UNKLE, a musical outfit founded in 1994 in London, England, United Kingdom.… Read Full Bio ↴UNKLE, a musical outfit founded in 1994 in London, England, United Kingdom. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and has employed a variety of guest artists and producers.

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.

The Answer feat. Big In Japan
UNKLE Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here we are
Burning up in our cars
And in our hearts

Better days
Sleeping late, with a headache
Perfect weather

Congregate
Lay in wait for an answer
They're still waiting

With your tea
Lucky states as the day breaks
The blind are leading the blind

Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather
Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather
Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather
Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather

Xenon lights
Dots go dashing the highways
Nothing's moving

Radiates
Everything lasting for seconds
Evaporated

Lover's lips
Drinking late at the station
Smiling faces

Comic weep,
Wiping your face in whatever
There's an answer.

Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather
Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather
Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather

Better, better days with a headache
Perfect weather

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of UNKLE's song "The Answer" present a contemplative reflection on the nature of existence and our search for meaning in life. It begins by painting a picture of our frenzied existence, "burning up in our cars and in our hearts," as we go through life tired and with a headache. The second verse seems to be a reminiscing of better times, "sleeping late with a headache" and enjoying "perfect weather." The chorus repeats the phrase "better, better days with a headache, perfect weather" four times, seemingly contrasting our current state with a utopian ideal.

In the third verse, the lyrics take on a more surreal quality, describing the headlights of cars as "xenon lights" and the movement on the highway as "dots go dashing." The line "nothing's moving" seems to be the realization that, despite our busyness, we may not be making any real progress. The final verse returns to realism, describing a scene of shared intimacy with a loved one and a group of smiling strangers. The phrase "there's an answer" could be seen as a hopeful message that, despite life's difficulties and uncertainties, there is a solution to our struggles.

Line by Line Meaning

Here we are Burning up in our cars And in our hearts
We are in a state of emotional turmoil while stuck in traffic.

Better days Sleeping late, with a headache Perfect weather
The good days are made up of hangovers and favorable climate.

Congregate Lay in wait for an answer They're still waiting
People gather, hoping for a solution, but it is yet to arrive.

With your tea Lucky states as the day breaks The blind are leading the blind
Even in moments of calmness, those who are unaware are the ones making choices.

Xenon lights Dots go dashing the highways Nothing's moving
The illusion of progress is created by blinking lights, but everything is at a standstill.

Radiates Everything lasting for seconds Evaporated
Energy and excitement are fleeting and short-lived.

Lover's lips Drinking late at the station Smiling faces
People find happiness in simple daily pleasures, despite the chaos around them.

Comic weep, Wiping your face in whatever There's an answer.
Even though we're not quite sure what it is, there is an answer out there somewhere.

Better, better days with a headache Perfect weather Better, better days with a headache Perfect weather Better, better days with a headache Perfect weather Better, better days with a headache Perfect weather
Repeated mantra highlighting the contrast between the artist's vision of what a good day constitutes.

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GAVIN MICHAEL CLARK, PABLO SPENCER CLEMENTS, JAMES GRIFFITH, JAMES LAVELLE, MICHAEL LOWRY, MATTHEW PIERCE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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