Graham Coxon (born 12 March 1969), best known for his time in Blur (which h… Read Full Bio ↴Graham Coxon (born 12 March 1969), best known for his time in Blur (which he left in 2002 and re-united with in 2009), is a singer-guitarist whose sound is based in lo-fi and garage rock.

His first solo album,'The Sky is Too High', was released in 1998 and has a very muted, uncommercial sound. 'TSITH' was followed by 'The Golden D' which features two covers of the band Mission Of Burma. The next album to come was 'Crow Sit On Blood Tree', which has some of his most ethereal tracks to date on, and is very lo-fi. Fourth album 'The Kiss Of Morning' shows Graham developing as an artist in his own right and the songs take on a more fleshed out and accomplished form. However, it was not until the release of 'Freakin' Out' in 2004 that Coxon had a solo mainstream hit. 'Happiness In Magazines', Graham's fifth album, is largely considered to be his most accessible and complete work, featuring frantic, slick guitar-pop of the highest order.

In 2006 Graham Coxon released his sixth solo album, 'Love Travels at Illegal Speeds', preceeded by the UK Top 20 single 'Standing On My Own Again'. 'Love Travels at Illegal Speeds' shows Coxon branching out to try his hand at some new sounds as well as tightening the punk-pop formula that is his hallmark. The album was released in two formats, with a DVD containing interviews and live tracks as an optional extra.

It marks Coxon's first album away from his now-defunct indie label 'Transcopic'. Coxon also played guitar on Peter Doherty's 2009 solo album Grace / Wastelands.

11th May 2009, Coxon released his 7th album 'The Spinning Top'. 2009 saw Coxon embark on numerous gigs with Blur, including headlining Glastonbury Festival.

More solo discography:
A+E (2012)
The End of the F***ing World (Original Songs And Score) (2018)
The End of the F***ing World 2 (Original Songs And Score) (2019)
I Am Not Okay with This (as Bloodwitch) (Original Songs And Score) (2020)
Superstate (2021, in association with Z2 Comics)

Hopeless Friend
Graham Coxon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend
Come inside and drop your coat
Wash your hair you smell like a goat
Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend

Ain't you got no shoes to wear

Ain't you got no blues to share

You used to think about magic
And how to fit in
Now you think about madness
And how to stay thin
How to stay thin

Listen my hopeless friend
Listen my hopeless friend

Ain't you got no shoes to wear
Ain't you got no blues to share

You used to think about magic
And how to fit in
Now you think about madness

And how to stay thin
How to stay thin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Graham Coxon's song Hopeless Friend speak to a struggling friend, imploring them to open up and drop their guard. The repetition of the phrase "Listen my hopeless friend" emphasizes the singer's concern and desire to help. The image of the friend smelling like a goat and needing to wash their hair indicates a level of neglect, possibly due to their depression or struggles. It's clear that the singer cares for their friend and wants to help them find a way out of their hopelessness.

The lines "You used to think about magic and how to fit in / Now you think about madness and how to stay thin" further emphasize the friend's struggles with mental health and self-image. The shift from thinking about magic and fitting in to thinking about madness and staying thin suggests a downward spiral in the friend's mental and emotional state. The repeated phrase "How to stay thin" indicates a possible struggle with an eating disorder, adding another layer to the friend's troubles.

Overall, Coxon's song paints a poignant picture of a friend in need of support and understanding. The lyrics capture the complex emotions involved in trying to help someone who is struggling with mental health and self-image issues.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen my hopeless friend
I want you to pay attention to what I have to say.

Come inside and drop your coat
Please come in and make yourself comfortable.

Wash your hair you smell like a goat
Please get cleaned up because you have an unpleasant smell.

Ain't you got no shoes to wear
Don't you have any shoes to wear?

Ain't you got no blues to share
Don't you have any problems to share with me?

You used to think about magic
You used to have dreams and ideas about wondrous things.

And how to fit in
You used to be concerned with fitting in and being accepted.

Now you think about madness
But now your thoughts have turned to insanity.

And how to stay thin
And how to maintain a skinny physique.

How to stay thin
And how to maintain a skinny physique.

Listen my hopeless friend
I want you to pay attention to what I have to say.