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)
The Man Who Left Himself
Blur Lyrics
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Work forever and still not be done
Close your tired eyes, no one knows you've gone
It's not forever but today you've become
The man who left himself
Don't belong here, your heart beats too fast
Feel the mis-beat, it starts and stops
Maybe tomorrow your time will have passed
It's the man who left himself
The lyrics to Blur's song The Man Who Left Himself speaks about the struggles of life, the monotony of work, and the sense of loss and disconnection that can arise from it. The opening lines 'All good people your time will come, work forever and still not be done' sets the tone for the song as a commentary on the human condition. The sense of tiredness and loneliness is emphasized through the line 'Close your tired eyes, no one knows you've gone'. The phrase 'the man who left himself' is a way of describing the plight of the person who has lost their identity, their sense of self.
The chorus refers to the feeling of not belonging, 'Don't belong here, your heart beats too fast, feel the mis-beat, it starts and stops' which evokes an image of anxiety and discomfort. However, there is a glimmer of hope in the lines 'Don't be frightened, these things never last, maybe tomorrow your time will have passed' suggesting that the feeling of being lost can be temporary.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the complexities of human experience, the ups and downs of life, and the struggle to maintain a sense of self in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
All good people your time will come
Everyone will eventually face a challenging time.
Work forever and still not be done
It is impossible to control all things, and everything will not work out.
Close your tired eyes, no one knows you've gone
When things get hard, sometimes people have to disappear and handle their issues on their own.
It's not forever but today you've become
The difficult time that someone is facing is temporary, but it is consuming them in the moment.
The man who left himself
This person has had to disconnect from their true selves in order to deal with their situation.
Don't belong here, your heart beats too fast
This environment is not fitting for the person experiencing the tough time.
Feel the mis-beat, it starts and stops
Their emotions and thoughts are in disarray.
Don't be frightened, these things never last
This rough patch will eventually come to an end.
Maybe tomorrow your time will have passed
Things may get better tomorrow and maybe the hard times will be in the past.
It's the man who left himself
The person has become a shell of their former self in order to deal with the tough times.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alexander Rowntree David, Steven Alexander James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind