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)
Ludwig
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
And all's good
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
Oh ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
Oh ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
Oolah
The lyrics to "Ludwig" by Blur are quite mysterious and open to interpretation. The song starts off with a humming and then a repetitive "Ay ay ay" chant, creating a hypnotic, almost eerie atmosphere. The lyrics that follow are a mix of nonsense words, such as "Oolah," and fragments that vaguely suggest some meaning, like "And all's good."
Despite the lack of concrete meaning, these lyrics can be interpreted as a meditation on the power of music to transport and transform us. The repetitive chanting and humming, along with the nonsensical lyrics, create a trance-like state that might be similar to the experience of a religious or spiritual ritual. The reference to Ludwig in the title could be a nod to the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, known for his dramatic and transcendent music. The song may be suggesting that music has the ability to transcend the physical world and connect us to something greater.
Overall, "Ludwig" is a deeply introspective and mysterious song that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. It captures the power of music to transport and transform us, while also hinting at the ineffable nature of that experience.
Line by Line Meaning
(Humming)
The song begins with a humming sound, setting the mood and tone for the lyrics that follow.
Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
This line consists solely of repetitive syllables, serves as an expressive exclamation conveyed through vocal sounds.
And all's good
This line signifies a feeling of contentment or satisfaction, implying that everything is in a positive state.
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Similar to the previous line, this one only features a repetitive, meaningless melody through the 'la' syllable, likely signifying a joyous or carefree atmosphere.
Ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
The repeating syllables here signify an expression of surprise or disbelief.
Oh ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
The intensified 'Oh' here likely indicates a sense of urgency or eagerness towards the next line.
Oh ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
Again, the intensified 'Oh' serves as a bridge for the next line, possibly carrying over the sense of urgency or eagerness from before.
Oh ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay ay
The third repetition of 'Oh' possibly adds an additional layer of anticipation leading into the next part of the song.
Oolah
The song ends with a seemingly random, made-up word, possibly meant to signify a release of energy or a playfulness in tone.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN ALEXANDER JAMES, DAVID ROWNTREE, DAMON ALBARN, GRAHAM COXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind