Only the privileged few can say they've been at the controls of a flying Co… Read Full Bio ↴Only the privileged few can say they've been at the controls of a flying Concorde—history (actually, the Museum of Flight down on Marginal Way) tells us there have been more U.S. astronauts than pilots of the permanently grounded supersonic airline fleet. Likewise, Concorde the band is helmed by a handful of elites: His Lordship Jack Durban (vox/guitars), Lady Starkat of West Durham (vox/keyboards), Duke Xavier of Barcelona (bass), Baron Buggy Sampson (guitar), and General Train (drums). On their debut album, Mess I'm Made Of, this ..ber-stylish ensemble—members resemble KGB agents, Eastern European femme fatales, and '70s porn stars—sounds as chic as it looks. Midnight guitar chords brush up against slinky bass lines, new-wavey synths, refined six-string melodies, and the scintillating vocal interplay between Durban and Starkat (think Billy Corgan romancing Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell) to swank, sexy ends. - MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Metropolis
Concorde Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can learn to fly like me
If you levitated, if you levitated
You can shoot a laser beam
If you meditated, if you meditated
You can learn to cry like me
If you medicated, if you medicated

Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one

That's gonna cause a great sensation
Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one
That'll probably save the nation
Jimmy Olsen told me

(Who's gonna use you?)
Can you fly? Up, up away
If I wasn't bulletproof… I'll be dead
Can you fly? Up, up away
If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead
Can you fly? Flyin' away with me girl

I can turn the sun 'round me
If I concentrated, if I concentrated
Kryptonite's a stone, you'll see
When I'm irritated, when I'm irritated
I can save the galaxy
When I'm really wasted, when I'm really wasted

Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one
That's gonna cause a great sensation
Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one
That'll probably save the nation
Jimmy Olsen told me, Hu-hu-hu Ho!

(Who's gonna use you?)
Can you fly? Up, up away
If I wasn't bulletproof… I'll be dead
Can you fly? Up, up away
If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead
Can you fly? Flyin' away with me girl

(I'm in a fortress)
Life was so easy before you came
(Ba Ba Ra)
Now you're off, you're wrestling a hurricane
Life was so easy before you came

(Who's gonna use you?)
Can you fly? Up, up away
If I wasn't bulletproof… I'll be dead
Can you fly? Up, up away

If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead
If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Concorde's song Metropolis revolve around the idea of superhuman abilities and the power that comes with them. The song opens with the idea that anyone can learn to fly or shoot a laser beam if they have the right mental state. The lyrics then shift to the singer's own abilities, detailing his power to turn the sun and save the galaxy, but only when he's fully wasted.

The chorus explores the idea of bulletproofness, suggesting that it allows the singer to fly up and away. Here, the listener is introduced to the character of Jimmy Olsen, who tells the singer that he's the one who will cause a great sensation and save the nation.

The bridge of the song takes a more contemplative turn, suggesting that life was easier before the singer's abilities came to light. The repeated question of "Who's gonna use you?" adds depth to the song's themes of power and responsibility, as the listener is left to wonder who will benefit from the singer's abilities.

Overall, the lyrics of Concorde's Metropolis present a complex web of ideas around the nature of power, responsibility, and the benefits/dangers that come with superhuman abilities.

Line by Line Meaning

You can learn to fly like me If you levitated, if you levitated
If you reach a higher state of consciousness, you can achieve great things.

You can shoot a laser beam If you meditated, if you meditated
If you attain inner peace, you will have powerful abilities.

You can learn to cry like me If you medicated, if you medicated
If you turn to drugs or medication, you can feel emotions like I do.

Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one That's gonna cause a great sensation Jimmy Olsen told me that I'm the one That'll probably save the nation Jimmy Olsen told me
Jimmy Olsen, a comic book character, inspired me to believe that I am capable of great things.

(Who's gonna use you?) Can you fly? Up, up away If I wasn't bulletproof… I'll be dead Can you fly? Up, up away If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead Can you fly? Flyin' away with me girl
I am invincible, but I wonder who will need me or what will happen to me if I was vulnerable.

I can turn the sun 'round me If I concentrated, if I concentrated Kryptonite's a stone, you'll see When I'm irritated, when I'm irritated I can save the galaxy When I'm really wasted, when I'm really wasted
I have incredible powers that I can control if I am focused, but I am vulnerable when feeling angry or intoxicated.

Life was so easy before you came (Ba Ba Ra) Now you're off, you're wrestling a hurricane Life was so easy before you came
My life was simple until you arrived, now you are dealing with extreme challenges, it used to be easy.

(Who's gonna use you?) Can you fly? Up, up away If I wasn't bulletproof… I'll be dead Can you fly? Up, up away If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead If I wasn't bulletproof…I'll be dead!
I repeat the same question, wondering who I am helping and reflecting on how important my invincibility is to me.

Contributed by Carter M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS