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)

Let's All Go Down the Strand
Blur Lyrics

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One night, half a dozen tourists met together in Trafalgar Square
A fortnight's tour on the continent was planned
And each had his portmanteau in his hand
Down the Rhine they meant to have a picnic
Till Jones said I must decline
You boys have been advised by me
Stay away from Germany
What's the good of going down the Rhine?

Let's all go down the Strand
Let's all go down the Strand
I'll be leader, you can march behind
Come with me and see what you can find
Let's all go down the Strand
Oh what a happy land
That's the place for fun and noise
All among the girls and boys
So let's all go down the Strand

One day 5 and 20 convicts
Sat in 5 and 20 little cells
The bell then sounded ding-a-ding-a-dong
To exercise the prisoners came along
Burglar Ben exclaimed to Jaggs the Warden
To me sir, it's very strange
The men are tired of going round
Round and round the same old ground
I propose we make a little change

Let's all go down the Strand
Let's all go down the Strand
I'll be leader, you can march behind
Come with me and see what we can find
Let's all go down the Strand
Oh what a happy land
That's the place for fun and noise
All among the girls and boys
So let's all go down the Strand

Great crowds gathered round to welcome
Shackleton returning from the Pole
The Lord Mayor welcomed all the gallant crew
And said my lads, I've got a treat for you
Come with me, the Mansion House awaits you
A banquet shall be supplied
But a Tar in grumbling mood
Said we don't want any food
Then he turned to Shackleton and sighed

Let's all go down the Strand
Let's all go down the Strand
I'll be leader, you can march behind
Come with me and see what you can find
Let's all go down the Strand
Oh what a happy land
That's the place for fun and noise
All among the girls and boys
So let's all go down the Strand
Let's all go down the Strand
Let's all go down the Strand
I'll be leader, you can march behind
Come with me and see what you can find
Let's all go down the Strand
Oh what a happy land
That's the place for fun and noise

All among the girls and boys
So let's all go down the Strand

Overall Meaning

The song “Let’s All Go Down the Strand” by Blur is a fun, lively song that describes different scenarios where people are bored and want to do something more adventurous and exciting. The song is full of imagery, telling stories of various situations where people are seeking excitement and fun. The first verse describes a group of tourists who had planned a tour on the continent but decided against going down the Rhine River, instead choosing to go to the Strand for some fun and noise. The second verse describes 25 prisoners who are tired of going around their cells and want a change of scenery. Finally, the last verse describes Shackleton returning from the Pole and being offered a banquet at the Mansion House, but one of his crew members suggests they go down to the Strand instead.

The song is an invitation to escape the mundane and explore something different, something more exciting. The Strand is portrayed as a happy land where there’s “fun and noise, all among the girls and boys.” The song speaks to the human desire for adventure and the desire to break free from routine and experience something new. The song calls everyone to join in, march behind the leader, and see what they can find down the Strand.

Let's All Go Down the StrandBlur Lyrics

Let's All Go Down the Strand
Blur Lyrics