Selfish Son
Bloc Party Lyrics


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I took it too far, I took it too far again
Cut me down
I took it too far, I took it too far again
On the Lower East Side

I took it too far, I took it too far again
Night bleeds into day
I took it too far, I took it too far again
I nearly lost you

I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you
I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you, my love

Typical me, typical me brother
Spit the dummy
Typical me, typical me brother
The grass is always green

This city is raised on borrowed time
Taxi meters, police sirens
This city is raised on borrowed time
I nearly lost you

I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you
I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you

I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you
I can be cruel, I can be cruel
To you, my love

Selfish son, selfish brother
(I can be cruel, I can be cruel)
Selfish friend, selfish lover
(To you)

Selfish son, selfish brother
(I can be cruel, I can be cruel)
Selfish life, selfish lover
(To you)

Selfish son, selfish brother
(I can be cruel, I can be cruel)
Selfish friend, selfish lover
(To you)

Selfish son, selfish brother
(I can be cruel, I can be cruel)




Selfish life, selfish lover
(To you, my love)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bloc Party's song "Selfish Son" convey a sense of regret and self-awareness while dealing with the consequences of one's own egoism. The repeated phrase "I took it too far, I took it too far again" refers to the singer's tendency to push things to the limit, even when it jeopardizes the relationships he holds dear. The song seems to be set in New York City, as the Lower East Side is mentioned, and the city is portrayed as a place where time is always running out, with taxi meters and police sirens as constant reminders. The refrain "I can be cruel, I can be cruel to you, my love" encapsulates the singer's recognition of his own dark side, which is both a source of shame and a struggle to overcome.


Moreover, "Selfish Son" seems to be a commentary on the difficulty of balancing personal ambition and emotional intelligence. The singer admits to being selfish, but he also acknowledges the different roles he plays in his life, whether it's being a friend, a lover, or a brother. The lines "typical me brother, spit the dummy" and "selfish friend, selfish lover" imply that the singer has a tendency to act out when he doesn't get his way, putting a strain on his relationships. The repetition of the phrase "selfish son, selfish brother" emphasizes the idea that the singer's flaws are part of a larger pattern that affects his entire existence.


In conclusion, "Selfish Son" is a song with introspective lyrics that convey a sense of turmoil and self-reflection. It addresses the vulnerability and complexity of human relationships, and the difficulty of reconciling one's own desires with the needs of others.


Line by Line Meaning

I took it too far, I took it too far again
I have crossed the line and gone too far in my actions, repeating the same mistake from before


Cut me down
Judge and criticize me for my actions


On the Lower East Side
The setting of where my actions took place


Night bleeds into day
Time passes by too quickly and the night seems to disappear too soon


I nearly lost you
My actions almost led to losing you and caused damage to our relationship


I can be cruel, I can be cruel
I have the tendency to act unjustly and harshly towards you


To you
My actions and cruelty are directed at you


Typical me, typical me brother
It is the usual and expected behavior from me, like a repetition of past actions


Spit the dummy
I behaved childishly and threw a tantrum


The grass is always green
I believe that what others have is always better than what I have


This city is raised on borrowed time
The city feels temporary and unstable, as if it was not meant to last long


Taxi meters, police sirens
The sounds of the city that are part of its daily routine and chaos


Selfish son, selfish brother
I recognize that my actions are selfish and not considerate of others


Selfish friend, selfish lover
My behavior is not only selfish, but it also affects my relationships with those closest to me


Selfish life, selfish lover
My selfishness extends to my personal and romantic life, impacting the way I treat my loved ones


To you, my love
My selfishness and cruel behavior are directed towards my romantic partner, whom I claim to love




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RUSSELL LISSACK, GORDON MOAKES, KELE OKEREKE, MATT TONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

stewartplays

Sell fish, son! Sell fish, brother! Sell fish, friend! Sell fish, lover! This song is about a disgruntled fishery owner who wants to expand his business but consistently meets disinterest from his peers, forcing him to use cruel methods to convince them that they should join him. There's some stuff about urban life in there as well, but it's all tangential to the main point.

Jack Sirett

Seriously wish they would release their B-Sides as a separate album, they are just as good as their 'mainstream' songs

Matty

+Jack Sirett me too, some of their songs are even better than some of the songs on their released albums.. but yeah since they have a new line-up now i don't expect to see that coming :/

bmanjj2 comedy

Love this guitar solo, who's with me?

Gustavo Ladeira

Selfish Son was also the last song from the re-release version of A Weekend in the city.
Experiencing myself a 10 year life in a big city, after being born and raised 20y in the countryside, i finally understand the purpose of the album. Coming up against drug abuse, violence, intolerance, homesickness, relationship deceptions, all embraced by an almost unbearable collective loneliness made me realize this album was actually a masterpiece, telling a relatable storyline. And i am now sorry for criticizing and comparing it to silent alarm. And the b-sides from ‘AWITC’ complement the abum so well.
‘SRXT’ drowns the story’s character down to hopelessness and despair, but ‘Selfish Son’ seems to bring it up to the surface and tell you who really were to blame: the others. I can finally have some peace.

James Woowaa

It's one of those examples of when a band is in such a rich vein of form they can't help but make great songs, and find they have too many for an album so end up casting them around as b sides. Then possibly wish they'd saved some to improve later albums, as per Noel Gallagher after Morning Glory.

Kjata316

Why is this impossible to find in the states?! Why is this song such a secret? It's so good.

hectorbeyonce

So underrated!

Toro Accentz

Ha Ha

Mark

So negated!

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