Outside View
Eater Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm standing out in the street
Looking through the plate glass window, It's an outside view!
There's a television standing on the floor
And I complain to Spoons see I hate another Saturday night
I wanna come in cos I've got the blues
All that I am stuck with is this outside view

[chorus]
Oh, I'm running around
Oh, got my feet on the ground
Oh, well here I go again
Nothing to give and nothing to gain, na!

A cop comes along and says "What's your name?"
Said "I am a girl and my name is Germaine"
He says "You better run along, I've had enough of you"
I wanna stay down here with the outside view. Oh!





[chorus]
Aahhhh!

Overall Meaning

The Eater's song "Outside View" tells the story of someone who is stuck on the outside looking in. The singer is standing on the street outside a building, looking through a plate glass window, watching other people living their lives. They see a television inside, and express their frustration at another boring Saturday night, wishing they could go inside and join in on the fun. However, they are stuck with just their outside view, unable to participate in the action.


The chorus expresses a feeling of restlessness and lack of direction, with the singer running around and feeling like they have nothing to give or gain. The singer encounters a police officer and identifies as a girl named Germaine, but the cop tells them to leave, saying he's had enough of them. Despite this, the singer wants to stay and continue observing from the outside.


The song is a commentary on the feeling of being excluded and left out of mainstream society. The TV inside represents the distractions and entertainment that people use to escape from the reality of their lives. The singer, however, is not able to participate in the escape and is left with only their own thoughts and frustrations. The song is a reminder of the importance of being inclusive and empathetic towards others who may feel excluded or left out.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm standing out in the street
I am currently standing on the pavement outside of the building


Looking through the plate glass window, It's an outside view!
I'm observing through the glass window the activities taking place inside the building


There's a television standing on the floor
There is a TV situated on the floor of the room being observed


And I complain to Spoons see I hate another Saturday night
I express to Spoons that I dislike how I must spend yet another uneventful and depressing Saturday night


I wanna come in cos I've got the blues
Feeling low, I wish to be allowed inside the building


All that I am stuck with is this outside view
I am trapped with only being able to see from where I am standing


Oh, I'm running around
I am feeling restless and uneasy


Oh, got my feet on the ground
I feel firmly grounded to my location


Oh, well here I go again
I resign myself to another underwhelming night


Nothing to give and nothing to gain, na!
There is no benefit to be had from this situation


A cop comes along and says "What's your name?"
A police officer approaches me and asks for my name


Said "I am a girl and my name is Germaine"
I respond to their query by stating I am female and called Germaine


He says "You better run along, I've had enough of you"
The law enforcement officer orders me to leave due to having spent too much time loitering


I wanna stay down here with the outside view. Oh!
Feeling dejected, I express my desire to remain outside by the window


Aahhhh!
An exclamation of frustration and despair




Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Alex Gottschalk

Seriously one of the best punk songs ever.

melodiantime

GREAT PUNK SONG BY EATER IN ENGLAND.
GREAT DEBUT LP, EATER-THE ALBUM.
CAUGHT THE MOOD OF THE MOMENT, BACK IN, 1977.

GothicMod

I remember when this single first came out, being a Roxy Regular, the band so proud they used the single label to stick on the back of their jackets...;)

Gavin Reid

I was a Roxy regular. I know Eater from school. Finchley Manor Hill. We lived on the same street near Woodside Park station.

Ali Reynolds

love this song!!! punk at its best

SALV 62

i still speak to people who claim to have been into punk rock since the '70's who have never heard of Eater! If you don't know Eater you don't know punk rock!

STEVE RUSHTON

They must have been lying i would say

Gavin Reid

I went to school with Eater and attended many gigs.

Doctor VonBrown

Perfect song! Great stuff

Matt Attack

One of my favorites classic great debut single

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