The A Team
Caroline Glaser Lyrics

White lips, pale face
The singer describes the physical appearance of someone who is suffering and possibly addicted to drugs.

Breathing in snowflakes
The person is so desperate for a high that they are inhaling anything they can, even snowflakes.

Burnt lungs, sour taste
The person has been smoking or inhaling drugs to the point where their lungs are damaged and there is a bad taste in their mouth.

Light's gone, day's end
The person is in a dark place where there seems to be no hope or light at the end of the tunnel.

Struggling to pay rent
The person is financially struggling and may be in a dire living situation.

Long nights, strange men
The person is possibly engaging in sex work or other dangerous activities to support their addiction and make ends meet.

And they say she's in the class a team
Society has labeled her as a high-performing person, but in reality she is stuck in addiction and hardship.

Stuck in her daydream
She is living in a fantasy world to escape her harsh reality.

Been this way since eighteen but lately
She has been struggling for a while, but things have recently taken a turn for the worse.

Her face seems, slowly sinking, wasting
Her addiction is taking a physical toll on her, causing her to look sickly and frail.

Crumbling like pastries
Her health and well-being are deteriorating quickly and drastically.

And they scream
Others are aware of her struggles, but may not be doing enough to help her.

The worst things in life come free to us
Dangerous and addictive substances are easily accessible and can cause great harm.

‘Cos we're just under the upper hand
The addiction and struggles control and dominate her life.

And go mad for a couple grams
The desperation for a high can cause someone to act irrational and put themselves in danger.

And she don't wanna go outside tonight
She is scared of the real world and what it may bring, and prefers to stay in her addiction.

And in a pipe she flies to the motherland
The drugs are taking her to another world, where she can escape from reality temporarily.

Or sells love to another man
She may be engaging in sex work to support her addiction and make ends meet.

It's too cold outside
The real world is harsh and uninviting for her, and she would rather stay in her addiction.

For angels to fly
The artist is referring to the idea that those who die from addiction are often thought of as joining the ranks of angels.

Ripped gloves, raincoat
The person is not comfortably or appropriately dressed for the weather, indicating their dire living situation.

Tried to swim and stay afloat
The person is struggling to stay above water and keep themselves alive, in both a literal and figurative sense.

Dry house, wet clothes
The living situation is uncomfortable and possibly even dangerous, with wet clothes but no means to dry them.

Loose change, bank notes
The person is barely scraping by, with just enough to get by or possibly use for drugs.

Weary-eyed, dry throat
The person is tired and worn out, with physical symptoms likely caused by their addiction.

Call girl, no phone
The idea of being a call girl with no means of communication or connection to the outside world highlights the dangerous and isolating nature of addiction and sex work.

An angel will die
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the idea that those who die from addiction are often elevated to the status of angels.

Covered in white, closed eyed
This is a reference to the idea of an open casket funeral for someone who died from a drug overdose.

And hoping for a better life
While there is sadness in the loss of life, there is also hope for a better future that the person may have never found in life.

This time will fade out tonight
The song ends on the idea that the struggles and hardships of addiction and life will eventually come to an end, but not without consequences and losses.

Straight down the line
This is a finalizing and conclusive statement, emphasizing that the story has come to an end, and whatever came before will remain in the past.