Drenched in romanticism and soaked in themes of solitude, mortality and love, Tropic of Cancer's music forms a strangely hypnotic connection with its listener. Camella Lobo's majestic vocals, warmly cradled by waves of ascending synths, plangent guitar, and foreboding beats, summon the listener into a world of dark decadence and delicate beauty.
For a start, their devotees really are a disparate bunch: card-carrying Tropic of Cancer fans include techno refugees, dedicated shoegazers, dapper goths, paisley psych revivalists, minimal synth nerds and pop pickers; what links them all is that they care deeply about music, and have a weakness for morbid romanticism. Yet their strength is clarity, and an awe-invoking feeling of truth that individually we all must bear. The sound Tropic of Cancer make is ethereal and elusive but also exacting – their lyrics are barely discernible, and yet this is music that really connects, really communicates. Yet, in some ways, a simple reminder of the uncharted emotional territory that lives within.
Be Brave
Tropic of Cancer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sing that song so loud and sing it clear
Sing that song that no one seems to know
Sing it to me slow
Bring me back to when I was a boy
Full of life and love and full of joy
Bring me back to when I was a child
Baby make me smile
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Limping to the finish with my pride
Next time it won't be somebody's bride
Yin and yang discreetly by my side
How was it for you
Tropic et cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
The chorus of Tropic of Cancer's song "Be Brave" speaks to the ups and downs of life, as embodied by the metaphor of the "tropic of cancer." The line "you win and you lose, get so high and so low, and so blue" reflects the unpredictable nature of life, as exemplified by the Tropic of Cancer, which is a line of latitude that marks the northernmost boundary of the tropics. The lyrics encourage the listener to "sing that song that no one wants to hear," which implies a sort of fearlessness or boldness in the face of life's challenges. The line "sing it to me slow" suggests that the singer wants to savor the experience of confronting life head on, rather than rushing through it.
The verse of the song speaks to the idea of nostalgia and a longing for simpler times. The lyrics speak of a desire to be brought back to childhood, when life was "full of life and love and full of joy." The singer asks the listener to "bring me back to when I was a boy" and to "baby make me smile." This yearning for the past is contrasted with the reality of the present, captured in the line "limping to the finish with my pride." The final line of the verse, "how was it for you," suggests that the singer is seeking validation or recognition for their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing that song that no one wants to hear
Sing a song that is unconventional and unpopular
Sing that song so loud and sing it clear
Sing it with conviction and confidence
Sing that song that no one seems to know
Sing a song that is not widely known
Sing it to me slow
Sing it with a slow tempo
Bring me back to when I was a boy
Remind me of my childhood
Full of life and love and full of joy
When I was happy and carefree
Bring me back to when I was a child
Remind me of a time when life was simpler
Baby make me smile
Make me happy and bring joy to my life
Tropic of cancer
Life is unpredictable and can take many twists and turns
You win and you lose
Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you fail
Get so high and so low
Emotions can fluctuate from extreme highs to extreme lows
And so blue
Feeling sad and melancholy
Limping to the finish with my pride
Struggling to complete something, but still holding onto dignity
Next time it won't be somebody's bride
Next time, I won't settle for something that isn't right for me
Yin and yang discreetly by my side
Balance is important in life and I strive to maintain it
How was it for you
What was your experience like?
Writer(s): Camella Carneiro Lobo
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@iansunstrum7637
Sing that song that no one wants to hear
Sing that song so loud and sing it clear
Sing that song that no one seems to know
Sing it to me slow
Bring me back to when I was a boy
Full of life and love and full of joy
Bring me back to when I was a child
Baby make me smile
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Limping to the finish with my pride
Next time it won't be somebody's bride
Yin and yang discreetly by my side
How was it for you
Tropic et cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
@Beatristyy
@@ulises6974 hola
Sing that song that no one wants to hear
Sing that song so loud and sing it clear
Sing that song that no one seems to know
Sing it to me slow
Bring me back to when I was a boy
Full of life and love and full of joy
Bring me back to when I was a child
Baby make me smile
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Limping to the finish with my pride
Next time it won't be somebody's bride
Yin and yang discreetly by my side
How was it for you
Tropic et cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
Tropic of cancer
You win and you lose
Get so high and so low
And so blue
@joeldunsdon
I love these guys. Songs like this remind me of some of the darker joy division or the cure instrumentals.
@gangstersayfock
A very special sound! I saw them in september 2013 in Merleyn Nijmegen Holland. They had some kind of video screen behind them and create some kind of mystical sound. I think it is very unique of it is kind. They were pretty good live!
@carloscaneli
Man, this tune is insanely disturbing... and beautiful at the same time. And the image of the hostage girl increases so much these feelings! Congrats!
@eric1012wi
What I really love about this band is that they can totally make me timetravel back in time to smoked filled (people smoking as well!) dance floors with strobes and lazers flashing out with the music of Clan Of Xymox, Cabaret Voltaire, Alien Sex Fiend,The Neon Judgement, and Chrome blasting out of the sound system! But its today. And this song rocks.
@michaelsarria3602
Amo este tema , me da algo en el estomago
@victorotavionavarro8421
Este som é perfeito :3 :3
@Angelinatrans
E
@InkuvusSukkuvus
Mágica, me encanta <3
@20thcenturyfoxyoutube
This is their best work imo. Excellent 👌
@AWoy86
I love this song. ♥