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)
This Is a Low
Blur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goes pretty England and me
Around the bay of Biscay
And back for tea
Hit traffic on the dogger bank
Up the Thames to find a taxi rank
Sail on by with the tide
And go to sleep
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone
It will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
Up the Tyne, Forth and Cramity
There's a low in the high forties
Saturday's locked away on the pier
Not fast enough, dear
And on the malin head
Blackpool looks blue and red
And the queen, she's gone round the bend
Jumped off Land's End
And the radio says
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone
It will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone
It will be there with you
This is a low
But it won't hurt you
When you're alone
It will be there with you
Finding ways to stay solo
The lyrics to Blur's song "This Is A Low" describe a journey by sea and the observations made during the voyage. The song takes the listener on a journey from England around the Bay of Biscay and up to the Thames before heading further north to Tyne, Forth and Cramity. The lyrics are full of imagery and poetic descriptions of the landscape and the journey itself. The chorus repeats the line, "This is a low, but it won't hurt you, when you're alone, it will be there with you, finding ways to stay solo," implying a sense of isolation and loneliness that is amplified by the vastness of the sea and the enormity of the journey.
The song's lyrics are both literal and metaphorical, with the sea and the journey representing a variety of emotions, experiences, and existential themes. The lyrics "And the queen, she's gone round the bend, jumped off Land's End" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the changing times in England, with the monarchy losing its traditional power and influence. The repeated line "finding ways to stay solo" suggests that the journey is also an introspective one, with the individual navigating life's challenges and trying to find ways to cope with them.
Line by Line Meaning
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
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Rowntree, Graham Leslie Coxon, Steven Alexander James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind