Riddle

Gigi D'Agostino

About Riddle

"The Riddle" is a song by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1984 as the lead single from the album of the same name. Kershaw described the lyrical content as being nondescript to fill as a "guide vocal" for the production. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top 10 in countries like Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. An accompanying music video was made for the song and features references to Lewis Carroll's book Alice in Wonderland. The song was covered by many artists, most notably by Gigi D'Agostino (1999) and Jack Holiday and Mike Candys (2012). 


Year:
2005
19 
#2

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I got two strong arms 
Blessings of Babylon 
With time to carry on 
And try 
For sins and false alarms 
So to America the brave 
Wise men save 

Near a tree by a river 
There's a hole in the ground 
Where an old man of aran 
Goes around and around 
And his mind is a beacon 
In the veil of the night 
For a strange kind of fashion 
There's a wrong and a right 
Near a tree by a river 
There's a hole in the ground 
Where an old man of aran 
Goes around and around 
And his mind is a beacon 
In the veil of the night 
For a strange kind of fashion 
There's a wrong and a right 
But he'll never, never fight over you 

Near a tree by a river 
There's a hole in the ground 
Where a old man of aran 
Goes around an around 
And his mind is a beacon 
In the veil of the night 
For a strange kind of fashion 
There's a wrong and a right 
Near a tree by a river 
There's a hole in the ground 
Where a old man of aran 
Goes around an around 
And his mind is a beacon 
In the veil of the night 
For a strange kind of fashion 
There's a wrong and a right 
But he'll never, never fight over you 

I got plans for us 
Nights in the scullery 
And day instead of me 
I only know what to discuss 
Of for anything but light 
Wise men fighting over you 

It's not me you see 
Pieces of valentine 
With just a song of mine 
To keep from burning history 
Seasons of gasoline and gold 
Wise men fold 

Near a tree by a river 
There's a hole in the ground 
Where an old man of aran 
Goes around and around 
And his mind is a beacon 
In the veil of the night 
For a strange kind of fashion 
There's a wrong and a right 
But he'll never, never fight over you 

I got time to kill 
Sly looks in corridors 
Without a plan of yours 
A blackbird sings on bluebird hill 
Thanks to the calling of the wild 
Wise mens' child

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Gigi D'Agostino

Luigino Celestino Di Agostino (born 17 December 1967), better known by his stage name Gigi D'Agostino, is an Italian DJ, remixer and record producer. In 1986, he started his career as a DJ-spinning Italo Disco, and releasing his first mix, titled "Psychodelic". more »

1 fan

Written by: Nik Kershaw

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Song Interpretation
"Riddle" by Gigi D'Agostino is a cover of Nik Kershaw's 1984 single "The Riddle."
Influence
The song, "The Riddle" has been covered by several artists, but the most popular version is perhaps by Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino, who turned the song into a dance hit in 1999.
Lyrics Controversy
The original song by Nik Kershaw had lyrics that were deliberately nonsensical. Kershaw admitted he wrote it as a "guide lyric," intending to replace the words with something more meaningful but never did.
Chart Performance (Nik Kershaw version
Nik Kershaw's version of "The Riddle" was a significant hit when it first debuted, reaching number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and number 6 in the Irish charts.
Chart Performance (Gigi D'Agostino version
The dance remix by Gigi D'Agostino reached number 1 in the Danish and the Flemish Singles Chart and number 2 in the Norwegian Singles Chart. It also reached the top 10 in several other countries.
Album Inclusion (Nik Kershaw version
"The Riddle" was the title track of Kershaw's second album, following up his first album, "Human Racing."
Album Inclusion (Gigi D'Agostino version
Gigi D'Agostino's version of "The Riddle" was included in his 1999 album "L'Amour Toujours."
Music Video (Nik Kershaw version
Nik Kershaw's original version of "The Riddle" featured a music video which was full of surreal imagery, in line with the nonsensical lyrics of the song.
Music Video (Gigi D'Agostino version
Meanwhile, Gigi D'Agostino's video focused on the energetic nightlife scene, capturing the spirit of late 90s dance music.
Song Composition
The song is a synthesis of pop and rock elements and for Gigi D'Agostino's version, electronic dance music elements were included.
Influence on Pop Culture
The Gigi D'Agostino version of "The Riddle" has had a significant influence on pop culture, being frequently played at clubs and included in several dance music compilations.
Interpretation of Title
The title "The Riddle" is fitting considering the cryptic, nonsensical nature of the lyrics, which has spawned numerous fan theories and debates about their meaning.

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