All Your Life
Blur Lyrics


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Put a new T-shirt on, wash my face in beer
Fall through the crowd and disappear
In the teenage magazines and shopping malls
Walk through the wildlife for miles and miles

Hold my breath and count a hundred and ten
And back up the hill to start again
Watching spiders on the bedroom ceiling
They got big plans so they're not breathing

Feel the frisson of tomorrow today
I could get up but it won't go away
Do nothing to impress my friends
Just rub my eyes for hours on end

Oh England, my love, you lost me, made me look a fool
I need someone to tell me everything'll be alright
I need someone who'll hold me when the day turns to night
I need someone who loves me more than you do

Oh we say that's not true
And you and me in line as double bill
Surrogate heroes on TV and films
I've never met anyone like you





I've never done the things you like to do

Overall Meaning

The first verse of "All Your Life" by Blur is a description of the singer's aimless youth - the kind of life where one just wanders around, trying to find a sense of purpose. The singer puts on a new T-shirt and washes his face with beer (presumably to clean it) before heading out into the world, disappearing into the crowd. He observes that teenage magazines and shopping malls are ubiquitous and contrasting this observation, he walks through the wilderness for miles and miles. Next, he holds his breath and counts to a hundred and ten, then walks back up the hill to start again. In his bedroom, he watches spiders on the ceiling - beings that are so busy with their lives that they don't even have time to breathe. The singer, however, experiences a frisson of tomorrow today, or the feeling of the future arriving before it's supposed to.


The second verse of "All Your Life" by Blur is a reflection on how England has let the singer down. He has lost faith in the country that he once called home, feeling like a fool for believing in it. He needs someone to tell him that everything will be alright, someone to hold him when the day turns into night, someone who loves him more than England ever could. He wants to be loved by someone who appreciates him for who he is, not for who they want him to be. He then sings about how he and someone else (presumably the person he's trying to find in his quest for love) are like surrogate heroes on TV and films, playing roles that other people have already written for them. He's never met anyone like the person he's trying to find, and he's never done the things they like to do.


The song's meaning is elusive, but it seems to concern the search for a sense of purpose or direction in life. The singer wanders aimlessly, observing the world around him and feeling disillusioned with it. He longs for someone to love him for who he is, not for what he can do for them or their country. The song's instrumentation is gentle, with an acoustic guitar providing the melody and a synthesizer adding a dreamy, otherworldly quality to the sound.


Line by Line Meaning

Put a new T-shirt on, wash my face in beer
Start anew, leave behind the past mistakes and embrace the present moment in a fun and carefree way


Fall through the crowd and disappear
Escape from the mundanity of everyday life and get lost in the thrill of the unknown


In the teenage magazines and shopping malls
In the fabricated world of consumerism and media, devoid of authenticity and real connection


Walk through the wildlife for miles and miles
Step outside of the man-made constructs and reconnect with nature, finding peace and solitude


Hold my breath and count a hundred and ten
Take a moment to calm down and get centered, before plunging into the unknown again


And back up the hill to start again
Life is a struggle, but it's worth the climb to get to the top and try again


Watching spiders on the bedroom ceiling
Finding fascination and beauty in the small details of life, even in the mundane things


They got big plans so they're not breathing
Even the smallest creatures have a mission and purpose, and we should strive to find our own


Feel the frisson of tomorrow today
The excitement and anticipation of what the future may bring, felt in the present moment


I could get up but it won't go away
The weight of the past and present can feel overwhelming, and it's difficult to move on from it


Do nothing to impress my friends
Instead of conforming to social expectations, stay true to oneself and don't seek validation from others


Just rub my eyes for hours on end
Sometimes we need to take a break and rest our eyes, even if it means slowing down and taking things at our own pace


Oh England, my love, you lost me, made me look a fool
Feeling betrayed and misled by a country that once held our affections and loyalty


I need someone to tell me everything'll be alright
Feeling lost and in need of reassurance that there is hope and positivity on the horizon


I need someone who'll hold me when the day turns to night
Longing for a supportive and caring person to comfort and protect us in times of darkness and vulnerability


I need someone who loves me more than you do
Acknowledging the absence of true and selfless love from a past partner, and seeking it from someone else


Oh we say that's not true
The tendency to deny the truth and cling to false beliefs, even to avoid heartbreak and disappointment


And you and me in line as double bill
Two people working together in unison, sharing the same goals and ambitions


Surrogate heroes on TV and films
Finding comfort and inspiration in fictional characters, and using them as role models to follow


I've never met anyone like you
Finding someone special and unique, who stands out from the rest


I've never done the things you like to do
Stepping out of our comfort zone to explore new interests and experiences, to deepen our connections with others




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVEN ALEXANDER JAMES, DAVID ROWNTREE, DAMON ALBARN, GRAHAM COXON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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