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)
Fade Away
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a vague way became man and wife
One got the other they deserved one another
They settled in a brand new town
With people from the same background
They kept themselves busy
Long hours left them dizzy
Now when he's in she's out
All you ever do is fade away
They are not making plans
Because now they understand
All you ever do is fade away
He noticed he had visible lines
She worried about her behind
Their birth had been the death of them
It didn't really bother them
Now when she's in, he's out
The lyrics of Blur's song "Fade Away" are about the mundanity and routine of a long-term relationship. The opening lines "They stumbled into their lives, in a vague way became man and wife" makes it clear that the couple didn't have any grand plans to be together, they just found themselves in this situation. The line "One got the other they deserved one another" suggests that the couple isn't particularly happy together and that they may have settled for one another.
The couple has moved to a new town, where they have found people with similar backgrounds. However, the long hours they keep themselves busy with have left them dizzy. The line "Now when he's in she's out" implies that they are leading separate lives and are no longer interested in each other's company.
The chorus "All you ever do is fade away" reinforces that the couple's relationship is fading away. They are not making any plans, and they now understand that they don't need to because nothing will ever change. The lines "He noticed he had visible lines, she worried about her behind" further emphasize that the couple is aging and are more concerned about their physical appearance than their relationship. The final line "Now when she's in, he's out" clearly portrays the detachment and distance that has developed between them.
Line by Line Meaning
They stumbled into their lives
The couple started their own lives without any particular goals or aspirations
In a vague way became man and wife
They got married without any clear intentions, it was more of a general idea
One got the other they deserved one another
The couple ended up together because they were both similar and had the same personality traits
They settled in a brand new town
The couple moved to a new place to start their life together
With people from the same background
They only interacted with people who had similar backgrounds to theirs, probably due to their lack of social skills
They kept themselves busy
The couple constantly occupied themselves to avoid thinking about bigger issues
Long hours left them dizzy
Working long hours affected their health and well-being
Now when he's in she's out
Their relationship is distant and disconnected, they only spend time together in shifts
All you ever do is fade away
They realize that their relationship is not going anywhere, and everything between them is gradually disappearing
They are not making plans
The couple has stopped planning for their future together, maybe because they don't want to confront the fact that there is no future
Because now they understand
After years of being together, they have finally realized that their lives are not intertwined in any meaningful way
He noticed he had visible lines
The husband noticed that he has started showing signs of aging
She worried about her behind
The wife is self-conscious about her physical appearance and specifically, her buttocks
Their birth had been the death of them
The moment they got married, their life together had started dying a slow death
It didn't really bother them
They have grown so distant that they no longer care about the slow death of their marriage
Now when she's in, he's out
Their relationship is beyond repair, and they only co-exist in the same place
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN ALEXANDER JAMES, DAVID ROWNTREE, DAMON ALBARN, GRAHAM COXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fernandamartins9851
They stumbled into their lives
In a vague way became man and wife
One got the other
They deserved one another
They settled in a brand new town
With people from the same background
They kept themselves busy
Long hours left them dizzy
Now when
He's in
She's out
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
He's not making plans
'Cause now they understand
All you ever do is fade away
He noticed he had visible lines
She worried about her behind
Their birth had been the death of them
It didn't really bother them
Now when
She's in
He's out
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
She's not making plans
'Cause now she understands
All you ever do is fade away
When
He's in
She's out
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
They're not making plans
'Cause now they understand
He must learn to forget
Because this is all you'll ever get
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
They're not making plans
'Cause now they understand
All you ever do is fade away
@roiybenkel682
They stumbled into their lives
In a vague way became man and wife
One got the other
They deserved one another
They settled in a brand new town
With people from the same background
They kept themselves busy
Long hours left them dizzy
Now when
He's in
She's outAll you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
He's not making plans
'Cos now they understand
All you ever do is fade awayHe noticed he had visible lines
She worried about her behind
Their birth had been the death of them
It didn't really bother them
Now when
She's in
He's outAll you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
She's not making plans
'Cos now she understands
All you ever do is fade awayWhen he's in
She's outAll you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
They're not making plans
'Cos now they understand
He must learn to forget
'Cos this is all you'll ever get
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
All you ever do is fade away
They're not making plans
'Cos now they understand
All you ever do is fade away... (to fade)
@flyersrule76
Alex James knocks another one into the cheap seats. This album has aged to perfection. It’s like some demented yet incredibly tuneful musical.
@thebeachisdark7
the trumpets go so well in this, under rated tune
@tomasmamani2895
I can't believe they never play this in live
@kimandgumi
they did. Check the budokan live from Great Escape tour. But I agree with you it's sad they don't play it again.
@mmtz3051
Uhmm... I really like this one, the bass in this album slaps... Underrated tune imo
@AdamMcCarthy74
quite a Terry Hall/Specials feel to this one. One of my absolute favourite blur tracks
@noursarhan8695
Felt the same thing and went to see if someone else noticed that. I know that Damon loves The Specials
@margauxroussel3153
I believe the working title of this song was ‘Rico’ ! (like The Specials’ trombonist)
@shaggydog9789
This could definitely fit in on the album More Specials, it’s very heavily inspired by them.
@emanueljose7103
Esto es una maravilla, una cancion para las almas mas solitarias.