The lyrics were written in the early 1980s. The title and refrain refer to London's divide between the traditional and working class East End and the cosmopolitan, consumer-driven West End.
The lyric "From Lake Geneva to the Finland Station" refers to the train route taken by Vladimir Lenin when he was smuggled by the Germans to Russia during World War I, and to Edmund Wilson's book on the subject, To the Finland Station. There is further Russian Revolution imagery in the Bobby Orlando produced version of the single, which includes the line, "All your stopping, stalling and starting, / Who do you think you are, Joe Stalin?"; this line was removed for the 1985 version. Neil Tennant has a degree in history and his interest in Russian history is evident in many other Pet Shop Boys projects, such as their soundtrack to the silent film The Battleship Potemkin.
The single was first released in April 1984 through writer/producer Bobby Orlando's label, and although not a hit in the United Kingdom, it was a minor dance hit in The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the USA. This initial release, on Epic in the UK, featured a mainly instrumental B-side called "Pet Shop Boys". There have been numerous reissues and remixes of Orlando's version as he still owns the original recordings.
The video featured Tennant and Lowe walking through the eponymous "West End" as locals.
Having signed to the EMI label Parlophone and watching their first major label single—"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"—sink without a trace, the Pet Shop Boys decided to give "West End Girls" another release. After serious reworking by producer Stephen Hague, the track was re-released in August 1985 to greater acclaim. Stephen Hague suggested slowing the song down from its faster 1984 version. It was number one on the UK singles chart for two weeks and number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week (six months after its British chart success). It also was a Top 5 hit in Australia and throughout Europe. The success of the song helped the album Please climb into the Top 5 of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
The video for the second release was directed by Andy Morahan and Eric Watson; it consists of shots of Tennant in various down-at-heel parts of London while Lowe glowers behind him.
FIRST VERSION
Written by Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe
Produced by Bobby Orlando
Recorded New York, USA, Winter 1983
Released 9 April 1984
SECOND VERSION
Written by Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe
Produced by Stephen Hague
Engineered by David Jacob
Recorded at Advision Studios, 1985
Additional vocals by Helena Springs
Released 28 October 1985
West End Girls
Pet Shop Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a gun in your hand it's pointing at your head
You think you're mad, too unstable
Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables
In a restaurant in a West End town
Call the police, there's a mad man around
Running down underground
To a dive bar in a West End town
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
West End girls
Too many shadows, whispering voices
Faces on posters, too many choices
If, when, why, what? How much have you got?
Have you got it, do you get it
If so, how often?
Which do you choose
A hard or soft option?
(How much do you need?)
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
West End girls
West End girls
(How much do you need?)
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
Ooh, West End town, a dead end world
East End boys, West End girls
West End girls
You got a heart of glass or a heart of stone
Just you wait 'til I get you home
We've got no future
We've got no past
Here today, built to last
In every city, in every nation
From Lake Geneva to the Finland station
(How far have you been?)
In a West End town, a dead end world
The East End boys and West End girls
A West End town, a dead end world
East End boys, West End girls
West End girls
West End girls
West End girls
(How far have you been?)
Girls
The song "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys is a portrayal of the dichotomy between the East End and West End of London, which represent the disparities within British society. The lyrics talk about someone who is struggling with mental instability, which brings him to a West End town where he seeks refuge in a dive bar. The song seems to comment on the issues of social and economic inequality in modern, urban life.
The singer of the song describes the crowded and confusing world of the West End, where people are surrounded by too many choices and different personalities. The phrase "East End boys and West End girls" suggests a cultural and societal divide between different groups, which are determined by their geographical location in London. The lyrics "You got a heart of glass or a heart of stone / Just you wait 'til I get you home" talks about the complexity of human nature and the unpredictability of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you're better off dead
At times, it might be better for you to be deceased
There's a gun in your hand it's pointing at your head
You have a firearm in your possession and it is directed towards your head
You think you're mad, too unstable
You believe you are insane, overly unpredictable
Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables
You are kicking chairs and toppling tables
In a restaurant in a West End town
You are currently in a dining establishment situated in the West End district of a city
Call the police, there's a mad man around
Alert the authorities, there is an unhinged individual present
Running down underground
Moving swiftly below surface level
To a dive bar in a West End town
Heading to a seedy watering hole located in the West End area
In a West End town, a dead end world
Within the confines of a city's West End region lies a bleak and unfulfilling existence
The East End boys and West End girls
Individuals from both the East and West End sections of the city
Too many shadows, whispering voices
Numerous mysterious figures and muttering sounds surround you
Faces on posters, too many choices
Countless images are depicted on advertisements, providing an abundance of options
If, when, why, what? How much have you got?
You are faced with numerous questions regarding timing, reasoning, and possessions
Have you got it, do you get it
Do you have or understand what is required?
If so, how often?
If you are in possession of or able to comprehend it, how often can you obtain or utilize it?
Which do you choose
Which option will you select?
A hard or soft option?
Will you choose a difficult or easy course of action?
(How much do you need?)
(How much will be sufficient?)
You got a heart of glass or a heart of stone
Is your emotional state fragile or hardened?
Just you wait 'til I get you home
Be patient, as you will only understand fully when you reach your dwelling
We've got no future
Our future prospects are nonexistent
We've got no past
Our prior experiences carry no significance
Here today, built to last
We exist in the present moment, designed to endure
In every city, in every nation
In each and every city, countrywide
From Lake Geneva to the Finland station
From the Swiss lake to the Finnish railway station
(How far have you been?)
(What distance have you travelled?)
Girls
Young females
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neil Tennant, Christopher Lowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kendrickjahn1261
I'm not sure why, but I always feel like 80's music represents a more futuristic world than the world turned out to be.
@naturallaw1733
it's hard to notice it when you are actually living it. 😉
@aditisk99
So true
@joey2789
@@m4lmg-playmaker154 1984, check your sources kiddo
@0_live973
I love that concept
@m4lmg-playmaker154
@@joey2789 jeez chill boy
@valentina-fp5ik
If you’re reading this, you have the best music taste ever.
@nobu1268
thanks
@bathroomshy
thanks
@karskin1057
Thanks Sugar