Chosen Song Lyric Analysis

James Blake - Overgrown

The song written is in relation to a conversation with an artist and addresses the problem of permanence as an artist in the current music world.

[Verse 1]

And I want you to know

I took it with me 

And when things are thrown away like they are daily

Time passes and the constant stays

The first two lines could be seen as him acknowledging the artist and taking what happened on board. He could also be referring to female companionships he previously had and claiming he has took that with him towards his career. 

The next two lines could represent how the music industry regularly throws away artists and this makes it difficult to become an artist. However in the next line suggest his possible annoyance that the artist he spoke with has been able to maintain a career within the music industry. In the other scenario these lines could represent the desire he has for his female companion and that despite other things being thrown away his love and desire will always remain constant.

[Chorus]

So if thats how it is

I dont wanna be a star

But a stone on the shore

A lone doorframe in a war

When everything's overgrown

But what she really really wanted was my rights and wrongs

And I wouldn't understand that I wouldn't play along

The first three lines are in reference to an understanding reached that potentially becoming a superstar will not guarantee him longevity in the music career but by being abstract he will. 

The doorframe metaphor is used to represent the fact that he may change slightly in his appearance but will always remain in the same position. 

He then refers to his desire not to grow a large amount but remain in the position he is at the moment. he expresses his disliking at the need to develop hugely like other artists and believes this will better his career. 

The next line is designed to show that the music industry will accept him how he is and cope with his wrongs and well as his rights in order to show her love.

The next line shows that if the artist understood why the music industry wouldn't want him to have a long career then he would play along and be the star, but because he cant understand it he intends to not play along.

[Repeat x 4]

Time passes and the constant stays.

This is the finishing line to show that his desire for permanence is the most important thing and is a recurring theme within the track. Also that the track isn't specifically about impermanence in the music industry but in all aspects of life.