James Blake began his final year at Goldsmiths in September 2009 studying popular music while recording songs in his bedroom. In July 2009, he attended the Latymer School and released his debut single "Air and Lack Thereof" on Hemlock Audio. It was a firm favorite with Gilles Peterson from BBC Radio 1, and Blake was invited to do a special mix on Peterson's worldwide show, which included an exclusive Mount Kimbie track.
Blake released his debut EP The Bells Sketch on 8 March 2010 on Hessle Audio, followed soon after by CMYK on 31 May 2010 and Klavierwerke on 10 October 2010, both on R&S Records. All three EPs were met with significant critical acclaim: BBC's Nick Grimshaw chose CMYK as his Record of the Week, the title track of CMYK was ranked 24th on Frontier Psychiatrist's top 40 songs of the year, and all three of Blake's 2010 EPs were collectively ranked 8th on Pitchfork's top 50 albums of 2010.
On 4 February 2011, Blake released his self-titled debut LP, James Blake, via ATLAS and A&M. Three singles were released for the album: "Limit to Your Love," "The Wilhelm Scream," and "Lindisfarne"/"Unluck". The album was very well-received by critics: on 29 September 2010, BBC's Zane Lowe made "Limit To Your Love" his "Hottest Record in the World," Pitchfork awarded the album Best New Music and ranked it the 12th best album of 2011 on their year-end list, and it was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize.
On 7 October 2011, Blake released his fourth EP, Enough Thunder, via ATLAS and A&M. Two singles were released for the EP: "Fall Creek Boys Choir," a collaboration between Blake and Bon Iver, and "A Case of You," a cover of Joni Mitchell. On 12 December 2011, Blake released another EP through R&S, Love What Happened Here.
Can't Believe The Way We Flow
James Blake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Couldn't they see what you could do for everyone
I know it took you a while to get to California
I had no idea I was waiting on you
I can't believe the way we flow
I can't believe the way we live together
I can't believe the way we flow
I could have used you in the early days
Well, it's been such a long, long, long, long time
With the music of my mind
Most of it seems unfinished now
I can't believe the
I can't believe the way we flow
I can't believe the way we live together
I can't believe the way we flow
I can't believe the way we flow
Nothing makes a sound
When you're not around
You are my fear of death
You wave my fear of self
And alone in the show
Despite what I was told
I'm finding I'm a smaller piece
Than I once thought
Oh, no, I really am
I really
am
The lyrics of James Blake's "Can't Believe The Way We Flow" can be interpreted in a few ways. One could argue that the song is about appreciating someone who has had a positive impact on others' lives, but who may not have been recognized for it. The line "Couldn't they see what you could do for everyone" suggests that the subject may have been underappreciated. The singer may be expressing surprise at this and recognizing how important this person has been to them as well.
On the other hand, the lyrics could be interpreted as being about the relationship between the singer and the subject. The line "I had no idea I was waiting on you" suggests that the singer was waiting for this person to enter their life in some capacity. The repetition of the phrase "I can't believe the way we flow" throughout the song could refer to the natural ease and synergy of the relationship, and how the singer is still amazed by it.
The second half of the song takes a more introspective turn, with the singer reflecting on their own thoughts and feelings. The lines "Most of it seems unfinished now" and "finding I'm a smaller piece than I once thought" suggest that the singer may have had grandiose aspirations or ideals about their music and their place in the world, but now realizes that they are just one small part of a larger picture. The final line, "Oh, no, I really am / I really am" could be interpreted as a realization that this fact is not necessarily a negative thing, but rather a humbling one.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe the way you showed everyone
I'm amazed at the way you showcased your talent to everyone
Couldn't they see what you could do for everyone
It's surprising that others didn't recognize the potential impact you had on everyone
I know it took you a while to get to California
I understand that it took you a significant amount of time to get to California
I had no idea I was waiting on you
I wasn't aware of how much I needed you until you arrived
I can't believe the way we flow
I'm amazed at how well we interact and communicate with each other
I can't believe the way we live together
I'm surprised at how well we're able to coexist and maintain a positive relationship
I could have used you in the early days
I realize that having you around earlier in my life would have been helpful
Well, it's been such a long, long, long, long time
It's been an incredibly long period since we first met
With the music of my mind
With the thoughts and ideas that occupy my mind
Most of it seems unfinished now
Many of those ideas now feel incomplete or unresolved
Nothing makes a sound
The absence of your presence is deafening
When you're not around
Your absence has a noticeable impact on my life
You are my fear of death
You represent my fear of mortality
You wave my fear of self
You help alleviate my insecurities and self-doubt
And alone in the show
Despite being alone in this journey
Despite what I was told
Even though others tried to convince me otherwise
I'm finding I'm a smaller piece
I'm realizing that I'm less significant than I once thought
Than I once thought
Compared to my previous perceptions
Oh, no, I really am
Oh dear, it's becoming clear that I am indeed
I really am nothing without you
I heavily rely on your presence and support, and would be lost without you
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Blake Litherland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@midnightcitizen
Who would've guessed James Blake would invent love.
@ThatoPatrickTsotetsi
He definitely invented love!!
@nat-kt1le
zar ne? brate moj :)
@BoredOfRegistration
Baš tako.
@rona175
God is love
@connorclougherty2390
This must have taken months to edit holy moly huge shout out to Frank Lebon !!
@youllhavetowait
Connor Clougherty not with today’s technology..
@esmeclair7895
@@youllhavetowait
still that would have taken ages.
To collect all the footage then cut it all and put it together, plus correcting and editing colour and whatever else. It's a technical and long-ass job.
@esmeclair7895
@@youllhavetowait check out Frank Lebons other work on vimeo, he's got a genre of editing, its sick
@youllhavetowait
Esme Clair true.. was he solely responsible, or access to a team of talent