Set Adrift On Memory Bliss- PM Dawn: Interpretation of Verse 1

Listen to Set Adrift on Memory Bliss

Attrell, known as Prince Be, begins the first verse painting the picture of a distant memory. He sees a married woman sitting behind a see of fake plants and cocktail glasses. He seems to vaguely remember seeing her before; thinking to himself "I think it's one of those deja vu things." He thinks he may be dreaming and that it may be telling him something but he can't get this woman out of his mind. He then tells us that he doesn't actually know the woman when he says "I wonder what I would find if I met you." All he wants to do is watch her until she gives him an opportunity to meet her.

Prince Be seems to jump memories to a woman he once was intimate with. He quotes her in saying she says, "bet you're probably gonna say I look lovely. But you probably don't think nothin' of me." This implies that he believes that she thinks he never really loved her and hardly thinks of her; that he only had intentions of being of being intimate with her with no strings attached. He then tells us that she was right and he'll be honest about it. He says that she resides in "the corners" of his mind along with other memories that have faded. But this other woman that he continues to dream about is what is consuming his mind

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss - PM Dawn: Background and Muse

 

(image credit to ga8i.blogspot.com)

P.M. Dawn is an American R&B duo who thrived in the 90's. The duo is comprised of brothers Jarrett and Attrell Cordes from Jersey City, NJ. Their unique, poetic like sound can be described as a mix of R&B, soul, hip hop and contemporary. The brothers experienced some tragedies in their lives growing up that I feel set the tone for their individualistic style of R&B that they honed. Their father died of pneumonia when they were quite young and they witnessed their baby brother drown at two years old. In the song "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is a love song written with slight ambiguity but with heartfelt and emotional diction. The brothers always speak in figurative language and I believe that this song is perfect to dissect.

I Know - Jay-Z: Interpretation Verse 1

Listen to "I Know" via YouTube


The woman is nostalgic of him. She misses him and longs for his touch and the sounds of his music. He uses "heroin tracks" as a play on the word track, both used for a song track on an album but also lines of heroin, an addictive drug. He uses the verb "fiends" and "leans" to play up the fact that she's an addict of him. When he's not around her, she gets cold sweats which is also a symptom of drug withdrawal. He tells her "Bonita Applebum, I gotta put you on. If I didn't, when we cutting, the feeling would be too strong." "Bonita Applebum, I gotta put you on" is a nod to the legendary group a Tribe Called Quest in which they rap figuratively about a woman they each lust for in the song "Bonita Applebum".

 In the second part to that line, Jay-Z tells her that he must dilute himself, and his music when he's with her. If not, when they are "cutting," a triple entendre for making love, editing a song, and diluting heroin with a "cutting agent, " the feeling may be too strong and she may overdose. He says that in any form of him, even if he does not give his all, he gives her the pleasure she desires. He baits her, saying "just for one night, baby take me in vein," encouraging her to relapse just this once. He ends by describing what he does to her but how she loves it.. She's acting out of character, itching, and her nose is dripping. These are all characteristics of someone high on drugs. He tells her that he is her physician, giving her the drug, prescription, the drug itself, and the addiction, the consequence of his love.

I Know- Jay-Z: Background and Muse

 

(image credit to lyrics.wikia.com)

Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is an American Hip Hop artist and arguably the best rapper to date. He was born and raised in Marcy Projects, a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up, he witnessed many things that influenced his lyrics as he emerged as an artist, including the dealing of narcotics, murder, and other crimes. He has even stated that he used to sell drugs, though as a good "business man", he never once tried his own products. As he developed his multi- million dollar empire selling millions of records worldwide and also creating his own brand of wine, clothing line, record label, and becoming part owner of the New Jersey Nets, his lyrics surrounding the harsh realities of his past life seemed to become irrelevant, for he was far removed from that lifestyle.

On his album/movie soundtrack, American Gangster, dubbed after the American film of the same title, he tapped back into the realm of narcotics for the song titled "I Know" in which he uses addiction to drugs and fortune as a grand metaphor for the craving and dependence a woman has for his love and presence.

Welcome

Welcome to "The Muse in Music!" I have always loved music with lyrics that have a deeper meaning. There are so many intellectually profound artists out there creating music with words that it's listeners sometimes don't fully understand. I will choose a song of a different genre every post and give you a bit of background on the artist of my choice. With that, I will choose a song by him/ her and dissect the lyrics of the first verse, giving you more insight between the lines. Feel free to leave comments and also suggest music from an artist that you'd like for me to decipher. Enjoy ♥