Let Down
Easy Star All-Stars Lyrics


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Transport, motorways and tram lines
Starting and then stopping, taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings, disappointed people, clinging on
To bottles 'cause when it comes it's so, so, so disappointing

Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
I say let down and hanging around

Shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental, don't, it always ends up drivel
One day, one day, I am gonna, I am gonna grow wings, a chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless, hysterical and

Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
I say let down and hanging around

Let down and hanging, let down and hanging, let down and hanging

You know, you know where you are with, you know where you are with
Floor collapsing, falling, bouncing back
One day, one day, I am gonna grow wings, it's a chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless

I say let down and hanging around




Crushed, crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around

Overall Meaning

The song Let Down by Easy Star All-Stars is a cover of the original song by Radiohead. The lyrics describe a feeling of disappointment and disillusionment with the world. The first verse describes the mundanity of everyday life, with references to transportation and routine actions like starting and stopping. The second half of the verse speaks to the disappointment felt by people, who cling to bottles (perhaps of alcohol) as a coping mechanism. The chorus then reflects this feeling of being let down, with the imagery of being crushed like a bug on the ground.


Line by Line Meaning

Transport, motorways and tram lines
A reference to the modernity and vastness of the world we live in with advanced transport systems.


Starting and then stopping, taking off and landing
The constant, repetitive motion of life and how it can feel like we're always just getting started or stopping without making progress.


The emptiest of feelings, disappointed people, clinging on
A feeling of disappointment that can make people resort to self-destructive behavior to cope.


To bottles 'cause when it comes it's so, so, so disappointing
The artist is using alcohol as a means of escape because of how disappointing life can be.


Let down and hanging around
Feeling dejected and aimless with no clear direction in sight.


Crushed like a bug in the ground
A feeling of being utterly defeated and powerless in the face of disappointment.


Shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going
A metaphor for the discomfort of change and growth, and how it can cause turmoil before resulting in progress.


Don't get sentimental, don't, it always ends up drivel
A warning against getting too emotional during difficult times, as it often leads to irrational thinking and behavior.


One day, one day, I am gonna, I am gonna grow wings, a chemical reaction
A hope and belief that one day the artist will grow and change into something new and better.


Hysterical and useless, hysterical and
A recognition of the irrational and harmful behavior that can arise from an overwhelming sense of disappointment.


You know, you know where you are with, you know where you are with
A repetition of the phrase to emphasize the stability and familiarity that can come from understanding one's situation, even if it is disappointing.


Floor collapsing, falling, bouncing back
The tumultuous nature of life, including setbacks and struggles followed by resilience and recovery.




Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Nicole Mitchell

Transport
Motorways and tramlines
Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people
Clinging onto bottles
And when it comes it's so so disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch legs are going
Don't get sentimental
It always ends up drivel
One day I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging
Let down
Let down
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing, floating
Bouncing back and
One day I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
(You know where you are)
Hysterical and useless
(You know where you are)
Hysterical and
(You know where you are)
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around



CANAL AVULSO

Transport
Motorways and tramlines
Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people
Clinging onto bottles
And when it comes it's so so disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch legs are going
Don't get sentimental
It always ends up drivel
One day I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging
Let down
Let down
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing, floating
Bouncing back and
One day I am gonna grow wings
A chemical reaction
(You know where you are)
Hysterical and useless
(You know where you are)
Hysterical and
(You know where you are)
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around



All comments from YouTube:

StevieAgnew_Number1

this allows a very lost, very cynical man to feel pretty good for 5 minutes. What a cover.

Cubicdissection

I know it’s been a while since you posted his but I hope you’re doing all right, friend.

Fartun L

and woman

anarseniciste

Before I listened to that track, if someone told me there could be a deep-felt non-humoristic ska cover of Radiohead's Let Down, I would have laughed myself silly... but there it is. This must be one of the greatest song cover of all times, just far enough from the mark with the same overwhelming feeling of helplessness, only warmer. Makes me want to dance and cry at the same time. Respect and RIP Toots.

Yo mamma

It's a chemical reaction.

anarseniciste

@Yo mamma yup, I can feel my wings growing already

Chris Gee

Nailed it 👊🏼

JBECKS

Rest in Power, Toots Hibbert. You were brilliant and this song exemplifies that.

bprman

the best story about Radiodread is that the year it came out, Radiohead had it on heavy rotation on their tour bus - love the story below about Jonny Greenwood asking for it on a radio call in, too...just sublime

amino1

Lol I didn't know that. I requested it on the radio, too, and they played it!

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