He writes alternative indie-pop music with influences from artists such as David Bowie. He has toured in the UK, Europe and in the US.
Declan is known for his outspoken political views, including in his songs such as 'Brazil' which portrays a social commentary on the corruption within the Fifa organisation.
His debut album, What do You Think About the Car, was released on 21st of July 2017. His 2nd album, Zeros, was released on the 4th of September 2020.
Daniel You're Still a Child
Declan Mckenna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You spent ten days in bed when I asked you why
And requested my whereabouts through tweets
Darling, why do you bury yourself in sheets?
Well, I told you
There's unrest in the House of Lords
Written on sandwich boards
So what d'you think you're doing telling people lies?
The hope's going like Christmas pies
But it's never gonna stop you turning pink
Daniel, you know it, you wanted to
Find a place on your own like you always do
I'd bear in mind
Daniel, you're still a child
Daniel's gone running, the trail's gone cold
You've been acting quite strangely, since ten years old
And when you were eleven they said
"You ought to pray to high heaven you don't get caught"
Well Daniel, don't worry, you won't be missed
You'll spend ten years in prison to pay for this
Ah, is it all worthwhile?
Daniel, you're still a child
You got a death wish, child
Four cans of pesticide to drink
4:30 Western Time
The boy's been arrested, why d'you think?
Daniel, you're still a child
Daniel, you're still a child
What is wrong with Daniel, he's no fun
You just wait 'til Daniel hurts someone
Daniel, you're a weirdo, what the hell?
You just wait 'til Daniel hurts himself
The song "Daniel You're Still a Child" by Declan Mckenna is a poignant exploration of the experiences of a troubled young boy named Daniel. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a child who is struggling with both mental and emotional issues, and who is ultimately doomed to a tragic fate.
The song begins with the singer addressing Daniel directly, expressing their sadness at seeing him in such a state. Daniel has spent ten days in bed, and seems to be obsessively checking the singer's social media profiles for updates. The lyrics suggest that Daniel is struggling with depression or anxiety, and that he is using social media as a way to cope with his feelings.
The next few lines of the song refer to the political climate in the UK, with the singer suggesting that Daniel is using the chaos of Brexit and the ensuing social unrest as a way to justify his own actions. The singer accuses Daniel of telling lies, and of being complicit in the destruction of hope and optimism in modern society. Despite this, the singer insists that Daniel is still just a child, and that he is deserving of empathy and understanding.
The chorus of the song is both haunting and heartbreaking, with the singer repeatedly reminding Daniel that he is still just a child. The lyrics suggest that Daniel is on a path to self-destruction, and that he is simply unable to cope with the challenges of adulthood. Ultimately, the song ends on a note of sadness and despair, with the singer predicting that Daniel will hurt himself or someone else if he does not find a way to turn his life around.
Overall, "Daniel You're Still a Child" is a powerful and emotive song that deals with some of the most difficult issues facing young people in today's society. By using the character of Daniel as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges of adolescence, Declan Mckenna has managed to create a song that is both deeply moving and deeply personal.
Line by Line Meaning
Daniel, you did it, you made me cry
I'm upset that you did something to hurt me
You spent ten days in bed when I asked you why
When I tried to talk to you about it, you shut yourself off
And requested my whereabouts through tweets
You were worried about where I was and reached out on social media
Darling, why do you bury yourself in sheets?
Why do you try to hide from your problems by staying in bed?
Well, I told you
I tried to warn you about something
There's unrest in the House of Lords
There is chaos at the top levels of government
Written on sandwich boards
People are protesting and making their opinions visible
Outside the shop where they sell your favorite drink
The unrest is even affecting places you enjoy frequenting
So what d'you think you're doing telling people lies?
Why are you spreading false information?
The hope's going like Christmas pies
Things are deteriorating quickly
But it's never gonna stop you turning pink
Despite everything happening, you seem unfazed and carefree
Daniel, you know it, you wanted to
You wanted to be independent and make your own decisions
Find a place on your own like you always do
You always try to distance yourself from others and be alone
I'd bear in mind
You should consider
Daniel, you're still a child
Despite trying to grow up too quickly, you're still young and immature
Daniel's gone running, the trail's gone cold
You've disappeared without telling anyone where you're going
You've been acting quite strangely, since ten years old
You've been exhibiting unusual behavior since you were a child
And when you were eleven they said
People noticed something was wrong with you when you were very young
"You ought to pray to high heaven you don't get caught"
People were worried you were doing something illegal
Well Daniel, don't worry, you won't be missed
If you continue down this path, you won't have anyone left who cares about you
You'll spend ten years in prison to pay for this
Not only will you be alone, you'll face serious consequences for your actions
Ah, is it all worthwhile?
Is whatever you're doing or trying to prove worth all of this?
Daniel, you're still a child
Even if you don't realize it, you're not mature or experienced enough to handle what you're getting into
You got a death wish, child
You're taking risks and putting yourself in danger
Four cans of pesticide to drink
You're doing things that could kill you
4:30 Western Time
A specific time and location associated with your dangerous behavior
The boy's been arrested, why d'you think?
