Numb is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. Appearing on her first studio album, The Family Jewels, it is the 12th track on the album.
The song was written by Marina alone, and produced by Liam Howe.
Background[]
The original file of the demo's metadata gives a date of 2009,[1] and was encoded with iTunes 8.0.1. This version of iTunes was released on October 2, 2008.[2]
During an Instagram livestream from April 2020, Diamandis stated Numb and I Am Not a Robot took approximately four months to write.[3] The demo version of Numb was sent to tashed.com and was available to listen to from July 3, 2009.[4]
Meaning[]
Diamandis talked about the meaning of Numb in her track-by-track interview for the album, stating:
❝ Well, I think it refers to a similar subject that robot refers to, which is that, ambitious driven people are usually quite detached emotionally. And I feel that I have been, because I like working. I don't have time for relationships and so you don't prioritise them. But then, obviously, you're human and you need friendships and relationships. And so, you know, if you suddenly feel sad or like you've got nothing, that's probably why. [laughs] But, I think Numb is also about the sacrifices that you have to make to achieve what you want. I am prepared to make them and I was at the time. ❞
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album [Inst.]
|
The Family Jewels | 15 Feb 2010 | 4:14 |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | 3:56 | |||
| Live | ITunes Live: London Festival '10 | 26 Jul 2010 | 3:56 | |
| Demos | ||||
| Demo | MySpace | 03 Jul 2009 | 4:20 | |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
One track mind like a goldfish
Stuck inside my petri dish
I can't breathe and I can't smile
This'd better be worth my while
[Chorus]
I feel numb most of the time
Lower I get, the higher I'll climb
And I will wonder why
I got dark only to shine
Looking for the golden life
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice
Burn, burn, burn bright
[Verse 2]
Forego family, forego friends
It's how it started, how it ends
I can't open up and cry
'Cause I've been silent all my life
[Chorus]
I feel numb most of the time
Lower I get, the higher I'll climb
And I will wonder why
I got dark only to shine
Looking for the golden life
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice
Burn, burn, burn bright
Burn, burn, burn bright
[Bridge]
Ooh, I get dark
Ooh, and I'm in Hell
I need a friend
Ooh, but I can't yell
Yeah, I'm no good
No good to anyone
'Cause all I care about
Is being number one
Shine, looking for the golden life
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice
Shine, looking for the golden life
Oh, it's a reasonable sacrifice, sacrifice
[Alt. Chorus]
I feel numb most of the time
Lower I get, the higher I'll climb
And I will wonder why
I got dark only to shine
And I light up the sky
Stars that burn the brightest
Fall so fast and pass you by
Puff like empty lighters
I feel numb most of the time
Lower I get, the higher I'll climb
And I will wonder why
I get dark only to shine
And I light up the sky
Stars that burn the brightest
Fall so fast and pass you by
Spark like empty lighters
[Outro]
Dum-da-dum da-dum da-dum
Dum-da-dum da-da-ah-ah
Dum-da-dum da-dum da-dum
Dum-da-dum da-da-ah-ah
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Marina Diamandis — Piano, Organ
- Lucy Shaw — String arrangement, Double bass
- Stephen Large — Piano, Hammond
- Lima Howe — Philicorda, Mellotron, Mandolin, Recorders
- Anna Phoebe — Violins
- Rebekah Allan — Violins
- Oli Langford — Viola
- Chris Worsey — Cello
Technical[]
- Produced by Liam Howe for This Much Talent
- Mixed by Liam Howe at The Ivory Tower
- Programming by Liam Howe
- Engineered by Richard Wilkinson
- Assistant Engineer Dougal Lott
- Recorded at The Ivory Tower and Konk, London
- Written by Marina Diamandis
- Published by Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd
- Mastered by Guy Davie at Electric Mastering, London
Registration[]
On ASCAP/BMI the song was registered once,[5] and twice on GEMA,[6] the reregistration on GEMA lists Marina's own publishing company Primadonna Girl Limited, and was likely done to have legal ownership over her songs.
References[]
- ↑ Run https://dbree.org/v/a7a0d2 through https://www.metadata2go.com
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_iTunes#iTunes_8
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Zf-4YYukkus?t=2089
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090930225033/http://tashed.com/2009/07/marina-the-diamonds-numb/
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#
ISWC: T9030431324 Work ID: 880483399 - ↑ https://online.gema.de/werke/search.faces?lang=en
GEMA work no.: 11026702-001 GEMA work no.: 11026702-003
