From a Vauxhall To a Velox
Billy Bragg Lyrics


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She said "do these seats fold down"
And I said "if you pull that handle"
All the time she'd been waiting for
Something with a little more
And all her mates on the new estates
Were walking out in confetti and sunshine

Her mother read her mail
And her Dad was a Policeman
Which I must say worried me
But some things have just got to be
So we passed very fast like ships in the night
Or cars in a contraflow system

Some people say love is blind
And I think that's just a bit short-sighted
Some people just want it now
It doesn't matter where or how




Satisfaction takes a second place
So long as they can get excited

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Billy Bragg's song "From A Vauxhall Velox" tell a story of a couple who are experiencing the ups and downs of a tumultuous relationship. The female character is dissatisfied with her current situation and is looking for something more. She asks the singer if the seats in the car he is driving can fold down, which could be interpreted as her desire for a change or a desire for something more passionate. The man shows her how to pull the handle, giving her what she wants for the moment, but it's clear that their relationship is not fulfilling her needs on a deeper level.


The song then gives us some backstory on the female character's family, with her mother reading her mail and her father being a policeman. This information worries the singer, possibly because it suggests that she comes from a strict or restrictive background. The couple's relationship is characterized as fleeting, with them passing by each other like "ships in the night or cars in a contraflow system." The song concludes with the observation that some people are shortsighted when it comes to love and are only interested in immediate excitement without considering the deeper satisfaction that a lasting relationship could bring.


Overall, Billy Bragg's song "From A Vauxhall Velox" provides an insightful look into the desires and concerns of a couple in a troubled relationship. The lyrics are both poetic and deeply relatable, and they accurately reflect the emotions and experiences that many people go through in their own romantic relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

She said "do these seats fold down"
The woman asked if the seats in the car can be folded down


And I said "if you pull that handle"
The singer responded by telling the woman to use a handle to fold down the seats


All the time she'd been waiting for Something with a little more
The woman was looking for something more exciting in her life, and had been waiting for it for some time


And all her mates on the new estates Were walking out in confetti and sunshine
Her friends who lived in the new developments were happy and celebrating their lives


Her mother read her mail
The woman's mother read her mail


And her Dad was a Policeman
Her father was a police officer


Which I must say worried me
The singer was concerned about the woman's family background


But some things have just got to be
The artist accepted that some things cannot be changed


So we passed very fast like ships in the night Or cars in a contraflow system
The artist and the woman had a brief encounter, like two ships passing in the night or cars in traffic going against each other


Some people say love is blind
It is often said that love does not see faults or flaws


And I think that's just a bit short-sighted
The singer disagrees with the notion that love is blind


Some people just want it now It doesn't matter where or how
Some people just want to experience love immediately, regardless of how or where they find it


Satisfaction takes a second place So long as they can get excited
These people prioritize excitement over satisfaction in their pursuit of love




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Billy Bragg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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