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.
Scrappy Love
Tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How've you been, love?
It's a long time since I've seen love
You make me happy, love
Hope that you're happy, love
I was a scrappy love
I feel like I'm stupid now
How've you been, love?
I've committed a sin, love
You care for him, love?
He's good for you, love
Guess who has sinned, love?
She asked how you're doin', love
I feel kind of stupid, love
'till he moves to the neck to the push to the shove
How much time has it been, love?
How much time has it been, love?
We don't even speak now
Remember the first walk-out?
You fill my need
You tell me to read
We sat in the park
We sat just apart
But not for our own love
We grew a strong love
But not for our own love
We grew a strong love
Wish I could sin love
Wish I could sin love
Wish I could sin love
Where've you been, love?
How've you been, love?
It's a long time since I've seen love
You make me happy, love
Hope that you're happy, love
I was a scrappy love
Feel like I'm stupid now
Feel like I'm stupid now
How've you been, love?
I've committed a sin, love
Do you care for him love?
He's good for you love
Guess who I've seen, love?
She asked how you're doin', love
I feel kind of stupid love
'till he moves to the neck to the push to the shove
How much time has it been, love?
How much time has it been, love?
We don't want to speak now
Remember the first walk-out?
You fill my need
Tell me to read
Sat in the park
We sat just apart
But not for our own love
We grew a strong love
But not for our own love
We grew a strong love
Wish I could sin, love
Wish I could sin, love
How've you been, love?
It's a long time since I've seen love
You care for him, love?
He's good for you, love
He's good for you, love
The lyrics of Tricky's song "Scrappy Love" describe a story of two lovers reuniting after a long time apart. The singer asks the love interest how they have been and expresses happiness to see them once again. However, there is an underlying feeling of regret and remorse for past mistakes, as the singer admits to committing a sin and feeling stupid about it. The love interest seems to have moved on with someone else, but the singer still holds on to feelings for them, wishing they could "sin love" once again.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on their past walks together in the park and how they grew a strong love that was not meant to be. The phrase "scrappy love" implies that their relationship was messy and not ideal, but still meaningful to the singer. They express a desire to reconnect with the love interest, but it seems that it may not be possible as they have already found someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Where've you been, love?
Asking where the person has been and has been wondering about their well-being.
How've you been, love?
Asking how the person has been doing.
It's a long time since I've seen love
Expressing a feeling of not having seen the person in a long time.
You make me happy, love
Acknowledging that the person brings happiness to the artist.
Hope that you're happy, love
Expressing a wish for the person's happiness.
I was a scrappy love
Admitting to having been a difficult and perhaps troublesome love interest.
I feel like I'm stupid now
Expressing a feeling of foolishness or regret.
How've you been, love?
Repeating the question of how the person has been doing.
I've committed a sin, love
Admitting to having done something wrong.
You care for him, love?
Asking if the person cares for someone else.
He's good for you, love
Acknowledging that the person's new love interest is good for them.
Guess who has sinned, love?
Hinting at the artist being the one who has done wrong.
She asked how you're doin', love
Referring to someone else asking about the person's well-being.
I feel kind of stupid, love
Repeating the feeling of foolishness or regret.
'till he moves to the neck to the push to the shove
Suggesting a physical altercation between the singer and the person's new love interest.
How much time has it been, love?
Repeating the question of how much time has passed.
We don't even speak now
Acknowledging a lack of communication between the artist and the person.
Remember the first walk-out?
Referencing a past argument or break-up.
You fill my need
Acknowledging that the person still fulfills a certain need for the singer.
You tell me to read
Implying that the person still advises and guides the artist in some way.
We sat in the park
Recalling a memory of the two of them sitting in a park together.
We sat just apart
Indicating a distance between the two of them even when they were physically close.
But not for our own love
Implies that their connection was not for romantic love.
We grew a strong love
Acknowledging that they have a strong emotional connection.
Wish I could sin, love
Expressing a desire to do something wrong or to act out of anger.
He's good for you, love
Repeating that the person's new love interest is good for them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADRIAN NICHOLAS MATTHEW THAWS, LARRY MUGGERUD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind