Coming Second
Elbow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kissed the stone and learnt the lines
Jumped the queue all the time forgetting you
Best dishevelled lover 3 years running
Coming second to
A picket fence white 9-5 who's
Just alive
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet I can't be without this
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet
I need you to be
To be around
I need you to be
To be around
I want you to say
You'll be around
I need you to be
To be around
Spit-shone lies, juggled debts
Planted flags and made regrets
Muddled through all the time forgetting you
Cut your teeth and breezed on to
Another brother's fickle ways
So why amazed when it don't
Come/turn out your way
Elbow's "Coming Second" tells a story of a disheveled lover who constantly jumps the queue and slips through the cracks. The first verse explains how the singer is constantly looking for love but never gets any. While they've won the title of "best disheveled lover" three years running, they always come second to someone who's more stable, like a white picket fence, 9-5 job. Despite this, the singer is beyond repair and can't be without the person they love, even though it's clear they're not meant to be together.
The chorus of the song contains a cry for attention and proximity from the person they love. The singer needs them to be around, and they need them to say that they'll always be around. The second verse is filled with deceitful actions and irresponsibilities, such as spit-shone lies and juggled debts. The singer has left a trail of regrets, but they've never stopped forgetting about the one they love. They cut their teeth and moved on to another love interest's fickle ways, which has led to their amazement when things don't turn out the way they want.
Line by Line Meaning
Found a hole and slipped on through
I found an opening and took it without hesitation
Kissed the stone and learnt the lines
I absorbed every detail and learned the rules of the game
Jumped the queue all the time forgetting you
I constantly prioritized myself and forgot about you
Best dishevelled lover 3 years running
I may be messy and unpredictable, but I am still the best lover around
Coming second to
Although I am great, I still fall short compared to
A picket fence white 9-5 who's
A typical, stable, mundane lifestyle that
Just alive
Merely exists, without any excitement or passion
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Our relationship is damaged beyond repair, so there's nothing left to discuss
Save some fading regrets
I can only hold onto the memories and regrets that are slowly fading away
Yet I can't be without this
Even though it hurts, I can't imagine my life without you
I need you to be
I require your presence
To be around
I want you to be present in my life
I want you to say
Words of love and confirmation from you hold great value to me
You'll be around
I need to know that you will be there for me in the future
Spit-shone lies, juggled debts
I tried to keep up appearances, while also managing my various debts
Planted flags and made regrets
I pursued various goals, but ultimately ended up regretting some of my choices
Muddled through all the time forgetting you
I stumbled along, focusing on myself and accidentally neglecting you
Cut your teeth and breezed on to
You gained experience and moved on easily to
Another brother's fickle ways
Someone else who wasn't worth your time
So why amazed when it don't
Why should I be surprised when things don't
Come/turn out your way
Work out the way I hoped or planned them to
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter James Turner, Richard Barry Jupp, Craig Lee Potter, Mark Potter, Guy Edward John Garvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TeedChap
Found a hole and slipped on through
Kissed the stone and learnt the lines
Jumped the queue all the time forgetting you
Best dishevelled lover 3 years running
Coming second to
A picket fence white 9-5 who's
Just alive
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet I can't be without this
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet
I need you to be
To be around
I need you to be
To be around
I want you to say
You'll be around
I need you to be
To be around
Spit-shone lies, juggled debts
Planted flags and made regrets
Muddled through all the time forgetting you
Cut your teeth and breezed on to
Another brother's fickle ways
So why amazed when it don't
Come/turn out your way
elfyboy
Stumbled upon Elbow just this evening and am BLOWN AWAY! My God, each song of theirs I find is better than the last -- almost too much beauty to bear -- like walking through the Louvre in a single day -- impossible to take in and appreciate such breathtaking artistry. Awesome, truely awesome.
Simian Shakenspere
beauty like the artist 😋 xxx...
Gift Horse
elfyboy hope you feel the same in 2018
TeedChap
Found a hole and slipped on through
Kissed the stone and learnt the lines
Jumped the queue all the time forgetting you
Best dishevelled lover 3 years running
Coming second to
A picket fence white 9-5 who's
Just alive
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet I can't be without this
Beyond repair, there is nothing to say
Save some fading regrets
Yet
I need you to be
To be around
I need you to be
To be around
I want you to say
You'll be around
I need you to be
To be around
Spit-shone lies, juggled debts
Planted flags and made regrets
Muddled through all the time forgetting you
Cut your teeth and breezed on to
Another brother's fickle ways
So why amazed when it don't
Come/turn out your way
Mark Illingworth
its funny how many people click on a tune by elbow and say that its the best song theyve ever heard. everyone has their taste of course. Elbow are class. my best is deffo the birds.
Daniel Green
Incredible song from Elbow.
Sean Mulholland
How come this has only 1,888 hits? I love this album & this is my fave track!!
Simon0
i feel elbow have their own sound different to radiohead. Both bands are awesome in my opinion.
Matthew D Gilpin
I AM NOT HATING ON THEM!!!!!! but I wish they did more like this...
Dokka Chapman
I listened to the remix by misery:lab first and thought it was very dark and foreboding, and now I get to hear the original I think they are equally good :D