From the sleeve notes for the latest release End Titles...Stories For Film released in July 2008, the current line-up is stated as James Lavelle and Pablo Clements, also a member of the Psychonauts.
The original line-up was James Lavelle, Tim Goldsworthy (now a member of DFA) and Kudo (Major Force West, Skylab). This incarnation released several EPs and singles, usually involving collaborations with other Mo'Wax affiliated artists.
In 1998, after the departure of Goldsworthy and Kudo, Lavelle enlisted US producer DJ Shadow to help complete UNKLE's debut album, "Psyence Fiction". On this album they collaborated with a variety of guest artists including Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Badly Drawn Boy and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve). The album contained songs which merged indie-rock with hip hop.
In 2003 UNKLE released "Never, Never, Land". At this time UNKLE consisted of Lavelle and new collaborator Richard File, and the album also featured Ian Brown (The Stone Roses), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), Mani (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) and others.
A third album entitled "War Stories" was released in July 2007. It features collaborations with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Autolux, Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), The Duke Spirit, and Gavin Clark, and is far more strongly rock-influenced than previous releases. The album was preceded by an EP, Nights Temper, of which a limited pressing was released in May 2007.
Lavelle has also released several mix albums and remixes under his own name and under the name UNKLEsounds (together with Richard File).
UNKLE is known for remixing music from artists such as Explosions in the Sky, Massive Attack, and Oasis.
Breather
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time I turn inside
When I fully grow I'll outsize you
But I won't let you fall in love
You know it flows over me
And you won't let me drown inside
Sing a nursery rhyme to keep me quiet
Woman please stay close to me, close to me
Carried through your ecstasy
You can't stop me breathing
Even when you're on fire
Know that you're weaving
With my emotional wires
Flows through me, in through me, out through me
Over me, feeling me, feeding me electrically
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
Do do do do, do do do do
I have to breathe the air you breathe
I'm inside you
In a room inside a room, I'm inside you
The color changes follow your emotion
I can see when you're feeling desire
I feel him close to you
While I just walk around inside you
Don't let him close to me
Not when you know it's not the one
The one
The one
The one
The one
The one
The one that you love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
It's electric ballroom love
Keep me quiet
Won't you sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet while you're on fire
Won't you sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet while you're on fire
Won't you sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet while you're on fire
Please just sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet, while I'm inside
Please just sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet, while I'm inside
Please just sing me a nursery rhyme
To keep me quiet, while I'm inside
I won't let you fall in love
You know inside, the baby knows
I won't let you fall in love
You know inside, the baby knows
I won't let you fall in love
You know inside, the baby knows
I won't let you fall in love
You know inside, the baby knows
Your baby knows
Your baby knows
Your baby knows
Your baby knows
You're on fire, you're on fire
Keep me quiet, keep me angry
The lyrics to UNKLE's song Nursery Rhyme/Breather are open to interpretation, but the overall theme seems to be about a person who is struggling with their emotions and relationships. The lyrics suggest that the person is very close to someone who they care about deeply, but is unable to fully express themselves to that person. They are afraid of falling in love and are trying to keep their feelings hidden to avoid getting hurt.
The first verse discusses the idea that the person is turning inward and growing, but still feels small compared to the person they are close to. They are afraid of falling in love with this person and the overwhelming emotions that come with it. However, the person they are close to is also protective of them and won't let them drown in these emotions.
The chorus suggests that the person is looking for comfort and escape from their emotions. They want to be sung a nursery rhyme to keep them quiet and calm while they deal with their feelings. The song mentions being inside this person and feeling connected to their emotions. The overall feeling of the song is one of intimacy and connection, but also of confusion and uncertainty.
Overall, Nursery Rhyme/Breather is a complex and emotional song that explores the intricacies of relationships and human emotions. The lyrics suggest that the person is struggling to come to terms with their feelings and is looking for comfort and escape from the overwhelming emotions they are experiencing. The song's rich imagery and haunting melodies evoke a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Line by Line Meaning
Does it mean I never let you know
I haven't expressed my true feelings to you
Each time I turn inside
Every time I reflect on my thoughts
When I fully grow I'll outsize you
When I mature, I'll be bigger and better than you
But I won't let you fall in love
I won't allow you to fall in love with me
You know it flows over me
I'm overwhelmed by it all
And you won't let me drown inside
You won't allow me to feel lost and alone
Sing a nursery rhyme to keep me quiet
Comfort me with a song to calm me down
Woman please stay close to me, close to me
I need you near me always
Carried through your ecstasy
I'm taking part in your joyful moments
You can't stop me breathing
You don't have the power to control me
Even when you're on fire
Even when you're passionate or angry
Know that you're weaving
Understand that you're connected to me
With my emotional wires
Through my feelings
Flows through me, in through me, out through me
The emotions pass through my entire being
Over me, feeling me, feeding me electrically
The feelings are all-consuming, providing energy
It's electric ballroom love
The love between us is overflowing with passion
Do do do do, do do do do
Musical interlude
I have to breathe the air you breathe
I need to be close to you
I'm inside you
I feel like I'm a part of you
In a room inside a room, I'm inside you
I'm deeply ingrained in your life
The color changes follow your emotion
Your mood affects everything around you
I can see when you're feeling desire
I know when you're longing for something
I feel him close to you
I sense someone else around you
While I just walk around inside you
I'm here, but I'm not really here
Don't let him close to me
Keep that other person away from us
Not when you know it's not the one
Not when you know they're not right for us
The one
Our true love
Your baby knows
Our love is strong and will endure
You're on fire, you're on fire
You're consumed by passion and desire
Keep me quiet, keep me angry
Calm me down, but fuel my emotions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damon Michael Gough, Josh Davis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shabbawank
DJ Shadow fucking nailed it. Genius
@pharllslim4544
Love this song
@rickgodsey4522
This one song that especially love...the breakdown into Nursery Rhyme...I get it
@CatherineNoName
Fucking genious
@JohnDoe-cj3cl
Before this collab dj shadow released maybe the most influential triphop album ever, along side portishead. But to come out with this and just change what we knew about triphop. The guy to me is untouchable.
@shabbawank
His take on breaks/samples, then actual songs with lots of famous singers, guy knows no bounds
@mot00rzysta
2:20 which Swans song is that ?
@sebastiangutierrez8438
Th intro sounds like aubrey one of linkin park
@anandmorris
Other way round...