Vanessa Brown (born 24 Oct '83, known professionally as VV Brown & V.V. Bro… Read Full Bio ↴Vanessa Brown (born 24 Oct '83, known professionally as VV Brown & V.V. Brown), is an English recording artist, songwriter and producer signed to Universal's Island Records in the UK and to EMI's Capitol Records in the USA. The “Los Angeles Times” and UK newspaper “The Independent” have both named Brown an artist to watch in 2009.

After spending a difficult couple of years in Los Angeles, singing backing vocals and dating an idiot, Brown decided that she had had enough of America and returned home to London. She left her useless American boyfriend behind and decided to start anew. She bought a one-stringed guitar from a second-hand shop, and rented a tiny attic in east London. Within half an hour, she had written her debut single, Crying Blood, about a relationship meltdown.

Vanessa Brown released her debut album, Travelling Like the Light, in July 2009 by Universal Records. The album was preceded by limited non-chart eligible releases of Crying Blood and Leave!, as well as a third single entitled Shark in the Water, which peaked at #34 in the UK Singles Chart, making it her most successful single to date.

Brown wrote the music and plays instruments on the album. It is inspired by 1950s and electronic music as well as sounds emitted from Game Boy and Nintendo. Most of the lyrics on the album are about a failed affair Brown endured. On 5 December 2008, she was nominated for the BBC's Sound of 2009 award, alongside acts including Little Boots and Lady GaGa.

A fourth single, game over, was released in September 21, 2009.

The first single from Brown's second album was titled Children and was released to US iTunes on September 20 2011.

Sites: Discogs, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook & http://vvBrown.com

Children
VV Brown Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Buildings come crumbling
Right to the ground
And I can't help noticing
When I'm looking around
When I'm looking around

Windows can't see in 'em
Too many lies

We won't be taking it
Look 'em right in the eyes
Look 'em right in the eyes

Oh, if I had my way
I'd throw everything away
I'd draw it all up again
Keep walking with me

Oh, if I had my way
I'd give everything I have
To make everything okay

Sing it with me

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Fuse blow up like dynamite
And the children keep on singing, singing

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Innocence like flying kites
And the children keep on singing, singing

Walking down Penny Lane
Pot, pot of gold
Follow the rainbow
To the end of the road
To the end of the road

Still got me nothing
Nothing but road
They say 'It's funny'
I'm not getting the joke
I'm not getting the joke

Oh, if I had my way
I'd throw everything away
I'd draw it all up again
Keep walking with me

Oh, if I had my way
I'd give everything I have
To make everything okay

Sing it with me

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Fuse blow up like dynamite
And the children keep on singing, singing

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Innocence like flying kites
And the children keep on singing, singing

[Chiddy]
Chid, Miss V. V. Brown
I'll hold you down

Watching the tv, man, kids just want to be famous
And be a big star, rather be known than be nameless
If I had my away, I'd draw it all up again
Can't take a loss, we must stood up and win
Momma was hurting and she couldn't spend a penny more
But why nobody have real dreams anymore
Forget the issues and worries this is something about
Supporting optimistic dreams when it's crumbling down

Sing it with me

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Fuse blow up like dynamite
And the children keep on singing, singing

Darkness falls and kills the light
Don't surrender, be alright
Innocence like flying kites
And the children keep on singing, singing

And the children keep on singing, singing [x2]

Overall Meaning

The song "Children" by VV Brown touches on themes of disillusionment and hopelessness in society, with a message of perseverance and hope ultimately prevailing. The first verse states "Buildings come crumbling, right to the ground, and I can't help noticing when I'm looking around." This line suggests that there is a feeling of upheaval and destruction in the world. The next line, "Windows can't see in 'em, too many lies," implies a lack of transparency and honesty in the world. The chorus's repetition of "Darkness falls and kills the light, don't surrender, be alright" is a reminder that even in dark times, one shouldn't give up hope. The bridge mentions the idea of following a dream, with the lyrics "Watching the TV, man, kids just want to be famous, and be a big star, rather be known than be nameless," suggesting the desire for success even amidst challenges.

