Musically the song starts off with some Middle Eastern sounding guitar, before settling into a catchy groove reminiscent of the previous track. Dave delivers some more solid drumming and Alex gives us perhaps the best bass line we’ve seen so far on the album. Damon’s guitar work is also effective and fits well with the other musical elements of the song.
Brothers and Sisters
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
A cartoon in a ketamine
Jelly mixed with margarine
White doves from the war machine
Cocaine is for murderers
Codeine for the jurors
Caffeine been through all of us
Everybody horny
Crackwhores back in town again
Eggships sniffing benelyn
Burning all the oil again
Smoking makes you holy
Textin abbreviates the brain
Aspirin takes away the pain
Rock on, everyone the same
That's the way it is
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
Rohypnol like a chloroform
Sugar from the day you are born
Washed out like a dinosaur
Really don't believe it
Sticky sniffing superglue
Sulphates keeps you in a zoo
Monkeys turning into you
Everybody horny
Acid good up on the moors
Gimpo stops you getting bored
Beta's busy making laws
Procaine stops you screaming
Librium for anxiety
Drinking is our society
Guessing out of eternity
That's the way it is
That's the way it is even when we're pissed
Yeah, that's the way it is, that's the way it is
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
The song "Brothers and Sisters" by Blur is a commentary on drug culture and its effects on society. The lyrics are a mixture of drug names and descriptions of their effects on the body, such as Ketamine, cocaine, codeine, and rohypnol. The chorus line "Brothers and sisters, rebuild your lives, we're all drug takers, give us something tonight" is a call to arms for drug users to find something else to do with their lives. The line "texting abbreviates the brain" is a reference to the negative effects of technology and how it may be altering our brain function.
The first verse describes a party atmosphere where people are indulging in a range of drugs. The line "white doves from the war machine" could be interpreted as a reference to the US government's use of drones to fight its wars, or it could simply be a reference to the euphoric feeling of being on drugs. The second verse mentions "crack-whores back in town again" and "everybody horny", suggesting that drug use may lead to destructive and reckless behavior.
The third verse references more drugs and their effects, and the line "acid good up on the moors" may be a nod to the psychedelic experiences that can be had in the countryside. The final verse mentions various drugs and their uses, but also hints at the fact that society has some responsibility for the prevalence of drug culture.
Overall, "Brothers and Sisters" is a bleak portrayal of the effects of drug use on society, but it is also a commentary on the wider issues that lead people to seek escape in drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
Brothers and sisters
Hey everyone
Rebuild your lives
Start anew and make better choices
We're all drug takers
We all have our vices
Give us something tonight
Something to escape our reality
A cartoon in a ketamine
Feels like being in a cartoon while on ketamine
Jelly mixed with margarine
Distorted reality
White doves from the war machine
Drugs from the government
Everybody moving'
Everyone is using drugs
Cocaine is for murderers
Cocaine is associated with violent behavior
Codeine for the jurors
Drugs to help with the boredom of jury duty
Caffeine been through all of us
We all use caffeine on a regular basis
Everybody horny
Drugs bring out sexual desires
Crackwhores back in town again
Drug addicts back in town
Eggships sniffing benelyn
People abusing cough syrup
Burning all the oil again
Destructive behavior
Smoking makes you holy
Looking for a spiritual experience through drugs
Textin abbreviates the brain
Technology can have negative effects on the brain
Aspirin takes away the pain
Self-medicating
Rock on, everyone the same
Conformity
Rohypnol like a chloroform
Date rape drug
Sugar from the day you are born
Addiction to sugar from childhood
Washed out like a dinosaur
Feeling obsolete or irrelevant
Sticky sniffing superglue
Inhaling toxic substances
Sulphates keeps you in a zoo
Drugs make you feel trapped
Monkeys turning into you
Losing yourself to drugs
Acid good up on the moors
Psychedelic experiences in nature
Gimpo stops you getting bored
Distraction from boredom
Beta's busy making laws
Government is regulating drugs
Procaine stops you screaming
Painkiller to numb emotions
Librium for anxiety
Anti-anxiety medication
Drinking is our society
Alcohol is ingrained in our culture
Guessing out of eternity
Uncertainty about the future
That's the way it is
This is reality
That's the way it is even when we're pissed
Even when we're drunk and angry, this is reality
Yeah, that's the way it is, that's the way it is
Repeatedly emphasizing that this is reality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAMON ALBARN, STEVEN ALEXANDER JAMES, DAVID ROWNTREE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
angel nieto
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
A cartoon in a ketamine
Jelly mixed with margarine
White doves from the war machine
Every body movin
Cocaine is for murderers
Codeine for the jurors
Caffeine been through all of us
Everybody horney
Crackwhores back in town again
Eggships sniffing benelyn
Burning all the oil again
Smoking makes you holy
Textin abbreviates the brain
Aspirin takes away the pain
Rock on, everyone the same
That's the way it is
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
Rohypnol like a chloroform
Sugar from the day you are born
Washed out like a dinosaur
Really don't believe it.
Sticky sniffing superglue
sulphates keeps you in a zoo
Monkeys turning into you
Everybody horney
Acid good up on the moors
Gimpo stops you getting bored
Beta's busy making laws
Procaine stops your screaming
Librium for anxiety
Drinking is our society
Guessing out of tirety
That's the way it is
that's the way it is even when we're pissed
angel nieto
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
A cartoon in a ketamine
Jelly mixed with margarine
White doves from the war machine
Every body movin
Cocaine is for murderers
Codeine for the jurors
Caffeine been through all of us
Everybody horney
Crackwhores back in town again
Eggships sniffing benelyn
Burning all the oil again
Smoking makes you holy
Textin abbreviates the brain
Aspirin takes away the pain
Rock on, everyone the same
That's the way it is
Brothers and sisters
Rebuild your lives
We're all drug takers
Give us something tonight
Rohypnol like a chloroform
Sugar from the day you are born
Washed out like a dinosaur
Really don't believe it.
Sticky sniffing superglue
sulphates keeps you in a zoo
Monkeys turning into you
Everybody horney
Acid good up on the moors
Gimpo stops you getting bored
Beta's busy making laws
Procaine stops your screaming
Librium for anxiety
Drinking is our society
Guessing out of tirety
That's the way it is
that's the way it is even when we're pissed
Jake Gladdy
This is my favorite track on the entire album of Think Tank. This is the one track I'll keep playing on repeat over and over. This would have made an awesome single. The verses are sung in a very dark way and it's brilliant. Blur went dark on this tune and with the album
34103070674978532046
Think Tank is a masterpiece
amalia
Although everyone seems to hate Crazy Beat, it's not my favourite song, but I don't hate it...
Turan Sadigova
@amalia I love Crazy Beat! it's out of character but so amazingly cool
K-leb
This is such a cool song. Think Tank rocks despite Graham's absence.
trip fontaine
This album is a major achievement, especially considering they’d just lost an incredibly talented guitarist and founding member. I hear something new, cool and interesting with every listen.
Tayane de Paula
I'm in love with this bass line <3
Gene Morrissey
i'm in love with the keyboard
Salma Sandoval
Tay P. That red thing is called harry doesn't it?