The time is too short
But never too long
To reach ahead
To project the image
Which will in time
Become a concrete dream
Another cigarette
Another day
From A to B
Again avoiding C, D, and E
'Cause E's
Where you play the blues
Avoiding a death
Is to win the game
To avoid relegation
The big E

Drowning in the big swim
Rising to the surface
The smell of you

That's the lowdown

That's the lowdown
Drowning in the big swim
Rising to the surface
The smell of you

That's the lowdown

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Wire's song Lowdown appear to convey a sense of urgency and a longing to achieve success. The opening lines, "The time is too short but never too long to reach ahead," seem to imply that time is precious and one must use it wisely to achieve their goals. The singer then talks about projecting an image that will become a concrete dream, indicating the importance of creating a positive perception of oneself to attain success. The repetitive lines, "Another cigarette, another day, from A to B, again avoiding C, D, and E," suggest a routine or cycle that one is trying to break free from to attain their goals.

The reference to "E's where you play the blues" is interesting as it could mean either avoiding negative experiences, or that one is going to the easy option of playing the blues rather than striving for something more. The theme of winning is also present in the lines "avoiding a death is to win the game, to avoid relegation, the big E," which could be interpreted as avoiding failure at all costs. The final lines, "Drowning in the big swim, rising to the surface, the smell of you, that's the lowdown," suggest that the singer is still struggling to achieve their goals but is determined to keep trying until they succeed.

Line by Line Meaning

The time is too short
Our time on earth is limited and we must make the most of it.

But never too long
Although our time is limited, we must not give up hope and keep pushing forward.

To reach ahead
To succeed in life, we must set goals and strive to achieve them.

To project the image
We must create a vision for our future and work towards it.

Which will in time
With time and effort, our goals and vision will become clearer and more achievable.

Become a concrete dream
Our vision and goals will become real and tangible with hard work and perseverance.

Another cigarette
An unhealthy habit that distracts us from our goals and wastes our time and health.

Another day
Another opportunity to work towards our goals and make progress in our lives.

From A to B
Moving forward in a linear direction, from one goal to the next.

Again avoiding C, D, and E
Avoiding distractions and temptations that take us away from our goals and vision for the future.

'Cause E's
Because E represents the struggles and difficulties that can bring us down and make us lose sight of our vision.

Where you play the blues
A metaphor for the sadness and negativity that can come from losing focus and straying from our goals.

Avoiding a death
Avoiding failure and setbacks that can derail our progress and cause us to lose sight of our goals.

Is to win the game
To be successful in life, we must avoid failure and setbacks and stay focused on our goals.

To avoid relegation
To stay on track towards our goals and not fall behind or be downgraded in our progress.

The big E
The ultimate obstacle or challenge that can defeat us if we do not stay focused on our goals.

Drowning in the big swim
Overcoming challenges that threaten to overwhelm us and make us lose sight of our vision for the future.

Rising to the surface
Recovering from setbacks and challenges and regaining our focus on our goals and vision.

The smell of you
A reminder of our past mistakes and unhealthy habits that can distract us from our vision and goals.

That's the lowdown
That's the truth or reality of our situation, with all its challenges and opportunities for growth and progress.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Pierre Clary

on Champs

48w

i believe this song is about amphetamine abuse, endemic on the punk scene...Speed, "more speed than before ,less time than before (tolerance build up)........

Pierre Clary

on Champs

48w

The song "Champs" by Wire is an intense and fast-paced track that addresses themes of competitiveness, the desire for success, and the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve their goals. The repeated phrases "The taste of champions, the pace, the pace, the speed, the need, the need to seed, the chance to die" suggest that the speaker is wholly dedicated to winning and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The subsequent line "Another dead don't cry" implies that the speaker has seen others perish in their pursuit of victory and is not phased by it. The stanza "You've still got speed, you'll maybe bleed, there's less time" highlights the idea that time is running out and that one must act quickly if they wish to be successful.

The next stanza begins with the phrase "More speed than before, you've done it before, there is no for, what are you doing it for?" which suggests that the speaker is no longer satisfied with their previous achievements and is compelled to push themselves even harder. The line "Want more, want more" is a clear indication that the speaker is never satisfied with what they have and will always strive for more. The repetition of "Another dead don't cry" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder that the pursuit of success often has a cost, and that cost can be the lives of others.i think this so,