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)
End of a Century
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eatin' all the morsels, pickin' up the rubbish
Give her effervescence, she needs a little sparkle
Good morning TV, you're looking so healthy
We all say, "Don't want to be alone"
We wear the same clothes 'cause we feel the same
We kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
Sex on the TV, everybody's at it
The mind gets dirty as you get closer to thirty
He gives her a cuddle, they're glowin' in a huddle
Goodnight TV, you're all made up and you're lookin' like me
We all say, "Don't want to be alone"
We wear the same clothes 'cause we feel the same
We kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
End of a century, oh, it's nothing special
Can you eat her? Yes, you can
We all say, "Don't want to be alone"
We wear the same clothes 'cause we feel the same
We kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
End of a century, oh, it's nothing special
We all say, "Don't want to be alone"
We wear the same clothes 'cause we feel the same
We kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
End of a century, oh, it's nothing special
Oh, end of a century, oh, it's nothing special
The lyrics of "End of a Century" by Blur speak about the mundane and monotonous aspects of everyday life in modern times, highlighting the monotony of it as being nothing special, and almost depressing. The song's opening verse features a person complaining about ants in the carpet, equating them to "dirty little monsters" that are eating all the morsels and picking up the rubbish. The person then seeks something to give her effervescence, a little sparkle, that could aid in combating their boredom or dissatisfaction. The verse then ends with a reference to the morning TV, looking so healthy.
The chorus, where the main theme of being alone and feeling the same is mentioned, epitomizes how everyone wishes to be alike or at least not feel like outcasts. It's as though everyone is subconsciously looking for their tribe, resulting in everyone wearing the same clothes and kissing with dry lips while saying goodnight. It is this repetition and dullness of everyday life, particularly with the role television plays in our life, that makes the end of the century seem like it is nothing special, just like any other day.
Overall, content-wise, "End of a Century" portrays how people have become increasingly apathetic towards their surroundings and have normalized being 'okay' with their lack of stimulation. The song encapsulates the notion that people no longer savour and try to maintain the time they have. Instead, they simply bide it away with the hope of finding something better in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
She says there's ants in the carpet
She is talking about the presence of ants in the carpet
Dirty little monsters
She describes the ants as monsters
Eating all the morsels
The ants are eating all the leftovers
Picking up the rubbish
The ants are scavenging for anything they can find
Give her effervescence
She wants something to lift her spirits
She needs a little sparkle
She wants something to make her feel special
Good morning TV
She greets the TV in the morning
You're looking so healthy
She comments on how good the TV looks
We all say "don't want to be alone"
Everyone wants to be around other people
We wear the same clothes 'cause we feel the same
We dress the same to feel like we belong
We kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
Our relationships lack passion
End of a century, oh, it's nothing special
The end of a century is just another moment in time
Sex on the TV
Sex is portrayed on TV
Everybody's at it
Everyone is having sex
The mind gets dirty
Watching sex on TV can corrupt the mind
As you get closer to thirty
The older we get, the more aware we become of our mortality
He gives her a cuddle
A couple shows affection towards each other
Glowing in a huddle
They are happy and content in each other's embrace
Good night TV
They say goodnight to the TV
You're all made up
The TV is manufactured and fake
And you're looking like me
She sees herself reflected in what's on TV
Can you eat her, yes you can
The TV is asking if you can consume and discard a woman
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alexander James, David Rowntree, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind