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)
Country Sad Ballad Man
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It got to know me
Let me sleep all day
Spent the money
I haven't felt my legs
Since the summer
And I don't call my friends
Forgot the numbers
VIP 223
Have my chances
They have me
Now stay up nights
Watch TV
I'm a country sad
I'm a ballad man
I'm on a come back roll
Yeah I'm a bizzard
And in my motor home
Sweat on my pillow all night
VIP 223
Have my chances
They have me
Now stay up nights
Watch TV
I'm a country sad
I'm a ballad man
The lyrics of "Country Sad Ballad Man" by Blur touch upon the struggles that one goes through in life, especially the singer here who seems to have lost his way. The first two lines “Yeah I found nowhere, It got to know me” suggest that the singer is lost and aimless. The third line “Let me sleep all day” implies that he is avoiding facing reality and indulging in escapism. The line “Spent the money” suggests that he has made poor financial decisions and is now regretting them.
In the following lines, he speaks about not being able to feel his legs since summer, indicating that he has been lying in bed for a long period of time. The line “And I don't call my friends, Forgot the numbers” reflects how detached he has become from his social circle and how he has lost all contact with his friends.
The chorus “VIP 223, Have my chances, They have me, Now stay up nights, Watch TV, I'm a country sad, I'm a ballad man” suggests that the singer hasn't been successful in his endeavors, and is bogged down by his past failures. He stays up at night watching TV, and is trying to find solace in music by being a ‘ballad man’.
Overall, “Country Sad Ballad Man” is a melancholic portrayal of a person lost in life, dealing with struggles and failures, trying to find comfort in music and escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah I found nowhere
I feel lost and directionless in life, lacking a sense of purpose or belonging.
It got to know me
This sense of aimlessness has become a part of me, affecting my thoughts and actions.
Let me sleep all day
I retreat from reality and responsibilities by sleeping excessively, avoiding the challenges and stresses of life.
Spent the money
I wasted my resources without planning for the future or investing in my own growth and development.
I haven't felt my legs since the summer
The physical and emotional numbness I experience has continued for an extended period of time, leaving me unable to fully engage with the world.
And I don't call my friends, forgot the numbers
My social isolation and avoidance have led to me losing touch with those who used to be close to me, and I don't have the motivation or courage to reach out to them now.
VIP 223, have my chances, they have me
Despite being given opportunities for success and recognition, I feel trapped and controlled by those in power and unable to use my talents to make a meaningful impact.
Now stay up nights, watch TV
I distract myself from my problems and feelings of inadequacy by consuming media, binging on shows late into the night.
I'm a country sad, I'm a ballad man
My sorrow and misery have become an intrinsic part of who I am, and I express them through the sad, emotive music I create.
I'm on a come back roll, yeah I'm a bizzard
Despite my previous failures and setbacks, I am determined to make a comeback and succeed, even if my approach or mindset seems unusual or unconventional to others.
And in my motor home, sweat on my pillow all night
I may be on the road to success, but it's a difficult journey full of hardships and sacrifices, leaving me exhausted and anxious in my temporary home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexander James Steven, Alexander Rowntree David, Damon Albarn, Graham Leslie Coxon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
[Verse 1] Yeah, I found nowhere, it got to know me
Let me sleep all day, spent the money
I haven't felt my legs since the summer
And I don't call my friends, forgot their numbers
[Chorus] V.I.P 223
I had my chances, they had me
Now I stay up nights, watch TV
I'm country sad, I'm a ballad man
[Verse 2] I'm on the comeback road, yeah, I'm a blizzard
And in my motor home, sweat on my pillow all night
[Instrumental break]
I'm a ballad man
I've gone and fucked it
Cos I'm a ballad man
And everybody is
Cos I'm a ballad man
And that's all it is
Cos I'm a ballad man
I've gone and fucked it
Cos I'm a......
@WayBetterThanBefore
I wish people recognized this song when I play guitar in the streets :(
@k-leb4671
The only way for them to recognize it is for people to play it more often. So you're partway there.
@WayBetterThanBefore
@@k-leb4671 Yeah, the same happens If I play Graham's songs. It'd help if I lived in England too and not south America where it is less likely for people to recognize these artists
@k-leb4671
@@WayBetterThanBefore Ooh yeah, living in South America definitely isn't helping.
@mar15115
Its amazing how Critically Acclaimed this band is and I still think they're underrated
@fungi42021
I would brotendo
@dermotoblong
Graham Coxon is a guitar legend
@coxfire
Graham's guitar skills are so underrated...I forgot how much I loved this song
@ValleyRC
Agree. I'd be hard pushed to choose between Graham and Bernard as my favourite from the britpop era. Graham's tone is so recognisable and he can play pretty clean but he's at his best when he's playing like this with the whole disjointed "stupid genius" style, it's really pleasing to the ear. Just so perfectly executed. So many random notes and noises but in reality, each one chosen with purpose and precision.
I love Bernie too though, very creative and his impatient noodling that doesn't match the vocal melody really beats a boring riff. Great tone also and a trebley aggression even in the softer songs that gives them a kind of unsettling edge.
@tobyjackman3212
He's my favourite guitarist ever 🙂