Blur's self-titled fifth album (1997) saw another stylistic shift, influenced by the lo-fi styles of American indie rock groups, and became their third UK chart-topping album. Its single "Song 2" brought the band mainstream success in the US for the first time. Their next album, 13 (1999) saw the band experimenting with electronic and gospel music, and featured more personal lyrics from Albarn. Their seventh album, Think Tank (2003), continued their experimentation with electronic sounds and was also shaped by Albarn's growing interest in hip hop and world music, featuring more minimal guitar work. Coxon left the band during early recording sessions for Think Tank, and Blur disbanded for several years after the end of the album's associated tour, with the members engaged in other projects.
In 2009, Blur reunited with Coxon back in the band and embarked on a European reunion tour. In the following years, they released several singles and compilations and toured internationally. In 2012, they received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Their eighth album, The Magic Whip (2015), was the sixth consecutive Blur studio album to top the British chart. The group have largely been on hiatus since the Magic Whip tour, but have announced plans to reunite in 2023 for various live dates.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blur_(band)
Studio albums
Leisure (1991)
Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993)
Parklife (1994)
The Great Escape (1995)
Blur (1997)
13 (1999)
Think Tank (2003)
The Magic Whip (2015)
The Ballad of Darren (2023)
Coffee + Tv
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Practically floored
One of many zeros
Kicked around bored
Your ears are full, but you're empty
Holding out your heart
To people who never really
Care how you are
So give me coffee and TV
Peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again.
Do you go to the country
It isn't very far
There's people there who'll hurt you
'Cause of who you are
Your ears are full of their language
There's wisdom there you're sure
'Till the words start swirling/slurring
And you can't find the door
So give me coffee and TV
Peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again
So give me coffee and TV
Peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again
We can start over again
We can start over again
We can start over again
We can start over again
The song "Coffee & T.V." by Blur speaks to the loneliness and emptiness of modern life. The opening lines describe a person feeling like they are just another faceless figure in a large chain store, kicked around and bored by the routine of their life. Despite having full ears, their heart is empty as they try to connect with people who don't truly care about them. This sense of isolation and disconnection leads the singer to yearn for the simple pleasures of life: coffee and TV. These are two activities that can be done alone, but also provide a sense of comfort and companionship.
The chorus repeats this desire for peace and escape from the struggles of daily life. The singer feels like they have seen too much and are going blind, suggesting that they have been exposed to too much of the harsh reality of the world. They feel brain-dead and unable to connect with others on a social level, highlighting the difficulties of human interaction. The request for someone to agree to marry them and start over again is a plea for connection and love, a way to reset the isolation and start anew.
Overall, "Coffee & T.V." is a commentary on the difficulties of modern life and the need for human connection to combat feelings of loneliness and emptiness. The song is a call for simplicity and comfort in a world that can be overwhelming and disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you feel like a chain-store
Do you ever feel like you're just another link in the chain, nothing special, insignificant?
Practically floored
You're so overwhelmed and exhausted you feel like you could collapse at any moment.
One of many zeros
You're just a number among many others, meaningless and easily forgotten.
Kicked around bored
You're bored with your life, and feel like you're being knocked around without any sense of purpose.
Your ears are full, but you're empty
You've heard it all before, but you still feel empty inside, like nothing really speaks to you.
Holding out your heart
You're putting yourself out there emotionally, but no one seems to care.
To people who never really
You're giving your heart to people who don't truly care about you or your feelings.
Care how you are
They don't take the time to ask how you're doing or truly listen to your response.
So give me coffee and TV
Coffee and television provide temporary relief from the emptiness and boredom of life.
Peacefully
In a calm and tranquil state of mind.
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
The singer has experienced so much in life that they feel overwhelmed and unable to take it all in.
And I'm brain-dead virtually
The artist is emotionally and mentally exhausted to the point of feeling numb and disconnected from reality.
Sociability
The ability to interact and connect with others socially.
Is hard enough for me
Connecting with others is already difficult for the singer, and the current state of the world makes it even harder.
Take me away from this big bad world
The world can be scary and overwhelming, and the singer wants to escape it for a while.
And agree to marry me
The artist is seeking a deeper connection with someone, and the idea of marriage represents a lifelong commitment to that person.
So we can start over again
The idea of starting fresh and building a new life with someone is appealing to the artist.
Do you go to the country
The singer questions whether escaping to the countryside would provide relief from the stresses of daily life.
It isn't very far
The countryside is close enough to reach, yet still feels distant and removed from the singer's current reality.
There's people there who'll hurt you
Even in the countryside, there are still people who may cause harm or pain.
Cause of who you are
The artist's identity, whatever it may be, may make them a target for discrimination or mistreatment.
Your ears are full of their language
Even though the artist may not be familiar with the local dialect, they still listen and try to learn from those around them.
There's wisdom there you're sure
The singer believes that there is value in learning from those around them, even if the knowledge or wisdom doesn't immediately make sense.
'Till the words start swirling/slurring
As the conversation progresses, it becomes harder to understand and follow the local dialect.
And you can't find the door
The singer becomes disoriented and overwhelmed, unable to escape the situation.
We can start over again
The idea of leaving behind the old and building something new is a recurring theme throughout the song.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER JAMES STEVEN, ALEXANDER ROWNTREE DAVID, DAMON ALBARN, GRAHAM LESLIE COXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juancamacho5746
Do you feel like a chain store?
Practically floored
One of many zeros
Kicked around, bored
Your ears are full but you're empty
Holding out your heart
To people who never really
Care how you are
So give me coffee and TV, peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big, bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again
Do you go to the country?
It isn't very far
There's people there who will hurt you
'Cause of who you are
Your ears are full of their language
There's wisdom there you're sure
'Til the words start slurring
And you can't find the door
So give me coffee and TV, peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again
So give me coffee and TV, peacefully
I've seen so much, I'm going blind
And I'm brain-dead virtually
Sociability
Is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again
@maximum9626
I never cried so much for a milk box.
@IsraTheBlack
He died for our sins.
@mmoonschildd5600
+Rafahil not tragedys
@jonathanashby4719
And coffee.
@ViniciusNSAcc3
Is not just a milk box, it's Milky.
@cdcase335
thank goodness im not the only one who cried for the milk
@tadhg3
I remember being 9 years old when this song came on MTV in 1999. Me and my parents sat in the front room admiring this video. Mum says 'is there anyway we can watch this again? Its amazingly cute!'
That was impossible back then. I innocently explained that we'd just have to wait for MTV to play it again.
Here I am over twenty years later and 30 years old watching it easily and for free on youtube. Parents split up years ago, but these old memories linger. Funny how things change.
Great track.
@sponge260
Sorry to here about your parents. Music is great when it brings back good memories ☺️☺️
@jimtim8805
Sorry to hear about your parents..I was also 9 year old back in 1999 and had to wait for songs to play again. Although the "popular" songs were ridiculously overplayed..rather than these songs. Miss those Mtv days.
@leonelp9593
This is pretty sweet dude
Not gonna lie