In the second verse, the lyrics "Still got me nothing, nothing but road, they say 'It's funny,' I'm not getting the joke" suggests frustration and feeling lost. The chorus repeats again, with an emphasis on not giving up hope. The final verse concludes with "Momma was hurting and she couldn't spend a penny more, but why nobody has real dreams anymore, forget the issues and worries, this is something about, supporting optimistic dreams when it's crumbling down." Here, VV Brown emphasizes the importance of holding onto dreams and optimism even in tough times.

Overall, "Children" is a song that touches on themes of disillusionment and challenges in society, but also emphasizes the importance of persevering and holding onto hope. The song encourages listeners to keep pushing, even when things seem bleak and uncertain.

Line by Line Meaning

Buildings come crumbling
The failures and flaws of society and its systems are visible and prominent.

Right to the ground
These failures and flaws lead to the collapse of institutions and organizations.

And I can't help noticing
The artist is observing and acknowledging these issues in society.

When I'm looking around
The evidence of society's issues can be seen everywhere.

Windows can't see in 'em
It is difficult to gain real understanding and insight into society's problems.

Too many lies
There is a sense of corruption and deception within society's institutions.

We won't be taking it
The artist is refusing to accept the status quo and the way things are in society.

Look 'em right in the eyes
The artist is defiantly confronting those responsible for society's issues.

Oh, if I had my way
The artist wishes for the power to make significant changes in society.

I'd throw everything away
The artist wishes to completely rethink and rebuild society from the ground up.

I'd draw it all up again
The artist wants to create a new, better system for society to operate under.

Keep walking with me
The artist invites others to join them on this journey of creating a better society.

I'd give everything I have
The artist is willing to sacrifice their own resources and efforts to make society better.

To make everything okay
The artist's ultimate goal is to create a more just and fair society.

Sing it with me
The artist invites others to join together in creating a better society, using music and unity as a tool.

Darkness falls and kills the light
The negativity and problems in society are overwhelming, leading to a sense of hopelessness or despair.

Don't surrender, be alright
Despite the darkness and challenges, the artist encourages others to persevere and stay strong.

Fuse blow up like dynamite
The artist references explosive situations and crises caused by societal issues.

And the children keep on singing, singing
Despite the negativity and chaos of society, children remain hopeful and joyful, expressing themselves through music.

Innocence like flying kites
Children represent a purity and innocence that is often lost in the darkness of society's problems.

Walking down Penny Lane
The artist is walking metaphorically through life's journey.

Pot, pot of gold
The artist is searching for something valuable or meaningful in life.

Follow the rainbow
The artist is chasing after a dream, a hope for a brighter and better future.

To the end of the road
The artist is journeying towards a destination, a goal that may be difficult to reach.

Still got me nothing
Despite the artist's efforts to find something valuable or meaningful in life, they feel as though they have not achieved anything significant.

Nothing but road
The journey through life is long and sometimes empty.

They say 'It's funny'
Others may make light of the artist's struggles or challenges.

I'm not getting the joke
The artist does not find humor or amusement in the difficulties and obstacles of life.

[Chiddy]
Guest artist Chiddy enters the song.

Chid, Miss V. V. Brown
Chiddy and VV Brown acknowledge each other as fellow artists.

Watching the tv, man, kids just want to be famous
Chiddy comments on the societal obsession with celebrity and fame, particularly among younger generations.

And be a big star, rather be known than be nameless
Chiddy emphasizes the importance placed on recognition and status in society.

Can't take a loss, we must stood up and win
Chiddy encourages the necessity of resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks or challenges.

Momma was hurting and she couldn't spend a penny more
Chiddy references the struggles of working-class families and their financial limitations.

But why nobody have real dreams anymore
Chiddy questions why society has lost its sense of ambition and desire for meaningful dreams and goals.

Forget the issues and worries this is something about
Chiddy encourages placing focus on positive goals and aspirations, rather than the negative aspects of society.

Supporting optimistic dreams when it's crumbling down
Chiddy emphasizes the importance of promoting positive dreams and visions for the future, even in times of societal turmoil and chaos.

And the children keep on singing, singing [x2]
The chorus of the song is repeated, emphasizing the importance of hope, joy, and perseverance in the face of societal hardship.

Contributed by Nora B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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