Strongly interested and outspoken about green anarchism issues the band have built up a strong and devoted fanbase, despite being nearly universally ignored by mainstream critics. The band have been spokespeople for a number of issues including campaigning against the Criminal Justice Act (and its measures against rave parties) and various anti-capitalist and environmental issues. They continue to tour extensively around Britain and Europe but maintain a mutual dislike with the music press which stems from their early days.
Fifteen Years
Levellers Lyrics
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Said the man in the bar with his head in his hands
Trying his best to understand the cause of his dismay
But years of gin have broken him
And left him cold where he fitted in
It's too late to turn around and find another way
All the lights in the late night lock-in
Fade away when he gets in
Has packed and gone away
She said it'll never be what it used to be
What happened to all that energy
You took too many liberties, and I'm tired of being afraid
So night after night she took flight
Hiding swollen eyes and a wounded pride
The best years of her life denied, sold for liquid shares
CHORUS
The victims of this world, are advertised on posters
A beach and a pretty girl, if you just drink their potion
It's another week 'til his cheque comes through
He's got a fiver left to spend on food
But the doors of the bar are open, and he breaks another rule
He sits on the stool that bears his name
His favorite glass is called the same
And he's never kept waiting, 'cos he pays the landlord's wage
CHORUS
The lyrics to Levellers' song "Fifteen Years" tell a sorrowful story of a man who drinks away his troubles, and the woman who was once with him but had to leave because of his behavior. The man laments that he never used to be a violent person, but his years of heavy drinking have taken a toll on him, leaving him cold and unable to find another way. He frequents a late-night bar, where the lights fade away as he enters. The woman from fifteen years prior has left him, tired of being afraid and enduring his liberties. She laments that the energy and best years of her life were denied, all for liquid shares.
The chorus speaks to the victimization of the world, advertising beaches and pretty women with the promise of a magical potion, but it's all an illusion. The man has only five pounds left for food, but the bar is open, and he breaks another rule, sitting on his named stool and drinking from his favorite glass. He pays the landlord's wage, never kept waiting. The song tells a story of a man who has lost everything due to his drinking, including the woman he loved, and now he's left with nothing but the bar.
Overall, "Fifteen Years" is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of alcoholism and how it can ruin one's life and relationships. The song speaks to the pain and regret of those who have gone down that path and the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
I never was a violent man
The man in the bar, feeling defeated, acknowledges that he has never been a violent person
Said the man in the bar with his head in his hands
The man is sitting in a bar with his head in his hands as he speaks
Trying his best to understand the cause of his dismay
He is attempting to comprehend the reason for his troubles
But years of gin have broken him
Years of drinking have destroyed him
And left him cold where he fitted in
He now feels out of place
It's too late to turn around and find another way
He believes that it is now too late to change his ways
All the lights in the late night lock-in
The bar's lights are the only ones on in the neighborhood
Fade away when he gets in
As he enters, the lights in the bar begin to dim
And the girl from fifteen years ago
The woman he used to be with fifteen years ago
Has packed and gone away
She has left him
She said it'll never be what it used to be
She told him that it could never be the way it was before
What happened to all that energy
She asks him what has become of the zeal he once had
You took too many liberties, and I'm tired of being afraid
She is fed up with him crossing the line, and she is tired of feeling scared
So night after night she took flight
She consistently fled from his presence
Hiding swollen eyes and a wounded pride
She concealed her bruises and shame
The best years of her life denied, sold for liquid shares
She missed out on the best years of her life because he prioritized alcohol over her
The victims of this world, are advertised on posters
Ad campaigns use attractive people and tropical getaways to sell their intoxicants
A beach and a pretty girl, if you just drink their potion
They promise you paradise if you consume their drink
It's another week 'til his cheque comes through
He still has to wait another week for his paycheck to arrive
He's got a fiver left to spend on food
He only has five pounds to spend on his meals
But the doors of the bar are open, and he breaks another rule
Despite his lack of funds, he still goes to the bar
He sits on the stool that bears his name
The bar has a designated stool that he always sits on
His favorite glass is called the same
He has a favorite glass in the bar that is always reserved for him
And he's never kept waiting, 'cos he pays the landlord's wage
The man gets immediate service because he supports the bar financially
The victims of this world, are advertised on posters
The chorus highlights that alcoholism and addiction are a worldwide issue
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES KENTON HEATHER, JEREMY CUNNINGHAM, JONATHAN SEVINK, MARK CHADWICK, SIMON FRIEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind