Recent work has been as part of John Foxx and The Maths and he has had a number of collaborations including John Foxx & Steve D'Agostino, John Foxx and The Belbury Circle, John Foxx and Jori Hulkkonen, John Foxx & Robin Guthrie, John Foxx & Louis Gordon.
Underpass
John Foxx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Watching you glow
Lifting a receiver
Nobody I know
Underpass
Underpass
Well I used to remember
Now it's all gone...
World War something...
We were somebody's sons
Underpass
Underpass
Over all the bridges
Echoes in rows
Talking at the same time
Click-click drone...
Underpass
Underpass
Misty on the glass now
Rusty on the door
Here for years now
Click-click drone
Click-click drone
Click-click drone
Click-click drone
Click-click...
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
Underpass
The lyrics of John Foxx's "Underpass" describe a sense of loneliness and detachment as the speaker stands alone in the dark, watching someone else from a distance. Despite lifting a receiver to try and connect with someone, the speaker is unable to make a connection with anyone they know. The repetition of the phrase "underpass" emphasizes the idea of being trapped or stuck in a certain space or position, with no escape.
The second verse suggests a loss of memory and an uncertain sense of time, with the reference to "World War something" and being "somebody's sons". The bleak imagery of "misty on the glass now / rusty on the door" evokes a sense of abandonment and neglect, further emphasizing the feeling of being trapped in a stagnant space. The repeated phrase "click-click drone" adds to the eeriness of the song and suggests a mechanical, monotonous existence.
Overall, "Underpass" explores themes of isolation, memory loss, and a sense of being stuck or trapped. The somber tone and repetitive lyrics create a haunting atmosphere, emphasizing the feelings of loneliness and detachment.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the dark
I am standing in the darkness
Watching you glow
I am observing your radiance
Lifting a receiver
I am picking up a phone
Nobody I know
I do not recognize the voice on the other end of the line
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Well I used to remember
I used to have memories
Now it's all gone...
Now those memories have disappeared
World War something...
There was a war that took place
We were somebody's sons
We were sons of someone
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Over all the bridges
I see bridges over me
Echoes in rows
There are sounds repeating in succession
Talking at the same time
Voices are speaking in unison
Click-click drone...
I hear the sound of clicking
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Misty on the glass now
Condensation has formed on the window
Rusty on the door
The door is corroded with rust
Here for years now
I have been here for some time
Click-click drone
I hear the sound of clicking
Click-click drone
I hear the sound of clicking
Click-click drone
I hear the sound of clicking
Click-click drone
I hear the sound of clicking
Click-click...
The clicking sound continues
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Underpass
I am in an underpass
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS LEIGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NerveJam
Standing in the shop
Stroking my thighs
Lifting up the Y-fronts
Nothing in my size
Underpants!
Underpants!
Well, I used to wear boxers
Now they're all worn
Wasn't it some...thing...
They warmed somebody's bum
Underpants!
Underpants!
Scouring through the britches
I think I like those
They're comfy at the same...time...
Leg, leg, bum
Underpants!
Underpants!
Snuggly on my ass now
Crumpled on the floor
They'll last for years...now...
Leg, leg, bum
Leg, leg, bum
Leg, leg, bum
Leg, leg, bum
Leg, leg...
Underpants!
Underpants!
Underpants!
Underpants!
(repeat to fade)
(Alternative lyrics courtesy of Mrs X, on the Ultravox forum)
Andrew Perkins
the man was light years ahead of his time, this is a classic.
hyperdrive
Groundbreaking music, and that keyboard chorus is hypnotic and sinister! Just amazing
@Alan.92n
Timeless, hypnotic, sinister, chilling. Brilliant.
Hozonkai
John Foxx is criminally underrated
Without him there would be no Gary Numan and of course no Ultravox
john friel
And Fad Gadget was around before both of them
No One Driving
@John friel, no he wasn't... Fad Gadget released his first single in 1979 and first album in 1980... Gary Numan (active since 1975) and John Foxx (active since 1967) had both been around for years before Fad Gadget... I do like Fad Gadget though
Kwadwo Holloway
@No One Driving And speaking of Ultravox, Midge Ure took his place after he left for a solo career.
proclaimed75
Do not agree. Gary Numan almost solely set the synth scene fully above grond without any help! OMD, Depeche, Human League Alphaville, and many others, no one got it popular before Gary! But indeed Foxx is heavily underrated.
No One Driving
@proclaimed75 - I think Joe Meek / The Tornados, Wendy Carlos, Giorgio Moroder, Chicory Tip, Kraftwerk, Vangelis, Donna Summer, Space, The RAH Band and Jean Michel Jarre might disagree with you on that point TBH! They all wrote or scored synth / electronic hits before Numan, so he certainly didn't "almost solely" set the synth scene fully above ground without any help, it was already well above ground before he arrived! Numan has admitted himself numerous times he would never have made it without Foxx...
Ashfaq
Electronic Masterpiece