Seventeen Going Under
Sam Fender Lyrics

I remember the sickness was forever
I recall the feeling of being unwell and it seemed like it would never end.

I remember snuff videos
I remember seeing gruesome, violent videos, leaving a deep impression.

Cold Septembers, the distances we covered
We went a long way in the chilly September, they are unforgettable memories.

The fist fights on the beach, the bizzies round us up
I fought with my fists on the beach, and the police did their job and caught us.

Do it all again next week
Despite any trouble or harm, we'll do it all over again next week.

An embryonic love
A romantic love relationship that was in the beginning stages of development.

The first time that it scarred
The first experience of love hurt me deeply.

Embarrass yourself for someone
I became humiliated for another person's sake.

Crying like a child
I cried helplessly, like a child does.

And the boy who kicked Tom's head in
The boy who brutally assaulted Tom still troubles me even now.

Still bugs me now
It still deeply bothers me and causes distress even today.

That's the thing, it lingers
The experience of pain and trauma persist over time.

And claws you when you're down
The memories of trauma can torment you when you're vulnerable.

I was far too scared to hit him
I was frightened and could not retaliate when I was attacked.

But I would hit him in a heartbeat now
I am now willing to respond with violence if the same incident happens again.

That's the thing with anger
Anger has the power to cloud reason and become a long-lasting burden.

It begs to stick around
Anger wants to persist and stay with you, even when you don't want it to.

So it can fleece you of your beauty
Anger can make you lose your inner beauty, your soulful spirit.

And leave you spent with nowt to offer
It can leave you devoid of compassion, kindness, or anything good to give.

Makes you hurt the ones who love you
The people you love are the ones who will suffer the most from your outbursts of anger and violence.

You hurt them like they're nothing
Harming your loved ones makes you treat them like they are insignificant.

(Oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

See I spent my teens enraged
Being angry and frustrated characterized my teenage years.

Spiralin' in silence
I silently revolved emotionally in a troubled, endless cycle.

And I armed myself with a grin
I created a facade of happiness and a self-protective grin on my face.

'Cause I was always the fuckin' joker
I became a natural at making people laugh in order to hide my internal struggles.

Buried in their humor
I concealed my pain under the cloak of their entertainment.

Amongst the white noise and boys' boys
Among my male peers and friends, I struggled with a sense of being invisible.

Locker-room talkin' lads' lads
My male peers would often engage in macho and vulgar conversations that I could not join in on.

Drenched in cheap drink and snide fags
Alcohol and cheap cigarettes served as a staple of our social gatherings.

A mirrored picture of my old man
I was a reflection of my father in the ways that I struggled and hid my emotions.

Oh God, the kid's a dab hand
Despite my hidden turmoil, I became adept at fooling others into believing everything was fine.

Canny chanter, but he looks sad
I could sing and entertain, but underneath the surface, I was deeply unhappy.

She said the debt, the debt, the debt
Someone spoke of debt, seemingly causing great stress.

So I thought about shifting gear
I pondered changing my ways or taking a new direction.

And how she wept and wept and wept
Someone was crying a great deal, which impacted deeply.

Well, luck came and died 'round here
I experienced a temporary respite from my troubles, which would soon fade away.

I see my mother
I think of my mom, whom I love.

The DWP see a number
The Department of Work and Pensions sees her as just another number in the system.

She cries on the floor encumbered
She is emotionally overwhelmed and distressed to the point of losing control.

I'm seventeen going under
Despite the turbulence of life, I am still a teenager trying to make it through challenging times.

(Oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

I'm seventeen going under
Despite any fears, uncertainties, or hardships, I am still hopeful and determined to move forward.

(oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

(Oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

I'm seventeen going under
The struggles of adolescence continue to affect me and drain me emotionally.

(oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

(Oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

I'm seventeen going under
Being vulnerable and inexperienced during my teenage years is a difficult process to navigate.

(oh, oh)
A musical interlude.

(Oh, oh)
A musical interlude.