Cross the border,
Into the big bad world
Where… Read Full Bio ↴"These Streets"
Cross the border,
Into the big bad world
Where it takes you 'bout an hour
Just to cross the road
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
I fight with my brain to believe my eyes
And it's harder than you think
To believe this sadness
That creeps up my spine
And haunts me through the night
And life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
You see millions of people with millions of cares
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
I look at the people as they sit there alone
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Everybody flirts to their ideal place
And the children all smile as a boat shuffled by them
Trying to pretend that they've got some space
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Life is good, and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in our Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These Streets
Paolo Nutini Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into the big bad world
Where it takes you 'bout an hour
Just to cross the road
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
Eye fight with my brain to believe my eyes
And it's harder than you think
That creeps up my spine
And haunts me through the night
And life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering 'round
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
You see millions of people with millions of cares
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
I look at the people as they sit there alone
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Everybody flirts to their ideal place
And the children all smile as a boat shuffled by them
Trying to pretend that they've got som space
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Life is good, and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering 'round
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
In Paolo Nutini's song "These Streets," the singer sets the scene of crossing over into the big city and experiencing its vastness and overwhelming nature. The lyrics describe the struggle to navigate and comprehend the sadness and loneliness that exists amidst the chaos of the city. The singer longs for the simplicity of his small hometown, where all he did was play and the stress he felt was merely child's play. He describes his struggle to adjust to the city's numerous names for streets and landmarks, as he's only used to the simple names of his hometown. Through it all, he observes that the girls are gorgeous and the air smells greener, yet he's still searching for something lost, perhaps a sense of home or familiarity.
The song speaks to the experiences of many who have left their small hometowns for the allure of the big city, only to discover that it's not all they imagined it to be. The city's vastness and complexity can be overwhelming, and it is harder to find a sense of belonging and peace when surrounded by so much chaos.
Overall, "These Streets" is a reflective and introspective song that explores the dualistic nature of life in the big city. It's a commentary on the challenges, the opportunities, the beauty, and the sadness that one encounters when venturing out into the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Cross the border,
Leaving your comfort zone to step out in the world
Into the big bad world
Entering the harsh reality of life
Where it takes you 'bout an hour
The intensity of the crowd and traffic
Just to cross the road
The difficulty and hassle of everyday tasks
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
Witnessing the struggle and suffering of others
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
The contrast between poverty and city life
Eye fight with my brain to believe my eyes
The overwhelming impact of what he sees on his senses
And it's harder than you think
The struggle to accept reality as it is
To believe this sadness
The despair and sadness of what he sees around him
That creeps up my spine
The feeling of anxiety and unease
And haunts me through the night
The thoughts and worries that keep him awake
And life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Despite the despair, he acknowledges the beauty in life
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
The feeling of hope and positivity
And I'm wondering 'round
The aimless wanderings and search for something
With a half pack of cigarettes
The comfort in smoking as he contemplates
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
The search for something lost, be it money or meaning
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
The nostalgia for childhood and carefree days
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
The realization that the worries of childhood were insignificant compared to adulthood
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
The innocence and freedom of being a child
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
The stark contrast between the rich and the common man
You see millions of people with millions of cares
The overwhelming amount of people with problems
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
The daily grind of life and the exhaustion it brings
I look at the people as they sit there alone
The loneliness and isolation felt by many
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Despite the problems, the good moments still exist
Everybody flirts to their ideal place
The struggle to find one's place in the world
And the children all smile as a boat shuffled by them
The innocence and happiness of children
Trying to pretend that they've got som space
The struggle to find space and freedom in an overcrowded world
These streets have too many names for me
The overwhelming amount of new places and things to learn
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Ochy
The comfort and familiarity of home
I'll get used to this eventually
The hope for adaptation and acceptance of his new surroundings
I know, I know
The reassurance of knowing things will be alright in the end
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAOLO GIOVANNI NUTINI, PETER GEOFFREY WILKINSON, SARAH RUTH ERASMUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@onehotgossip
"These Streets"
Cross the border,
Into the big bad world
Where it takes you about an hour
Just to cross the road
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
I fight with my brain to believe my eyes
And it's harder than you think
To delay this sadness
That creeps up my spine
And haunts me through the night
Life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
You see millions of people with millions of cares
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
I look at the people as they sit there alone
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Everybody floods to their ideal place
And the children all smile as the boats shuffle by them
Trying to pretend that they've got some space
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Life is good, and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
I... know
I know
@yesayaramasetiawan2886
"These Streets"
Cross the border,
Into the big bad world
Where it takes you about an hour
Just to cross the road
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
I fight with my brain to believe my eyes
And it's harder than you think
To delay this sadness
That creeps up my spine
And haunts me through the night
Life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
You see millions of people with millions of cares
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
I look at the people as they sit there alone
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Everybody floods to their ideal place
And the children all smile as the boats shuffle by them
Trying to pretend that they've got some space
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Life is good, and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
I... know
I know
@ArronErskine
2022 and still resonates like the first time I heard it. Beautiful record.
@kadz9314
It’s a great track broskiii 😎💫😎
@antonyhillson1273
Mega
@stephenbusby424
Isn’t it funny how one song can make you feel the same emotions you did 17 years ago?
It was 2006, I had just moved from the middle of nowhere in the Highlands to Glasgow and I was totally overwhelmed. This song just spoke to me so much back then and gave me some comfort.
@kirstydavies7305
I love this song.. love his voice.. a true artist..
@mattymabon295
true, absolute magic
@jamesmcintyre3844
Good scotsman. 😍
@lesliemurdoch2747
Thank you Paolo, a sacred memory of my dear late son, Craig.
@perthforme
❤❤
@onehotgossip
"These Streets"
Cross the border,
Into the big bad world
Where it takes you about an hour
Just to cross the road
Just to stumble across another poor old soul from
The dreary old lanes to the high-street madness
I fight with my brain to believe my eyes
And it's harder than you think
To delay this sadness
That creeps up my spine
And haunts me through the night
Life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all
Just a run and a jump into a harmless fall from
Walking by a high-rise to a landmark square
You see millions of people with millions of cares
And I struggle to the train to make my way home
I look at the people as they sit there alone
Life is good, and the sun is shining
Everybody floods to their ideal place
And the children all smile as the boats shuffle by them
Trying to pretend that they've got some space
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
Life is good, and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wandering around
With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
I... know
I know