Hailing from deepest, darkest Essex, Absent Kid are a five piece who play a… Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from deepest, darkest Essex, Absent Kid are a five piece who play an energetic brand of indie-pop. Fronted by brothers Martin and Richard Williams, the band began gigging around their native Colchester and soon earned favourable comparisons to Idlewild, Radiohead and Pavement.

After a few ventures to London, the fledgling Absent Kid would soon get their first break after winning the Diesel U-Music Award for Best New Rock act. Some NME coverage later and the band were soon releasing debut mini-album "I Burnt Down the Family Business" through legendary North London indie label Fierce Panda. They began playing gigs with the likes of The Subways, Art Brut, Kasabian and Queen Adreena and featured on both MTV2 and Radio One, as well as recording a session for XFM.

Note To Self
Absent Kid Lyrics

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All hands to the pump
Is the nation you love?
You were dressed in a flag
I won't be phased, so

Pretend that we aint over,
It's such a pity that we,
Pretend that we aint over

Is this city that you love?

Out of breath, out of cash
This is a note to self
Cast all logic aside
Lead with my heart now

Hold out a little longer
But can we really?
Can we hold out a little longer
Is this the city that you love?

Don't take it out on yourself
This is not ours to mend
I think I'll close my eyes and wait for the end (x3)

The streets aren't paved with gold
The streets are stained with blood
I think I'll close my eyes and wait for the end

Pretend that we aint over,
Is this city that you love? (repeat)

Overall Meaning

In Absent Kid's song Note to Self, the lyrics seem to question the loyalty one may have for their nation or their city. The opening line "All hands to the pump" may refer to a call for teamwork and a sense of urgency, indicating that there is a crisis looming. The following line "Is the nation you love?" may suggest that despite the urgency of the situation, there may be doubts as to whether the individual's love for their country is as strong as they desire it to be. The repetition of "Pretend that we ain't over" could be emphasizing a sense of denial or avoidance, as if the person speaking is trying to convince themselves that everything is okay, even if it isn't.

The chorus "Out of breath, out of cash, this is a note to self" seems to convey a feeling of defeat or hopelessness, as if the singer has given up on trying to fix whatever is wrong. The final line of the chorus "Lead with my heart now" could suggest that the individual has decided to let their emotions and intuition guide them, rather than relying on their logical mind.

In the second verse, the repetition of "Hold out a little longer" could indicate that the singer is trying to hang on, despite feeling like things are falling apart. However, the question "But can we really?" suggests doubt and uncertainty about whether they can keep holding on.

The final lines of the song shift the focus to the city or the streets, as if to suggest that the individual's struggles are not just personal, but are also influenced by the world around them. "The streets aren't paved with gold, the streets are stained with blood" implies that reality may be far from ideal, and that there are darker forces at play. The final line "I think I'll close my eyes and wait for the end" may suggest a feeling of resignation or acceptance, as if the individual has given up on trying to make things better and is simply waiting for the inevitable.

Line by Line Meaning

All hands to the pump
Everyone needs to pitch in to solve this problem

Is the nation you love?
Do you still have love for your country?

You were dressed in a flag
You were once an embodiment of patriotism

I won't be phased, so
I won't be affected

Pretend that we aint over,
Let's act as if our relationship isn't over yet

It's such a pity that we,
It's sad that this is where we are

Is this city that you love?
Do you still have love for this city?

Out of breath, out of cash
Physically and financially exhausted

This is a note to self
I'm reminding myself of something important

Cast all logic aside
Ignore reason and rational thinking

Lead with my heart now
Act according to my emotions and intuition