Searching

Album: Speech Therapy (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the first single from British rapper Speech Debelle's Mercury Prize winning album, Speech Therapy.
  • Debelle was a heavy cannabis user in her teens, a dependency that contributed to her expulsion from Harris City Academy in Crystal Palace. The resulting strain on her relationship with her mother led to her moving out. She spent the next few years living in living in homeless hostels and "mistrustful of the idea of getting a 'proper' job." Debelle explained to The Sun September 4, 2009 that this song is "about needing to get away from the harshness surrounding me and contemplating how."
  • On this song the protagonist is struggling with the idea of sharing her accommodation with "cat-sized rats". Debelle told The London Times September 10, 2009: "I can pretty much pinpoint that lyric, That's Poynders [Estate] in Clapham. There was a crackhouse a couple of doors down, so you've got 'cat-sized rats,' but also 'cats the size of rats' - that's 'cats' as in people, who you could see physically wasting away because of what they were putting inside them."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.