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)
Cowboy
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the one, you're the one
In my head, oughta get us clear
You'll find a song before too long
I've got a healthy feeling,
A sleepy feeling, a sleepy feeling
Today is gone, the day is gone, today is gone
Go to a store, to the golf floor
You're the one, you're the one
A cowboy's song, you're the one
I've got a healthy feeling,
A sleepy feeling, a sleepy feeling
It's all gone, today is gone, it's all gone
I've got a sleepy feeling,
A new slept feeling, a sleepy feel
It's all gone, today is gone, today is gone
The lyrics of Blur's "Cowboy" paint a picture of a dreamlike and surreal world. The opening line, "Gonna sail a bird like a private jet," sets the fantastical tone of the song - it's unclear what exactly is meant by sailing a bird, but the imagery is vivid and unusual. The repeated phrase "you're the one" contributes to the dreamlike quality of the song, as if the lyrics are addressing a specific person who is the focal point of the surreal landscape.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become increasingly disjointed and harder to parse. Lines like "Go to a store, to the golf floor / A cowboy's song, a cowboy's song" seem random and disconnected, yet they create a feeling of constant movement - as if the singer is traveling through this strange landscape, encountering odd sights and sounds at every turn. The refrain of "I've got a healthy feeling, a sleepy feeling, a sleepy feeling / Today is gone, the day is gone, today is gone" repeats throughout the song, adding a sense of repetition and routine to the otherwise chaotic lyrics.
Overall, "Cowboy" is a song that defies easy interpretation. The lyrics are fragmented and surreal, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion that matches the dreamlike mood of the music. Through the use of vivid imagery and repetitive phrases, Blur constructs a world that is both fascinating and unsettling - a world that feels just out of reach, yet tantalizingly close.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna sail a bird like a private jet
I'm going to fly high and free like a bird with all the luxuries of a private jet
You're the one, you're the one
You are the only one I love, the one I need
In my head, oughta get us clear
I need to clear my head and figure out how to make things right between us
You'll find a song before too long
You will find happiness and the music of life will continue to play for you
I've got a healthy feeling, A sleepy feeling, a sleepy feeling
I feel content and at peace, but also a bit tired and sluggish
Today is gone, the day is gone, today is gone
The day has ended and is now in the past
Go to a store, to the golf floor
I need to distract myself and go shopping or play some golf
A cowboy's song, a cowboy's song
A simple, rustic melody and way of life that brings comfort and familiarity
You're the one, you're the one
You are still the only one I love and need
A cowboy's song, you're the one
The simple things in life, like a cowboy's song, are made even better with you by my side
I've got a healthy feeling, A sleepy feeling, a sleepy feeling
My contentment and peace has remained, but now it's mixed with a deeper level of sleepiness
It's all gone, today is gone, it's all gone
Everything from the day has passed and is now out of our control
I've got a sleepy feeling, A new slept feeling, a sleepy feel
I'm feeling even more relaxed and sleepy, like a deep sense of rest has come over me
It's all gone, today is gone, today is gone
Once again, the passing of time has left us with only memories of what was
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN ALEXANDER JAMES, DAVID ROWNTREE, DAMON ALBARN, GRAHAM COXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind