The doctors "pumped her up with loads of painkillers" and she described the situation as a "bit surreal." According to Goldfrapp, the song is a metaphor for a horrible relationship. The track describes Goldfrapp reflecting on a bad situation which resulted in an "accident and emergency."
The situation made her "feel blue" and at the end of the song she concludes that finally "the pain has started to slip away" even though she admits there might be "pills at work."
A&E
Goldfrapp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the pain is starting to slip away, hey hey
I'm in a backless dress on a pastel ward that's shining
Think I want you still
But there may be pills at work
Do you really wanna know how I was dancing on the floor?
And theres a tune at things you say that you don't do
Why don't you wreck?
I was feeling lonely, feeling blue
Feeling like I needed you
Like I'm walking up surrounded by me
A&E
It's a blue, bright blue Saturday, hey hey
And the pain is starting to slip away, hey hey
I'm in a backless dress on a pastel ward that's shining
Think I want you still
But there may be pills at work
How did I get to accident, emergency?
All I wanted was you to take me out high
And I was feeling lonely, feeling blue
Feeling like I needed you
Like I hoped you'd call and hoped you'd see me
A&E
In Goldfrapp's song "A&E," the lyrics describe a scene where the singer is in a hospital ward, possibly after an overdose or another type of medical emergency. Despite the bleak situation, there are moments of hope and relief. The first two lines show that the singer is starting to feel better on a "blue, bright blue Saturday" as their pain starts to "slip away." The next few lines have a dreamy, surreal quality; the singer is wandering around the ward in a backless dress, still desiring someone (possibly the person who led them to the hospital in the first place), but also acknowledging that medication might be influencing their thoughts. The line "there may be pills at work" is open to interpretation - it could be read as medication helping the singer feel better, or it could be a reference to a possible addiction or overdose.
The chorus features the line "A&E," which stands for Accident and Emergency, the UK equivalent of the emergency room. The chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is in a medical setting, feeling lonely and in need of the person they desire to come and see them. The lyrics "all I wanted was you to take me high" provide more context to the singer's situation; they may have been using drugs with the intended effect of escaping or achieving a high, but ended up needing medical attention.
The song is a multidimensional exploration of addiction and medical crises. While the lyrics are left open to interpretation, they evoke a melancholy atmosphere while also touching on the feelings of hope, loneliness, and desire. The instrumentation is minimal but effective, with a mournful keyboard and subtle percussion underscoring the vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a blue, bright blue Saturday, hey hey
The singer is describing the day as bright and beautiful, yet also feeling blue and down.
And the pain is starting to slip away, hey hey
Despite feeling lonely and down, the singer feels a sense of relief that the pain is starting to go away.
I'm in a backless dress on a pastel ward that's shining
The singer is in a hospital ward wearing a backless dress surrounded by bright, pastel colors.
Think I want you still
The singer is unsure about their feelings for someone, but believes they still want them.
But there may be pills at work
The singer suspects that their feelings for someone may be influenced by medication they are taking.
Do you really wanna know how I was dancing on the floor?
The singer is challenging someone to ask about their behavior on the dancefloor.
I was trying to fool you when I'm crawling up that door
The singer admits to trying to deceive someone while trying to escape from a situation.
And theres a tune at things you say that you don't do
The singer is bothered by someone who says one thing, but does something different.
Why don't you wreck?
The singer is questioning why the person isn't confronting them more directly about their behavior.
How did I get to accident, emergency?
The singer is questioning how they ended up in the emergency room.
All I wanted was you to take me out high
The singer desired to be taken on a high, thrilling experience by someone they wanted to be with.
And I was feeling lonely, feeling blue
The singer reiterates their earlier feeling of being down and lonely.
Feeling like I needed you
The singer expresses their need for someone's companionship.
Like I hoped you'd call and hoped you'd see me
The singer was hoping that the person they desired would reach out to them or notice them.
A&E
The title of the song, possibly representing the setting of the hospital emergency room.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALISON ELIZABETH GOLDFRAPP, WILLIAM OWEN GREGORY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AzzaTV
My most played song in the 16 years I’ve had iTunes ... at last count played 1,749 times! Such a beautifully written and composed song that I never tire of.
@amplifiedheart
Oh me too, was and still am obsessed with it, the musical complexity and layers is just amazing
@ToIsleOfView
If you like the layered orchestral synth sounds and haunting melody I think you would like the Moody Blues. Nights in White Satin is is a gorgeous song but only a small taste of the Moody Blues. Gypsy and Candle of Life are two of my favorites.
@ingrid_inthesky
😫💜! Amazing!
@michaelprevis6146
I love everything she has ever done 😊❤️
@camerontaylor7471
Absolutely! Very well said! Isn’t it funny how one can’t explain the magnificence of art? You can only experience it for yourself!
@kylethenerd1
As big of a genre shift as this was for them, this is hands down my favorite Goldfrapp song. It really is the definition of beautiful.
@steelyman08
Indeed. We'd had Black Cherry & Supernature before this album was released. It took me some time to adapt back then, but it's my all-time favourite album of theirs now. It was the song "Road To Somewhere" that first hooked me in. Seems like a lifetime ago now! If I had to pick a favourite song (which isn't really possible), it would be "Melancholy Sky".
@MsFuzzipoo
It IS beautiful.
I was a huge Goldfrapp fan up until this album... I just wasn't ready for it when it was released, and I stopped listening to them for years.
Now I'm going back to listen to Seventh Tree and everything they've put out since. My favorite album used to be Supernature...but now, Seventh Tree has easily surpassed it. I'm annoyed at my past self for not being able to see how good this was at the time. On the other hand, I'm kinda glad. It's like I'm getting to discover Goldfrapp all over again, and it's awesome.
@robertmetzger1753
Right On !!