You've finally been caught and are now facing legal consequences
Daniel, you're still a child
Again, you're not ready to handle this on your own
What is wrong with Daniel, he's no fun
People are noticing that something isn't quite right with you
You just wait 'til Daniel hurts someone
Others are starting to fear that you may harm someone else
Daniel, you're a weirdo, what the hell?
You're so different from others that people don't understand you
You just wait 'til Daniel hurts himself
People are concerned that you're on a path of self-destruction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Declan McKenna, Maxwell Marlow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Ogilvie
[Verse 1]
Daniel, you did it, you made me cry
You spent ten days in bed when I asked you why
And requested my whereabouts through tweets
Darling, why do you bury yourself in sheets? Well, I told you
There's unrest in the House of Lords
Written on sandwich boards
Outside the shop where they sell your favourite drink
So what do you think you're doing telling people lies?
The hope's going like Christmas pies
But it's never gonna stop you turning pink
[Chorus]
Daniel, you know it, you wanted to
Find a place on your own like you always do
I'd bear in mind
Daniel, you're still a child
[Verse 3]
Daniel's gone running, the trail's gone cold
You've been acting quite strangely since ten years old
And when you were eleven
They said, "You ought to pray to high heaven you don't get caught"
[Chorus]
Well, Daniel, don't worry, you won't be missed
You'll spend ten years in prison to pay for this
Ah, is it all worthwhile?
Daniel, you're still a child
[Bridge]
You got a death wish, child
Four cans of pesticide to drink
4:30 Western Time
The boy's been arrested, why do you think?
[Outro]
Daniel, you're still a child
Daniel, you're still a child
What is wrong with Daniel, he's no fun
You just wait 'till Daniel hurts someone
Daniel, you're a weirdo, what the hell?
You just wait 'till Daniel hurts himself
Abby Olsthoorn
Daniel you did it
You made me cry
You spent ten days in bed when
I asked you why
And requested, my whereabouts through tweets
Darling, why do you bury yourself in sheets?
Well I told you
There’s unrest in the House of Lords
Written on sandwich boards
Outside the shop where they sell your favourite drink
So what d’you think you’re doing telling people lies?
Hope’s going like Christmas pies, but it’s never gonna stop you turning pink
Daniel you know it
You wanted to
Find a place on your own like you always do
I’d
Bear in mind
Daniel, you’re still a child
Daniel’s gone running
The trail’s gone cold
You’ve been acting quite strangely
Since ten years old
And when you were 11
They said “You ought to pray to high heaven
You don’t get caught”
Well Daniel
Don’t worry
You won’t be missed
You’ll spend ten years in prison
To pay for this
Ah
Is it all worth while
Daniel, you’re still a child
You’ve got a death wish child
Four cans of pesticide to drink
4:30 western time
The boy’s been arrested
Why’d you think?
Daniel, you’re still a child
What is wrong with Daniel, he’s no fun
You just wait till Daniel hurts someone
Daniel you’re a weirdo what the hell
You just wait till Daniel hurts himself
Declan McKenna
Buzzing to go on tour in 2021! Tickets go on general sale at 9am BST / 10am CET on Friday 17 July. UK & Ireland – if you pre-order (or already pre-ordered) my new album Zeros you will get pre-sale ticket access starting on Wednesday 15 July x http://smarturl.it/declanshop
2021 ZEROS TOUR
26 March – The Waterfront, Norwich
27 March – The Junction, Cambridge
28 March – O2 Academy, Bristol
30 March – Tramshed, Cardiff
01 April – O2 Academy Brixton, London
03 April – O2 Academy, Birmingham
05 April – Rock City, Nottingham
06 April – O2 Academy, Newcastle
08 April – O2 Academy, Leeds
09 April – Albert Hall, Manchester
12 April – SWG3 The Galvanizers, Glasgow
15 April – Olympia Theatre, Dublin
16 April – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
23 April – Le Stereolux, Nantes
24 April – Le Trabendo, Paris
26 April – Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing
27 April – Trix, Antwerp
29 April – Melkweg – MAX, Amsterdam
30 April – Maassilo, Rotterdam
01 May – Heimathafen Neukolln, Berlin
03 May – The Roxy, Prague
04 May – Proxima, Warsaw
06 May – Mojo, Hamburg
07 May – Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, Cologne
cat
green screen isn't a passion, it's a lifestyle
edie
Hahaha
Isjanbard l
Yes!
Lisa Meier
You could say it's his key to life on earth XD
mick thurston
@Isjanbard l jfjf
BrDe135
Lisa Meier we love a good dec joke
Delia Xd
iconic duo: Declan and green screen
bergstoppar
alfie templeman opening for dec ☺️
wildflowcr
declan and pEpSy
Isjanbard l
Declan and Ribena his fav drink!