This Is a Low
Blur Lyrics

And into the sea
Leaving the land behind and entering the vastness of the sea

Goes pretty England and me
The poetic imagery of England and the singer being swallowed up by the sea

Around the bay of Biscay
Taking a route through the Atlantic ocean from England towards the Bay of Biscay

And back for tea
The casual description of the journey as a short trip before returning for tea

Hit traffic on the dogger bank
Encountering congestion on the Dogger Bank, an area in the North Sea where fishing vessels frequently operate

Up the Thames to find a taxi rank
Travelling up the River Thames towards London to find a place to catch a taxi

Sail on by with the tide
Continuing the journey by going with the natural flow of the tide

And go to sleep
Taking a break from the long journey to rest and recharge

And the radio says
The introduction to the repeated chorus, suggesting that news or music played on the radio is providing commentary on the journey

This is a low
The description of the conditions of the journey being difficult, unpleasant, or dangerous

But it won't hurt you
The acknowledgement that despite the low, the singer will eventually emerge unscathed

When you're alone
The reassurance that even when the journey is at its worst, the artist is able to handle it on their own

It will be there with you
The acknowledgement that the low is a constant presence on the journey, even when it is not apparent

Finding ways to stay solo
The choice to remain independent and handle the journey alone, despite its challenges

Up the Tyne, Forth and Cramity
Another geographical reference to a route taken through the River Tyne, River Forth, and Cramity Bay

There's a low in the high forties
Another comment on the poor weather conditions or difficult circumstances of the journey

Saturday's locked away on the pier
The artist is missing out on a fun weekend activity due to the journey or conditions they are facing

Not fast enough, dear
The irritation or frustration of not being able to move quickly enough or make progress towards the destination

And on the malin head
Reaching Malin Head, the northernmost point of the mainland of Ireland

Blackpool looks blue and red
A description of the seaside town of Blackpool appearing unusual or distorted in the artist's perception

And the queen, she's gone round the bend
A humorous comment on the current state of the British monarchy or a reference to the difficult journey causing the artist to become disoriented

Jumped off Land's End
Another reference to a geographical location, with Land's End being the westernmost point of mainland Cornwall

This is a low
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the difficult conditions of the journey

But it won't hurt you
Despite the repetition of the line, the reassurance that the artist will emerge unscathed remains unchanged

When you're alone
The repeated reminder that the singer is capable of handling the journey on their own

It will be there with you
The low is a constant presence throughout the journey, affecting the singer even when it is not immediately apparent

Finding ways to stay solo
The choice to remain independent and handle the journey alone, despite the challenges faced