I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Frank Turner Lyrics

We're lovers and we're losers,
We are people who have experienced love and loss in life and haven't achieved much success or fame.

We're heroes and we're pioneers,
We consider ourselves as brave people who are trying to achieve something big in life, but we haven't done anything significant yet.

And we're beggars and we're choosers.
We're people who are always trying to balance what we want and what we can afford or have.

We're skirting round the edges
We're avoiding the mainstream or popular things and trying to be unique or alternative instead.

Of the ideal demographic.
We're not the perfect or preferred target audience for something, like a music band or a marketing campaign.

We're almost on the guestlist,
We're very close to being invited or included in something exclusive or special, but not quite there yet.

But we're always stuck in traffic.
We're facing obstacles or delays that prevent us from reaching our destination or achieving our goals.

We've watched our close associates
We have seen our friends or acquaintances who are similar to us in some ways.

Up and play their parts;
We have seen them succeed or perform in their roles or careers.

They're chatting up the it girls,
They are talking to or flirting with the most popular or attractive women in some social context.

And they're tearing up the charts,
They are doing very well in terms of sales or popularity on musical or cultural charts.

While we were paying with coppers
We had to use small coins or low-value money to buy drinks or food.

To get our round in at the bar.
We bought drinks for our group of friends or acquaintances in turns, using whatever money we had.

We're the see-Team, we're the almost famous
We are the secondary or supporting members of a group or scene, and we are not really famous or recognized.

Old friends of the stars.
We have known or associated with some famous or successful people in some capacity.

Justin is the last
One of our friends is named Justin, who is believed to be the last remaining person of a certain group or category of people.

Of the great romantic poets,
He is considered to have a poetic or sensitive way of thinking or behaving, similar to some historical or literary figures.

And he's the only one among us
He is the only person in our group who is believed to have the potential or talent for achieving something great or significant.

Who is ever going to make it.
He is the only person we think will succeed or accomplish something noteworthy in life.

We planned a revolution
We talked about or imagined making a big change or impact in some aspect of life.

From a cheap Southampton bistro.
We had this conversation or idea in a specific location in Southampton, which is described as cheap or low-quality.

I don't remember details
The artist acknowledges that they don't have a clear or complete memory of that past conversation or idea.

But there were English boys with banjos.
The singer remembers that some of their friends who played banjos and were British were involved in that conversation or idea.

Jay is our St George, and he's standing on a wooden chair,
Another friend of ours named Jay is being compared to the legendary hero St George, and he is seen as a courageous or admirable figure. He is also literally standing on a wooden chair for some reason.

And he sings songs and he slays dragons, and he's losing all his hair.
Jay is described as a musician or artist who creates and performs songs with great passion or skill. He is also facing a physical challenge or symptom, like hair loss, that could affect his well-being or self-esteem.

Adam is the resurrected spirit of Gram Parsons,
Another friend of ours named Adam is compared to the deceased musician Gram Parsons, and he is seen as sharing some of the qualities or characteristics of Parsons, like style, attitude or talent.

In plaid instead of rhinestone and living in South London.
Adam has his own unique style or fashion sense that differs from Parsons', but he still retains his musical spirit or legacy. He is also living in South London, which is probably not as glamorous or trendy as other parts of London.

And no one's really clear about Tommy's job description,
One of our friends named Tommy has a mysterious or vague occupation or role that is not well understood by others in our group.

But it's pretty clear he's vital to the whole damn operation.
Despite the lack of clarity about his job, Tommy is still seen as an important or indispensable member of our group, whose presence or contribution is valued.

Dave Danger smiles at strangers,
One of our friends named Dave Dangerous has a friendly or welcoming attitude towards people he doesn't know.

Tre's the safest girl I know,
Another friend of ours named Tre is described as a very trustworthy or reliable female.

Zo and Harps will skamper up to victory in the city we call home.
Two of our friends named Zo and Harps are seen as capable or resilient individuals who will succeed or overcome obstacles in the city where we live.

We won't change our ways, we will proud remain when the glory fades.
We will stay true to ourselves and our principles even when we are no longer in the spotlight or enjoying fame or success.

I am sick and tired of people
The artist is feeling frustrated or annoyed with a certain type of people who are described in the following lines.

Who are living on the be-list.
These people are obsessed with being fashionable, popular or trendy, and they want to be part of some exclusive or elite group or lifestyle.

They're waiting to be famous
They believe that fame or recognition is the ultimate goal or purpose in life, and they are actively seeking it out or expecting it to happen.

And they're wondering why they do this.
They are confused or lost about their own motivations or desires, and they don't know why they are pursuing fame or recognition so eagerly.

And I know I'm not the one who is habitually optimistic,
The singer recognizes that they usually don't have a positive or hopeful outlook on life, but they are still trying to convey a message of encouragement or inspiration to others.

But I'm the one who's got the microphone here so just remember this:
The singer has an opportunity to speak to a group of people or listeners, and they want to use their voice or platform to share their views or ideas.

Life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings,
The artist believes that life is not just about achieving success or fame, but also about experiencing love, intimacy or connection with others, and enjoying the present moment or memories.

About fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings,
Life is also about having passion, drive or ambition, and experiencing emotions or desires that are hidden or secret.

And the aching amplitudes that set our needles all a-flickering,
Life is about the intense or powerful experiences or moments that can affect us deeply or profoundly, and make us feel alive or emotional.

And help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live.
These experiences or moments remind us that life is a precious and finite opportunity, and we should make the most of it by living fully and authentically.

After all the loving and the losing,
Despite experiencing both joy and pain in life, and facing disappointments or setbacks, we learn to accept them as part of the journey and move on.

For the heroes and the pioneers,
For those who have tried to do something big or meaningful in their lives, but haven't necessarily achieved it yet.

The only thing that's left to do
The only thing we can do once we have tried our best and pursued our dreams and goals.

Is get another round in at the bar.
Is to keep going, keep living, keep spending time with our friends or loved ones, and keep enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like having drinks at a bar.