Blur is an English rock band formed in London in 1988. The band consists of… Read Full Bio ↴Blur is an English rock band formed in London in 1988. The band consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Their debut album, Leisure (1991), incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing. Following a stylistic change influenced by English guitar pop groups such as the Kinks, Depeche Mode and Radiohead, Blur released Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995). As a result, the band helped to popularise the Britpop genre and achieved mass popularity in the UK, aided by a chart battle with rival band Oasis in 1995 dubbed "The Battle of Britpop".

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)

Inertia
Blur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fear of being left behind
Can take you over
Suddenly you will choke
Maybe it's just a joke
I'm not sure of you

I can't hear you now
There's to much that's going around

You seem a worried fool
So I don't think I'm cool
Makes me me insure
Of you

Fear of being left alone
Can take you over
Slowly you will choke
And say it's just a joke

I'm not sure
Of you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Blur's Inertia speaks to the very real and human fear of being left behind and being left alone. Fear can take over and make one feel like they are choking on their own anxieties. There is a sense of doubt that permeates throughout the song, as the singer questions whether the other person they are addressing is really as worried as they seem. This feeling of uncertainty makes the singer feel unsure and insecure in their own emotions.

The chorus is a repetition of the first two lines, but with the addition of the word "slowly" in the second verse. This change emphasizes the gradual nature of feeling left alone and how it can accumulate over time. The line "maybe it's just a joke" highlights the singer's attempt to downplay their own fears and doubts, perhaps as a coping mechanism.

Overall, Inertia is a poignant and introspective track that captures the vulnerability of the human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Fear of being left behind
The anxiety of being left behind by others can overwhelm you

Can take you over
Can dominate your thoughts and emotions

Suddenly you will choke
You will become overwhelmed and feel like you cannot breathe

Maybe it's just a joke
Perhaps the fear is unfounded and not as serious as it feels

I'm not sure of you
I am uncertain about your intentions or feelings towards me

I can't hear you now
I am too distracted by everything going on around me to fully listen to you

There's too much that's going around
There are too many distractions and fears to focus properly

You seem a worried fool
You appear anxious and uncertain

So I don't think I'm cool
I do not believe I am calming or reassuring enough for you

Makes me unsure
All of this creates further doubt and unease in my mind

Fear of being left alone
The dread of being completely alone can also consume you

Slowly you will choke
Over time, this fear can suffocate you and hinder your actions

And say it's just a joke
You may try to downplay the fear and pretend it is not as serious as it seems

I'm not sure
I remain uncertain and hesitant

Lyrics © 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

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS