Build You Up

[QuantumP7]

Build You Up is my favourite song on Folklore, though I love the whole cd. But when I look on her site, I see an explanation for every one of the Folklore songs EXCEPT Build You Up. Does anyone know if she's explained it? If not, what do YOU think it means? I'm interested in seeing what everyone thinks it means.

[Deep137]

I totally noticed that too . . . it's my favourite song, besides "Try" and it was annoying to see all the other songs written about on the site except for that one. To be honest, I'm not sure why I like the song so much. I mean, the lyrics aren't that complicated or deep, but I think that the earnesty with which she sings comes through and it makes the song . . . personal I guess. I mean, I don't really know what to say about "what it means" cause I think it's kind of obvious, at least to me. The song just seems like a kind of self-help song if you will, or I guess a song that's supposed to help someone else get through a rough time. But I don't really know what else to say cause I have no idea why Nelly decided to write it or what her intentions were or whatever

[peewee]

Whilst I agree with your points, I don't think it's a general self help song at all. She sings that song with more passion than any other in my opinion. Well a lot of the album is about little Jazz and I got the impression that this song was one of them. It sounds as if he had a harsh childhood or something like that and she wants to take all of his burden. I have a friend a bit like this who I wish I could share her pain or something. I try to give everything to help her and this song often reminds me of the situation. It's also my favourite song on the album and mainly cause she sounds as if she is close to tears toward the end of the song and such passion is a rare thing in music these days. Also if my interpretation of the song was correct, then she might not want to tell everybody about it cause it's so private.

[QuantumP7]

Originally Posted by peewee

Whilst I agree with your points, I don't think it's a general self help song at all. She sings that song with more passion than any other in my opinion. Well a lot of the album is about little Jazz and I got the impression that this song was one of them. It sounds as if he had a harsh childhood or something like that and she wants to take all of his burden. I have a friend a bit like this who I wish I could share her pain or something. I try to give everything to help her and this song often reminds me of the situation. It's also my favourite song on the album and mainly cause she sounds as if she is close to tears toward the end of the song and such passion is a rare thing in music these days. Also if my interpretation of the song was correct, then she might not want to tell everybody about it cause it's so private.

That's EXACTLY what I thought. I mean, EXACTLY! And, I think that one of the reason that this song touches me so much, is that I had a "harsh childhood," too. And I've never had a girlfriend. I just wish that I could find someone who feels the same way about me, too, ya know? Another reason is also because of the way Nelly sings it. Lots of passion, like you said. Ditto on why she wouldn't exactly wanna share it's meaning, too.

I wondered if anyone though the same way about this song's meaning as I did. Part of the reason I posted because I don't think it's simply an "I'll be there" type song, either, although I TOTALLY respect your interpretation, Deep 137.

What really suggests that this is kind of about a person with a harsh childhood, is the line "you were just a child/ready to explore/and everything you saw/looked like an open door.

If little Jazz was beaten or molested or something like that when he was a kid, then that's definitely not something you tell the whole world about, ya know? Not without his permission.

I think I read in an interview that Nelly is very deeply in love with little Jazz. If this song is about him, and this interpretation is right, then it makes a whole lot of sense that she'd want to share his burden. If something like that happened to him, then he probably shared that burden all his life.

Sorry for the long post, you all.

[peewee]

Hehe post as long as ya want. Good to hear some deep opinions from a new member. Welcome to the boards and I hope you fit in really well. These boards are full of people with problems and issues who wish to help each other and I've been close and still am close to a lot of them so don't be shy.

I'm glad somebody else picked up on the same ideas in the song as I did, without me making them believe that haha cause I've done that to a few people. We'll see what other people have to say.

[Deep137]

Originally Posted by peewee

Whilst I agree with your points, I don't think it's a general self help song at all. She sings that song with more passion than any other in my opinion. Well a lot of the album is about little Jazz and I got the impression that this song was one of them. It sounds as if he had a harsh childhood or something like that and she wants to take all of his burden. I have a friend a bit like this who I wish I could share her pain or something. I try to give everything to help her and this song often reminds me of the situation. It's also my favourite song on the album and mainly cause she sounds as if she is close to tears toward the end of the song and such passion is a rare thing in music these days. Also if my interpretation of the song was correct, then she might not want to tell everybody about it cause it's so private.

No, I actually do agree with you. I didn't mean self-help in the sense of she's writing for herself, I guess that's not the term I wanted to use. I actually meant to say exactly what you did . . . that it's written to help someone else get through a tough situation (and as you said, probably written for little Jazz). And I think you're right about the passion and pure emotion of the song--that's what gets me too. From the first moment I heard it to the ending, where it seems like she's trying sincerely to make the subject of the song listen to what she's saying, I knew this song was a gem. I also think that the contrast of subject matter and actual music of the song is nice. I mean, maybe it was inspired by something bad happening and it was written to help someone survive in that situation, which isn't such a cheerful situation, but in any case, when I think of a "supportive" song like this one, I wouldn't imagine it to have such a dark feeling to it. But it does, and that's what I like about it. It makes the song seem more real in a sense. I'm not sure if that made any sense at all, but it did in my head . . .

[MeO587]

It's interesting to contemplate the personal levels of her songs. There are just so many layers behind each one, and I'm sure there are layers we don't even realise!

[peewee]

Ahh yes and I'm glad you resurrected this topic even though I hate old topics usually hehehe. This is a song we've really heard absolutely nothing about, with any substance anyway. I'd love to see everyone's opinion on what she is expressing. Other songs too.

[Nikki]

Lemme listen to the album again tonight + I'll get back to you tomorrow with actual thought behind my post

[Dellamorte]

I might be wrong...it's been a while so my facts may be off- but I think Build You Up was the last song she recorded for the album? Perhaps she didn't have much info about it at the time she gave out the explanations.

(it's one of my favourites as well, and of course we all have our various interpretations of it)