The group achieved 18 top-20 singles and four top-10 albums, and were one of the UK's most popular boy bands during the early to mid-1990s, aided by strong tabloid interest in their 'bad boy' image, compared to the 'clean cut' image of rivals Take That. Their style blended pop and hip hop in songs such as "House of Love" and "Let It Rain".
They have sold over 18 million albums worldwide and according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), they have been certified with sales of 1.8 million albums and 2.4 million singles in the UK. Their biggest hit, "Stay Another Day", was the UK Christmas number one in 1994.
The group continues today under the line-up of Terry Coldwell, Joe Livermore and former Artful Dodger collaborator Robbie Craig.
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West End Girls
East 17 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a gun in your hand it's pointing at your head
You think you're mad too unstable
Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables
In a restaurant in a West end town
Call the police there's a mad man around
Running down underground
To a dive bar in a West end town
In a West end town a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
In a West end town in a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
West end girls.
Too many shadows whispering voices
Faces on posters too many choices
If when why what how much have you got
Have you got it do you get it
If so how often
Which do you choose
A hard or soft option
(How much do you need)
In a West end town a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
In a West end town in a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
West end girls.
(How much do you need)
In a West end town a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
Ooh a West end town in a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
West end girls.
You got a heart of glass or a heart of stone
Just you wait till I get you home
We've got no future
We've got no past
Here today built to last
In every city and every nation
From Lake Geneva to the Finland station
(How far have you been)
In a West end town a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
In a West end town in a dead end world
The East end boys and West end girls
West end girls.
West end girls
West end girls
The lyrics of East 17's song West End Girls provide an insight into life in a dead end world, where living is challenging and options are limited. The song begins with a somber tone, as the singer suggests that in some situations, one would be better off dead. Then, the song progresses to several chaotic scenes, where a madman is running through the streets of a West end town, knocking down tables and creating chaos. The lyrics vividly describe the feeling of hopelessness and anxiety that comes with living in a dead-end world.
The chorus of the song, however, describes the East and West end Boys and Girls who reside in the same world, yet lead very different lives. The East end boys, who are typically from a lower socio-economic class, are juxtaposed with the West end girls, who are often from a more privileged class. The chorus suggests that no matter your socio-economic status, everyone is dealing with the struggles of living in a dead-end world.
The second verse of the song dives even deeper into everyday myths that society feeds us.These myths, such as how much do you need and which option to choose, or hard versus the soft, continue to lead to dead end paths. The lyrics also suggest that it is hard to differentiate between choices, leading to too many options and too many questions.
Overall, East 17's West End Girls offers a sobering look at life in a dead-end world where hope and joy are often limited.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you're better off dead
At times, life can be so challenging that you might believe death is the better option.
There's a gun in your hand it's pointing at your head
The pressure may be too much to bear that you might contemplate taking your life.
You think you're mad too unstable
You feel like you're losing your mind and that it's impossible to feel grounded.
Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables
Your anger and frustration are causing you to act out in a destructive manner.
In a restaurant in a West end town
The scene of chaos is set in a high-end neighborhood in London.
Call the police there's a mad man around
The commotion is so extreme that people nearby are requesting police intervention.
Running down underground
The chaos continues as people flee to the subway tunnels underground.
To a dive bar in a West end town
The pandemonium reaches a seedy bar in the same affluent West End sector.
In a West end town a dead end world
Despite the luxurious scenery, life in the West End can feel fruitless and frustrating.
The East end boys and West end girls
People from different parts of London, the deprived East End and the posh West End, coexist in this environment.
Too many shadows whispering voices
The high concentration of people mingles with the lack of space, leading to constant noise and competition.
Faces on posters too many choices
The abundance of advertising and consumerism can feel overwhelming and unrealistic.
If when why what how much have you got
The expectation to keep up with the surrounding financial affluence can feel like too much pressure.
Have you got it do you get it
Are you living up to the expected levels of success and status?
If so how often
Are you able to maintain your perceived levels of affluence?
Which do you choose
Do you opt for the hard and rare route or the easy and common one?
A hard or soft option
Are you willing to do the hard work to achieve success or do you settle for mediocre comfort?
(How much do you need)
How much wealth and comfort is enough to feel satisfied?
You got a heart of glass or a heart of stone
Do your emotions break easily or are you tough and hardened?
Just you wait till I get you home
Despite these challenges, you and your partner will persevere and be happy.
We've got no future
The future might look bleak and uncertain.
We've got no past
The past might not hold enough to motivate or learn from.
Here today built to last
The present and its experiences will create the foundation and structure for the future.
In every city and every nation
The challenges of keeping up with society's materialistic expectations are universal.
From Lake Geneva to the Finland station
These challenges reach across Europe and beyond.
How far have you been
Have you experienced these pressures and challenges in other parts of the world?
West end girls
The facade and uncertainties of life in the posh West End of London.
West end girls
The repetition of 'West End Girls' emphasizes the overarching message of the song.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neil Tennant, Christopher Lowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LondonRecordings
This Christmas, Tony Mortimer of East 17 and Waltham Forest Youth Choir cover the classic track ’Stay Another Day’ in support of CALM, a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide. Recorded in Walthamstow E17 where it all began! More info: https://stayanotherday.info
@STEJTHEGREATEST
Personally, I'd advise choirs to steer well clear of east 17, after seeing their horrifying "house of love" music video, and all the evil symbolism contained within it.
@manish4770
Thx
@manish4770
London recordings pls upload all songs of East 17 #boys
@raheelaraza6329
i loved this song as a teenager
@p.s2510
I like this song so much I’m also from East London !!
@AlexDoctrino
2021, I'm 41... and still listening 🥰🥰🥰
@stebor2997
42 same :D
@Saeedforever1980
41 same too 👍
@gurmon
45 same