According to his home page, at the very last second, Williams changed his mind and made this his single. This explains why the video is a little incohesive and mostly a performance shoot.
When the single was released and failed to make a real impact in the charts, many thought this was the end of Williams.
South of the border
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Name of Cocaine Katie
She makes my temperature freeze
She's got a blood red powder
When she gives a shout
She'll bring you to your knees
Well, we were being clever, playing God games forever
But I'm someone's brother, got a father and a mother
You know I'm going to have to leave
South of the border
I think you oughta
South of the border
I think you oughta
'Cause you know you're gonna have to leave
To a place where you can breathe
And you know there's no reprieve
There'll be tears on leaving
But there won't be no grieving
'Cause a city soon forgets
To me it's magic
To the landlord it's tragic
He's got another room let
There'll be the same old faces in the same old places
Where my youth was well misspent
But I tow the line and move the time
To a town called 'No Regrets'
South of the border
I think you oughta
South of the border
I think you oughta
?Cause you know you're gonna have to leave
To a place where you can breathe
And you know there's no reprieve
'Cause you know you're gonna have to leave
To a place where you can breathe
And you know there's no reprieve
The lyrics to "South of the Border" by Robbie Williams talk about a man's complicated relationship with a woman named Cocaine Katie. The song begins by introducing her as a "freaky young lady" whose name itself suggests her association with drug abuse. Cocaine Katie's power over the singer is demonstrated by the way she "makes my temperature freeze" and "brings you to your knees." The second verse suggests that the singer is conflicted about his relationship with Cocaine Katie as he is part of a family and would have to leave her at some point.
The chorus is a repeated refrain of "South of the border, I think you oughta," which seems to suggest that the singer is advising someone to leave a place where they are suffocating and go somewhere they can breathe. The repeated lyrics emphasize that the singer believes there's no possibility of a reprieve or lasting solution to the problems they're facing. In the third verse, the singer tells us that they will be leaving a city where they have "misspent" their youth and where "the same old faces" will be there to greet them when they return. Despite this, the singer seems resolute in their decision to leave and find a place called "No Regrets."
Overall, "South of the Border" is a song about making tough choices and recognizing when it's time to walk away from dangerous situations or environments. The lyrics are filled with complicated emotions such as desire, fear, and regret, but ultimately the song inspires listeners to seek out a place where they can breathe freely and live without the constant threat of harm.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a freaky young lady
I am acquainted with a peculiar young woman
Name of Cocaine Katie
She goes by the name of Cocaine Katie
She makes my temperature freeze
She causes me to feel a sense of numbness
She's got a blood red powder
She possesses a crimson powder
When she gives a shout
When she utters a cry
She'll bring you to your knees
She will cause you to fall to your knees
Well, we were being clever, playing God games forever
We were acting intelligently, engaging in our own manipulative actions indefinitely
She said she only meant to please
She claimed to only desire to satisfy
But I'm someone's brother, got a father and a mother
However, I am a sibling to someone, with parents who care about me
You know I'm going to have to leave
It is inevitable that I will have to depart
South of the border
To the south of the border
I think you oughta
It would be wise for you to
There'll be tears on leaving
There will be crying when departing
But there won't be no grieving
But there will not be any prolonged sorrow
'Cause a city soon forgets
Because a city quickly forgets
To me it's magic
To me, it is wondrous
To the landlord it's tragic
To the landlord, it is lamentable
He's got another room let
He has rented out another property
There'll be the same old faces in the same old places
There will be familiar individuals in familiar locations
Where my youth was well misspent
Where I wasted much of my younger years
But I tow the line and move the time
But I conform to expectations and progress
To a town called 'No Regrets'
To a location referred to as 'No Regrets'
Cause you know you're gonna have to leave
Because you are aware that you must leave
To a place where you can breathe
To a location where you can freely live
And you know there's no reprieve
And you know that there will not be any escape
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GUY CHAMBERS, ROBERT PETER WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alessandramagri6674
Grandissimo! Qualità stupenda.. Robbie nei 90s era speciale
@rollsss7162
this was the first song that i heard from him.
@bassimkada
fuck why there is no one like robbie williams i love all your songs
@bernardflynn7932
I don't know why Robbie couldn't get a foothold in USA...
@scotty87able
Same old faces in the same old places