They began as studio engineers at Mickie Most's RAK recording studio in London, engineering music for British groups like the Pet Shop Boys, Young Disciples, and Robert Plant. In 1997 they were asked by a college friend, Nigel Godrich (who was busy producing 'OK Computer'), to remix Radiohead's "Climbing Up the Walls". They called the mix "the Zero 7 Mix" which stuck.
Ii Have Seen
Zero 7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People stare
Thinking back
To God knows where
Always back
To where he's been
I have seen
I have seen
Time goes so slow
Days come and go
But I know
Yes I know
New born son
Life has won
Take this turn
Then he'll run
Run away
From all that's been
I have done
I have seen
Time goes so slow
Days come and go
But I know
Yes I know
The lyrics of Zero 7's song "I Have Seen" allude to the cyclical nature of life and how individuals tend to repeat patterns they have experienced before. The song begins with a description of an "old man", who is observed by people passing by. The singer reflects on how the old man's thoughts have likely returned to a place in his past - an experience that he has already lived through once. The line "Always back to where he's been / I have seen" suggests that the singer has witnessed this kind of repetition in others before.
The song then shifts to focus on a "new born son" who has just entered the world and is emblematic of new beginnings. However, the singer acknowledges that this son will eventually "run away from all that's been" - indicating that even new experiences will eventually be subject to repetition. The final lines of the song, "Time goes so slow / Days come and go / But I know / Yes I know" speak to the sense of familiarity and predictability that underlies the cyclical nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man there
There is an elderly man present
People stare
Other individuals are observing the old man
Thinking back
Reflecting on past experiences
To God knows where
Reflecting on experiences that have been long forgotten
Always back
Continuously returning mentally to the past
To where he's been
Reflecting on past experiences
I have seen
The singer has observed and experienced similar reflections on the past
Time goes so slow
The passage of time seems slow
Days come and go
Days pass by
But I know
The artist is certain
Yes I know
The singer is extremely certain
New born son
A baby boy has been born
Life has won
The miracle of life has triumphed
Take this turn
The baby boy will turn and grow
Then he'll run
The baby boy will grow up and live his own life
Run away
The son will move on from the past
From all that's been
The son will move on from the societal norms and restrictions of the past
I have done
The singer has made mistakes in the past
I have seen
The singer has observed and experienced the natural progression of life
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roy Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jxss5056
Old man there, people stare
Thinking back, to God knows where
Always back, to where he's been
I have seen, I have seen
Time, goes so slow
Days, come and go
But I know, yes I know
New born son, life has won
Take this turn, then he'll run
Run away, from all that's been
I have done, I have seen
Time, goes so slow
Days, come and go
But I know, yes I know
@dennisvengland7778
Old man there people stare
Thinking back to God knows where
Always back to where he's been
I have seen I have seen
Time goes so slow
Days come and go
But I know, yes I know
New born son
Life has won
Take this turn then he'll run
Run away from all that's been
I have done, I have seen
Time goes so slow
Days come and go
But I know, yes I know
@Paulco67
13k views? The bass line alone is worthy of 5M views! Awesome
@lewisballjr5666
Yeah! That baseline is where it’s at…
@seanzearley1197
Well said sir. Well said.
@gcgroove1242
100% Agree 👍
@bobdowling1232
The lamb 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@JohnWilliamsFromBluff
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Zero 7 is a wonderful musical act, and this song saved my mental health more than once! It's unbelievably calming, centering and immersive. YMMV, obviously. And the bass playing is awesome. Their secret weapon, IMNSHO. ;-)
@israellima2412
Robin Mullarkey... Such a nice bass player and producer! I had the opportunity to say thanx to him, for the bass lines on WHEN IT FALLS and SIMPLE THINGS albuns
@jonathansquires3923
Xxxxxxxx
@bhmch39
I absolutely love this song!
@jasonr3467
Zero 7 makes great music man