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)
Sweet Song
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're the rockets we should fear
If we go and let them off then we will disappear
Then we will disappear, surely we will disappear
The road is hot and dusty
The desert needs a beer
But if we go and blow it up then we will disappear
If we go and blow it up then we will disappear
We will disappear surely
We will disappear
We will disappear
We will disappear
We will disappear
We will disappear
We will disappear
The lyrics to "Sweet Song" by Blur touch on the theme of environmental conservation with metaphorical language. The line "The trees are spinning oxygen, they're the rockets we should fear" presents the irony that trees, the essential source of breathable air, could potentially be the cause of our demise if we continue to destroy them. The reference to trees as "rockets" brings to mind the destruction that rocket launches and explosions can cause. This could be interpreted as a warning to not take our natural resources for granted and to be mindful of their importance to our survival.
The next verse sets the scene in a hot, dusty desert where the land is in need of preservation. The line "But if we go and blow it up then we will disappear" signifies that if we continue to exploit and harm our environment, we will eventually suffer the consequences. The repetition of the lines "We will disappear, surely we will disappear" drive home the importance of taking action to preserve the planet before it's too late.
Overall, "Sweet Song" can be seen as a call to action for environmental conservation. The lyrics paint a picture of a desolate landscape that is in dire need of protection, and the repeated warning of disappearing serves as a reminder of the urgency of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
The trees are spinning oxygen
The trees are producing oxygen through photosynthesis
They're the rockets we should fear
The trees have more power than rockets as they provide us with the vital resource of oxygen
If we go and let them off then we will disappear
If we destroy the trees by cutting them down, we will face the consequences of losing our oxygen source
The road is hot and dusty
The road is dry and unpleasant to travel on
The desert needs a beer
The desert needs life and sustenance, like a person needing a beer to feel better
But if we go and blow it up then we will disappear
If we destroy the desert through bombing or other means, we will suffer the consequences of losing its natural beauty and resources
We will disappear surely
Our destruction of the environment will lead to our own demise as well
We will disappear
Our actions of destroying nature and its resources will result in our own extinction
We will disappear
Our disregard for the environment will be our ultimate downfall
We will disappear
Humanity's destruction of nature will lead to its own disappearance
We will disappear
Our actions have consequences and we will face the repercussions
We will disappear
Our lack of action to protect the environment will result in our own demise
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Alexander James, David Rowntree, Damon Albarn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind