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)
Look Inside America
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drink pepsi is good for energy
The bath's on, smoke in the bedroom
Sore throat and on my neck a nasty bruise
Where it came from, well I don't know
We played last night, it was a good show
Got the play out, second rate chatshow
It's a nation wide deal, so you gotta go
Chuck from the company says it will be alright
Got an ad on KROQ
And there's an in-store tonight
Well I build things up
Then I let them go
Got to get time share on the radio
Look inside America, she's alright, she's alright
Sitting out the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Looking for America
With its kooky nights and suicide
Where the TV says it's alright
Coz' everybody's hung up on something or other
Steppin' off in 20, so the driver says
I should sleep tonight
But I think I'll watch videos instead
Annie Hall leaves NY in the end
Press rewind and Woody gets her back again
And the whole world could pass through me
But I don't know if it means much to me
Look inside America
She's alright, she's alright
Sitting out the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Looking for America
With its kooky nights and suicide
Where the TV says it's alright
Coz everybody's strung out on something or other
And the whole world
Could pass through me
But I don't know if it means much to me
The song "Look Inside America" by Blur conveys the fragmented and transient nature of touring life while on the road in America. The lyrics paint a picture of the mundane day-to-day life of a musician- struggling with pain, fatigue, and exhaustion. The mention of soda being a source of energy and bruising point out the rough life of a touring musician. The lyrics also express the desire of the singer to look for and experience the essence of America authentically. It touches upon the confusion regarding the American way of life and the appearance conveyed on television, invoked through the lines - "Where the TV says it's alright, coz' everybody's hung up on something or other," and "the kooky nights and suicide." These lyrics suggest that the reality of America is subject to individual perception and not necessarily absolute, versus the television version, which is universally accepted.
The chorus of the song, "Look inside America, she's alright, she's alright/ Sitting out the distance/But I'm not trying to make her mine/Looking for America," could be interpreted as the singer trying to look beyond the obvious, to see the real America with its complicated histories and people. However, the distance and the country's complexities make the journey seem futile, and the singer is not trying to make America his, but instead, trying to understand and appreciate it.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning lethargy
Starting the day feeling sluggish and unmotivated
Drink pepsi is good for energy
Suggesting a quick fix for a lack of energy through a soft drink
The bath's on, smoke in the bedroom
Setting the scene of a laid-back environment with a relaxed attitude
Sore throat and on my neck a nasty bruise
Physical evidence of a night of performing a good show
Where it came from, well I don't know
Uncertain of the cause of their physical discomfort
We played last night, it was a good show
Reflecting on the previous night's successful performance
Got the play out, second rate chatshow
Aiming for more exposure on a lower tier TV show
It's a nation wide deal, so you gotta go
Highlighting the importance of taking opportunities to reach a wider audience
Chuck from the company says it will be alright
Reassured by a representative from the company that the opportunity is promising
Got an ad on KROQ
Achieving success with a placement on a popular radio station
And there's an in-store tonight
Additional opportunity for exposure with a live performance tonight
Well I build things up
Taking steps to create success and advance one's career
Then I let them go
Not becoming too attached to successes or failures, and moving on to the next project
Got to get time share on the radio
Striving towards even more exposure through radio airtime
Look inside America, she's alright, she's alright
Encouraging a deeper understanding of America and its culture
Sitting out the distance
Observing America from afar and not actively trying to become a part of it
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Not seeking to fully adopt American culture or identity
Looking for America
Searching for an authentic and interesting American experience
With its kooky nights and suicide
Acknowledging the darker aspects of American culture and society
Where the TV says it's alright
Highlighting the influence of media and TV on American culture and identity
Coz' everybody's hung up on something or other
Noting how every individual in America has their own particular interests or obsessions
Steppin' off in 20, so the driver says
Getting ready to move on to the next destination or experience
I should sleep tonight
Considering an option to rest despite potential opportunities or distractions
But I think I'll watch videos instead
Opting for entertainment through video rather than rest
Annie Hall leaves NY in the end
Referencing the ending of the Woody Allen film Annie Hall
Press rewind and Woody gets her back again
Rewinding scenes from the movie and finding solace in its happy ending
And the whole world could pass through me
Feeling detached from the events and people around them
But I don't know if it means much to me
Questioning the value or significance of their experiences and observations
Lyrics ยฉ 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
@rociomolina9924
Lyrics:
Good morning lethargy
Drink pepsi is good for energy
The bath's on, smoke in the bedroom
Sore throat and on my neck a nasty bruise
Where it came from, well I don't know
We played last night, it was a good show
Got the play out, second rate chatshow
It's a nation wide deal, so you gotta go
Chuck from the company says it will be alright
Got an ad on KROQ
And there's an in-store tonight
Well I build things up
Then I let them go
Got to get time share on the radio
Look inside America, she's alright, she's alright
Sitting out the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Looking for America
With its kooky nights and suicide
Where the TV says it's alright
Coz' everybody's hung up on something or other
Steppin' off in 20, so the driver says
I should sleep tonight
But I think I'll watch videos instead
Annie Hall leaves NY in the end
Press rewind and Woody gets her back again
And the whole world could pass through me
But I don't know if it means much to me
Look inside America
She's alright, she's alright
Sitting out the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Looking for America
With its kooky nights and suicide
Where the TV says it's alright
Coz everybody's strung out on something or other
And the whole world
Could pass through me
But I don't know if it means much to me
@user-fr6bl8tq6i
Good morning, lethargy
Drink Pepsi - it's good for energy
The bath's on, smoke in the bedroom
Sore throat, and on my neck a nasty bruise
And where it came from
Well I don't know
But we played last night - it was a good show
Got to play a second rate chat show
A nationwide deal, so we gotta go
Jeff from the Company says it'll be alright
Got an ad on KROQ
And there's an in-store tonight
Well I build things up
Then I let them go
Got to get time share on the radio
Look inside America
She's alright, she's alright
Sitting out in the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
Looking for America
With it's kookie nights
And suicides
TV says it's alright
Cos everybody's hung up
On something or other
Stepping off in twenty
So the driver says
I should sleep tonight
But I think I'll watch videos instead
Annie Hall leaves New York in the end
Press rewind and Woody gets her back again
And the whole world could have passed through me
But I don't know that it means much to me
Look inside America
She's alright, she's alright
Sitting out in the distance
But I'm not trying to make her mine
I'm looking for America
With it's kookie nights
And suicides
TV says it's alright
Cos everybody's strung out
On something or other
And the whole world could have passed through me
But I don't know that it means much to me
@major7thsmcgee973
End of a Century Pt.2
@alexjohnson8217
This song is basically the American version of End of a century and it's great.
@Hot18Shot
Sounds like it could be found on the Parklife album.
@luke4djojo
good observation
@glx3846
Not really. Parklife was Blur in their Prime. This song fits well with this album. The song feels like the band are departing and heading a new direction, which is what happened with Damon Albarn a few years after this album came out
@mousiedung
"Sitting out on the distance but I'm not trying to make her mine"
This on the album that actually did make her theirs!
@k-leb4671
This album was more popular in the USA than any previous Blur albums, but they still didn't become popular there.
@tracyjacks7523
"And the whole world could've passed through me, but I don't know that it means much to me" -- The first time I ever listened to this song 23 years ago that lyric struck me so hard I literally had to pull my car over. Something in me related to it so much and still does to this day.
@k-leb4671
I don't really understand it.
@alienorkano8539
@@k-leb4671 From my understanding, it means the world doesn't really affect them, and they don't really care about it