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)
Essex Dogs
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching dogs somersault
Through sprinkles on tiny laws
I remember the graffiti, we are your children
Coming in with spray cans of paint
I remember the sunset and the plains of cement
And the way the nights seems to turn the color
of orangeade
In this town cellular phones are hot with thieves
In this town we all go to terminal pubs
It helps us sweat out those angry bits of life
From this town the English Army grind
Their teeth to glass
You'll get kicked tonight
Smell of puke and piss
Smell of puke and piss on your stilettos
Here comes the panic attack
My heart stops then starts
Give me a drink
I'll drink your round
I'll take you round the pole
It's cold up here
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Either way, you'll catch the flu
Or you'll catch the city
The lyrics of the song, “Essex Dogs”, by Blur, is a haunting portrayal of a town that is plagued with violence, drugs, and chaos. The opening line, “I remember thinking murder in the car,” sets the tone for the bleak and grim picture that is being painted. As the song progresses, the references to dogs somersaulting, graffiti, and the sunset provide stark contrasts to the brutal reality of the town. The line “And the way the nights seems to turn the color of orangeade” hints at how the illusion of brightness and color can be a facade, hiding the dark and dirty reality of the town.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the hopelessness of the town. The reference to cellular phones being hot with thieves and people going to pubs to sweat out their anger shows the desperation and disconnection from society. The line “Smell of puke and piss on your stilettos” is a stark reminder of the filthiness and degeneration of the town. The final lines, “Either way, you'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city” sums up the sense of entrapment and hopelessness, where people have no choice but to succumb to their surroundings.
Overall, "Essex Dogs" is a grim portrayal of a town that has been consumed by violence, drugs, and hopelessness. The lyrics are a bleak reminder of how easy it is for people to be trapped by their surroundings and how illusions of color and hope can be a mask that hides a brutal reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember thinking murder in the car
I recall having menacing thoughts while in a moving automobile.
Watching dogs somersault
I observed canines performing acrobatic maneuvers.
Through sprinkles on tiny laws
The dogs were frolicking in small pools of water on grassy areas.
I remember the graffiti, we are your children
I recollect seeing painted messages claiming the artists to be part of the community.
Coming in with spray cans of paint
The artists used pressurized containers to apply their artwork illegally.
I remember the sunset and the plains of cement
I can still picture the horizon and the vast paved areas beneath it.
And the way the nights seems to turn the color of orangeade
The atmosphere seemed to resemble a bright, citrusy beverage during the evening hours.
In this town cellular phones are hot with thieves
In this place, there is a high demand for stolen mobile devices.
In this town we all go to terminal pubs
The local residents tend to frequent bars that serve as the end-point for transportation routes.
It helps us sweat out those angry bits of life
Visiting these establishments allows us to alleviate negative emotions and experiences.
From this town the English Army grind their teeth to glass
The military forces based in this area experience intense stress and frustration.
You'll get kicked tonight
You will likely encounter violent behavior if you go out tonight.
Smell of puke and piss
There is a noticeable stench of vomit and urine in the air.
Smell of puke and piss on your stilettos
Your fancy shoes will likely be soiled with bodily fluids.
Here comes the panic attack
I am starting to experience extreme anxiety.
My heart stops then starts
My heartbeat becomes irregular due to the intense pressure.
Give me a drink
I need a beverage to help cope with the stressful situations.
I'll drink your round
I will pay for the next set of drinks for everyone.
I'll take you round the pole
I will show you around the area, possibly including the local strip club.
It's cold up here
The elevated location we are in is chilly and uncomfortable.
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Spending time in this place may lead to sickness or becoming enamored with the lifestyle.
Either way, you'll catch the flu
Regardless of the outcome, you are at risk of getting ill.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, Graham Leslie Coxon, Alexander Rowntree David, Alexander James Steven
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
León Degrelle
I remember thinking murder in the car
Watching dogs somersault
Through sprinkles on tiny laws
I remember the graffiti, we are your children
Coming in with spray cans of paint
I remember the sunset and the plains of cement
And the way the nights seems to turn the color
of orangeade
In this town cellular phones are hot with thieves
In this town we all go to terminal pubs
It helps us sweat out those angry bits of life
From this town the English Army grind
Their teeth to glass
You'll get kicked tonight
Smell of puke and piss
Smell of puke and piss on your stilettos
Here comes the panic attack
My heart stops then starts
Give me a drink
I'll drink your round
I'll take you round the pole
It's cold up here
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Either way, you'll catch the flu
Or you'll catch the city
sKuvy
I remember thinking murder in the car
Watching dogs somersault through sprinklers on tiny lawns
I remember the graffiti
We are your children coming in with spray cans of paint
I remember the sunset and the plains of cement
And the way the night seems to turn the color of orangeade
In this town cellular phones are hot with ~thieves~ (teens)
In this town we all go to terminal pubs
It helps us sweat out those angry bits of life
From this town, the English Army grind their teeth into glass
You know you'll get a kicking tonight
Smell of puke and piss
Smell of puke and piss on your stilettos
Here comes that panic attack
My heart stops
Then it starts
Give me a drink
I'll drink your round
I'll take you round the pole
It's cold up here (I see the universe waiting by a minibus)
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Either way
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Otis Notibrus
Essex Dogs
1:11 [Verse 1]
I remember thinking murder in the car
Watching dogs somersault through sprinklers on tiny lawns
I remember the graffiti
We are your children coming at you with spray cans of paint
I remember the sunsets on the plains of cement
And the way the night just seemed to turn the colour of orangeade
1:39 [Verse 2]
In this town, cellular phones are hot with thieves
In this town, we all go to terminal pubs
It helps us sweat out those angry bits of life
In this town, the English Army grind their teeth into glass
You know you'll get a kicking tonight
The smell of puke and piss
The smell of puke and piss on your stilettos
2:30 [Verse 3]
Here comes that panic attack
My heart stops
And then it starts
Give me a drink
I'll drink your round
I'll take you round the pole
It's cold up here (Look up, see the universe)
You'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city (Wave goodbye, you're in a hearse)
Either way, you'll catch the flu or you'll catch the city
Interlude
6:25 [Instrumental]
mmtz
At the first listening i didn't catch the energy. At the second i understood everything. I truly love this track
mirkuwu
multiverse
AELAHN
nice avatar , i use it in some places too
drae
This is why I love post-Brit pop Blur. I listened to this self-titled album today and boy it was awesome. They explored a handful of genres during this era. I'm not saying Brit pop Blur was horrible, but there's just something so special about this.
Diana Báez
Yes, the self-title and 13 are just... Perfectly revolutionary of them
Richard Forshaw Smith
As much as I love MLIR (which I saw them tour live), this album is their finest.
Imaane
same, I feel like their later sound kind of paved the way for early Gorillaz
Dominus Sathanas
@Diana Báez Yes, but Think Tank is still king.
Euroviking (formerly setheurovision94)
Apparently Blur decided to put this song on the album at the last minute, originally intending "Movin' On" to be the closer. Good thing they did, this eerie track adds a really unique twist to the album.
K-leb
That makes sense. I can see Movin' On originally being a hidden track of sorts, or a bonus ending to the album, with Strange News from Another Star being the real ending of the album. But then Essex Dog got added.