number, You take your time, it makes me wonder" suggest a deep desire for acknowledgement as a human being rather than just another statistic. The lyrics "She's by my side until we stop, she likes to dance to disco rock" emphasizes the idea of companionship and the importance of finding joy in the simple things. The repetition of "so don't you stop" highlights the need for constant affirmation, support, and emotional stability.
Oh Land's verses in the song are more cryptic and poetic, adding layers to the meaning. The lines "My teeth and soul, my hair, My person, oh my care, You're my parents, you're my fears, My grief, my soul, right here" convey the complexity of the human psyche and the many things that make up a person. The mention of grief and fear suggests that these emotions are ever-present in our lives, but being with the right person can make them bearable. Oh Land's refrain of "My teeth, my soul, my hair, my person, oh my care, You're my parents, you're my fears, My grief, my soul, right here" echoes the feeling of being anchored to something or someone, a force that keeps us grounded in the chaos of daily life.
In conclusion, "Right Here" is a song about the need for human connection and the fear of being alone. The lyrics suggest that we are complex beings who seek affirmation and support from those around us. The message of the song is that it's important to find someone who will remain by our side through the good and bad times, reminding us that we are not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a person
I am not just a number, but a human being worthy of respect and recognition.
Not a number
I'm not just a statistic or data point, but a unique individual.
You take your time
When you don't respond/act in a swift manner, it raises questions in my mind.
It makes me wonder
It leads me to think and questions things when you don't take quick actions.
She's by my side
This person keeps me company and supports me emotionally.
Until we stop
Until we cease our activity/engagement, she'll keep being there for me.
She likes to dance
She enjoys expressing herself through the rhythmic movements of her body.
To disco rock
She likes to dance to music with a specific beat or style (disco rock).
Come and get me
I want someone to come to my aid or attention.
I feel alone
I'm experiencing loneliness and a sense of isolation.
So don't you stop
I'm relying on you to continue supporting me, so don't give up on me now.
My teeth and soul, my hair
All of me, physical and spiritual, is what I offer and reveal.
My person, oh my care (?)
I am who I am, and I deserve to be loved and cherished (despite the ambiguity of the following lyric).
You're my parents, you're my fears
You are the people who brought me up, and also the causes of my anxieties and apprehensions.
My grief, my soul, right here
All of my pain and emotions, as well as my core identity, are located within me and present in this moment.
We slide across the floor (?)
We move fluidly and effortlessly together (this line's meaning is uncertain due to the unclear lyrics).
We learn (?) my turn
We take turns in who leads and follows in our dance (this line's meaning is uncertain due to the unclear lyrics).
Go slow but be firm
Make deliberate and measured movements, but convey a sense of resolve and confidence in your actions.
Be good, be bad
You can be either morally righteous or flawed, as both are aspects of the human experience.
Be mad, be sad
You can experience and express both anger and sadness as emotions are part of the human experience.
Be first, be twice
You can alternate between leading and supporting roles, depending on the situation and circumstances.
Be good, be nice
You can choose to be morally exemplary or pleasant, depending on which mode best suits your needs and values.
Lose you, you're my real fear
The prospect of losing you represents my greatest source of anxiety and trepidation.
Need more, ...
I require more support and engagement from you, but the subsequent lyric is unclear.
Leave ... new car
It's unclear what the intended meaning of this lyric is.
I'm on the stairs
I'm situated on a flight of steps or staircase.
Do you care
Do you feel any concern or compassion for my well-being?
I was there
I was present and participated in a previous event or activity.
I'm the wicked I can do (?)
I can commit wicked or vengeful actions (the meaning of this line is also unclear).
Where you go
I'm curious about, and possibly concerned with, your whereabouts and movements.
The door, the door
I'm possibly referring to a literal door, or metaphorically to a point of escape or entry.
I'm so sick and tired
I'm experiencing extreme fatigue or exhaustion.
Lying low
I'm keeping a low profile or trying to stay under the radar and out of trouble.
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-mn5ul9vo9m
An amazing track, great album.... This is classic tricky.
@alinazaranska9135
This is a really modern music
@HugoBohorquez
can't tell how much I have been grooving to this track. Just blazing and groovin'
@balistabalista
Tricky / Adrian Thaws..english musician blending different styles.
Master of creeping, crawling mood music...So don't you stop.
@vladq.s4265
!!+++++!!
@alinazaranska9135
ever
@alinazaranska9135
this album sounds like it was a soundtrack to a movie - to me
@alinazaranska9135
very nice song ~ groovy ❤🦓
@tanyabarr8267
Pure art <3
@MrOfcourseitsme
Name some other artists that have such a variety of sounds they create - it's a very short list.