Higher by Tems Lyrics Meaning – An Ode to Triumphant Self-Empowerment
Lyrics
Ooh
Higher
Higher
Saying higher
Ayy
Tell me why you’re crying now kini big deal
(Higher, higher, higher, higher)
When you gave me something I don’t really feel
(Higher, higher, higher, higher)
But you knew that already
When I found you on the ground
You were dying (higher, higher, higher, higher)
Now you come into my yard, uninvited
Can you see me on the edge?
I’m enlightened (higher, higher, higher, higher)
If the world was ending
Would you cry or would try to get me?
Tell me now, I want you to be clear, yeah (tell me)
Tell me now, I need you to be clear, yeah (tell me)
I will wait for you, for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
Get me
Can you put the time on a rewind, yeah?
Help me understand, can you tell me now?
Why you made the war that we’re fighting now?
(Higher, higher, higher, higher)
And you fall and you run when you see my big guns
Run around, run away as the rebel comes out
Then you call, call on me when you call me I come
But there you go again (there you go)
With your deaf ears
Open your mind to the sound of the trumpet
What do want from a life of the hopeless? (of the hopeless)
Now here you are and you’re begging and crying (and your crying)
I want to fly, yeah, I’m flying ’til morning
Running away to the land of discovery
Running away from the suffering, I’m gone, yeah
Running away from the darkness, I’m out here, yeah (higher, higher)
Higher than all the limits
Going way beyond the noise and your feelings
When you speak all I can hear is silence
Turning back from all the pain and violence
Big tunes, now it’s big tunes I’m killing
Cry now from the side now, call my name
Fall down when you see me, you know that
You know that I won’t stay for you, you
I will wait for you for you, for you
I will wait for you
I will wait for you
Tems, an artist who has swiftly carved her niche in the Afrobeat world with her lush vocals and introspective lyricism, presents ‘Higher’ as a powerful exploration of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment. Through its stirring chords and candid lyrics, the song serves as both a personal manifesto and a universal anthem.
But ‘Higher’ is more than just another addition to a playlist of empowerment ballads. It’s a nuanced journey through emotion, adversity, and the quest for peace. It demands a deep dive into its lyrics to unearth the layered meanings and intentions that Tems embeds within her soulful delivery.
Transcendence Through Trials: Tems’s Tale of Growth
Tems’s ‘Higher’ isn’t just about reaching a literal altitude. It’s about an elevation of spirit and strength that comes from overcoming hardship. The song opens with a confrontational inquiry to a figure who, despite causing pain, appears surprised at the singer’s emotional state. This establishes a theme of overcoming emotional betrayal and the transformative growth that follows.
The recurring chant of ‘higher’ throughout the song is an assertive rejection of stagnation. It’s a clear statement that Tems refuses to be held down by the weight of another’s actions or expectations. She’s fighting to ascend above the chaos that someone else brought into her life, underscoring the song’s message of personal elevation.
A Portal into Tems’s Core: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beneath the surface, ‘Higher’ offers a deeper rumination on existential threats and the resilience of the human spirit. When Tems lyrically proposes the end of the world as a scenario, she’s not only speaking about global cataclysm; it’s a metaphor for personal apocalypse. The true question she poses is about loyalty and support through one’s darkest hours.
This introspection also extends to the notion of time and its irreversible nature. By asking to ‘put the time on a rewind,’ Tems is calling out for understanding and resolution in the aftermath of conflict. It’s a plea for clarity and closure, recognizing the impossibility of undoing the past but seeking solace in resolution.
Chasing the Dawn: Escape from Pain to Discovery
There’s a palpable sense of motion and urgency in ‘Higher.’ Tems’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of running towards ‘the land of discovery.’ This escape is not just physical but emotional and spiritual – a journey away from ‘suffering’ and ‘darkness.’ It’s the pursuit of a new beginning, unshackled from the traumas that haunt her narrator.
The notion of ‘running away’ recurs throughout the song, serving as a powerful metaphor for the refusal to remain in the shadow of oppressive forces. Instead, Tems chooses the path of ‘enlightenment,’ signaling not just a movement in space but a rise in knowledge and self-awareness.
Beyond the Noise: Silence as the Loudest Statement
One of the most haunting aspects of ‘Higher’ is its confrontation with silence. When Tems declares, ‘When you speak all I can hear is silence,’ she’s capturing the profound disconnect that can occur in relationships marred by pain. This silence is louder than any words; it’s the sound of irreconcilable differences and the understanding that some distances can’t be bridged.
This silence is not just an absence of sound but an active choice of disengagement. By turning her back on ‘pain and violence,’ Tems illustrates her refusal to engage with the toxicity that threatens her well-being. It’s a decisive step toward a higher plane of existence, untouched by the turmoil below.
Memorable Lines: The Anthem Rings Out
‘Higher than all the limits / Going way beyond the noise and your feelings.’ These lines encapsulate the essence of Tems’s ‘Higher.’ They are a defiant proclamation of Tems’s intention to outgrow and outlast the constraints imposed by another’s actions or by society itself.
‘You know that I won’t stay for you, you’ — the repetition here serves as a punctuating finale to an anthem of moving on. It’s emblematic of the finality with which Tems treats the subject of her song. Not only will she not stay physically, but emotionally and spiritually, she’s already soaring beyond.
