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)
For Tomorrow
Blur Lyrics
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With his hands on the rails
Trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
London ice cracks on a seamless line
He's hanging on for dear life
And so we hold each other tightly
Singing la, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow
She's a twentieth century girl
With her hands on the wheel
Trying not to make you sick again
Seeing what she can borrow
London's so nice back in your seamless rhymes
But we're lost on the West way
So we hold each other tightly
And we can wait until tomorrow
Singing la, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow
We're trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
She's a twentieth century girl
Holding on for dear life
And so we hold each other tightly
And hold on for tomorrow
Singing la, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
La, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la
Holding on for tomorrow
Jim stops and gets out of the car
Goes to a house in Emperor's Gate
Through the door and to his room, and then he puts the TV on
Turns it off and makes some tea
Says modern life is rubbish
I'm holding on for tomorrow
Then Susan comes into the room
She's a naughty girl with a lovely smile
Says, "let's take a drive to Primrose Hill
It's windy there, and the view's so nice"
London ice can freeze your toes, like anyone, I suppose
You're holding on for tomorrow
The song "For Tomorrow" by Blur tells the story of two young people living in London, trying to hold on to life as they know it. The first verse describes a twentieth-century boy with his hands on the rails, trying not to be sick and holding on for tomorrow. He is hanging on for dear life as the London ice cracks on a seamless line. The second verse tells the story of a twentieth-century girl with her hands on the wheel, trying not to make anyone sick again, and seeing what she can borrow. London is so nice back in her seamless rhymes, but they are lost on the Westway. Despite being lost in life, they hold each other tightly and wait until tomorrow.
The chorus of the song is an expression of their hope and determination to hold on for tomorrow. They hold on for dear life, singing "la, la la l-la, la, la la, l-la l-la la-la-la," and they try not to be sick. They continue to hold each other tightly and hope that they will make it through to tomorrow. The final verse of the song tells the story of Jim, who stops his car and goes to a house in Emperor's Gate. He turns on the TV and makes some tea, saying that modern life is rubbish. All the while, he is also holding on for tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a twentieth century boy
With his hands on the rails
Trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
In an industrialized world, he clings to society's safety rails, fighting to hold on while battling the feeling of illness and uncertainty about the future.
London ice cracks on a seamless line
He's hanging on for dear life
And so we hold each other tightly
And hold on for tomorrow
The harshness of London's reality is apparent, as he clings to life with all his might, supporting each other until tomorrow comes.
She's a twentieth century girl
With her hands on the wheel
Trying not to make you sick again
Seeing what she can borrow
In the modern world, she takes control as the driver, aiming to avoid causing harm while pushing boundaries and seeking to gain what she can.
London's so nice back in your seamless rhymes
But we're lost on the West way
So we hold each other tightly
And we can wait until tomorrow
London's idealistic representation in rhyme differs from current reality as they find themselves lost, but hold on until the promise of a better future arrives.
We're trying not to be sick again
And holding on for tomorrow
Fighting to avoid repeating the past, they anticipate that tomorrow will bring change and respite from their struggles.
Jim stops and gets out of the car
Goes to a house in Emperor's Gate
Through the door and to his room, and then he puts the TV on
Turns it off and makes some tea
Says modern life is rubbish
Jim withdraws from the world into the comforts of home, but even there comes to the realization that modern life is unfulfilling and lacking.
Then Susan comes into the room
She's a naughty girl with a lovely smile
Says, "let's take a drive to Primrose Hill
It's windy there, and the view's so nice"
London ice can freeze your toes, like anyone, I suppose
Susan, a mischievous woman, enters Jim's life and suggests taking a trip to gain a new perspective. London's harshness can affect anyone, even those who appear carefree.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Rowntree, Graham Coxon, Steven Alexander James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind