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.
Reign (fea
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the heat
I am the rain
Rain (reign) all day
I am the rain
I'm gonna reign this way again
I am the rain
Before the blade
I am the raindrop out at sea
I cause the ripples that become the crashing waves
I am the rain
Rain (reign) all day
I am the rain
You thought a different day had come
A day you thought the earth was done
And if you could have said it all
I know you would have said it all
I am the rain
I'm gonna reign this way again
I am the rain
Rain (reign) all day
You thought a different day had come
A day you thought the earth was done
I am the rain
And if you could have said it all
I know you would have said it all
I am the rain
The lyrics in UNKLE's song "Reign" are metaphoric in nature, as the singer compares themselves to the elements of nature, specifically lightning, heat, and raindrops. The repetition of "rain all day" is significant as it reinforces the idea of the singer's power to continuously reign over the situation in their own way. They express themselves as the force that causes the ripples that eventually lead to the crashing waves in the sea of life. The idea of reigning in a certain or particular way highlights the singer's significant influence, power, and authority over what's happening.
Furthermore, the lyrics suggest a kind of rebelliousness in the singer. They claim to be "before the blade," which implies that they possess prescience, the ability to see things before they happen. This attribute also elevates them to a larger-than-life status, as they could be perceived as clairvoyant, predicting and even leading the events of their life instead of simply reacting to them. Additionally, the singer's declaration of themselves as a "spy" might imply their secretive or observant nature, suggesting they often operate from behind the scenes and could have manipulated events leading up to this moment.
The repetition of "you thought a different day had come" in the second half of the song could connote a shift or change that occurred, one which the listener may have thought would end the current reign, but the singer knew better. They reassert their claim on this moment as the rain, reminding that their presence and power have not diminished. The final line, "I know you would have said it all," could reflect the singer's omniscience, knowing what others would have said or done in this situation, yet they have taken control instead.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the lightning
I am the burst of energy that illuminates the dark sky
I am the heat
I am the warmth that radiates from the sun's powerful rays
I am the rain
I am the droplets that fall from the sky to nourish the Earth
Rain (reign) all day
I will dominate and continue to pour down relentlessly
I am the rain
I am the life-giving force that quenches the thirst of all living beings
I'm gonna reign this way again
I will assert my authority over the land and sea once more
I am the spy
I am the one who observes all that is happening from the shadows
Before the blade
I am present before any harm is inflicted on any living being
I am the raindrop out at sea
I am the tiny droplet that brings potential promise of a shower to come
I cause the ripples that become the crashing waves
My influence can cause a chain reaction, leading to large waves
You thought a different day had come
You believed that a new era had begun
A day you thought the earth was done
A day where you believe that the planet was dying or swallowed up whole
And if you could have said it all
If you were able to express everything in words that you have experienced and felt
I know you would have said it all
You would realize that I am an integral aspect of the world's ecosystem
Rain (reign) all day
I will continue to command the skies and force the world to pay attention
I am the rain
I reign as an essential agent of life, love, and survival
Contributed by Lucy N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ОК
Perfect!