London Belongs to Me
Saint Etienne Lyrics

The lyrics to Saint Etienne's song London Belongs to Me are a nostalgic ode to a particular moment in time spent in Camden Town. The singer takes a tube to Camden Town and walks down Park Way, eventually settling down in the shade of a willow tree where someone is hovering nearby. The singer then closes their eyes and breathes out slowly, basking in the warmth of the sun and feeling loved by London itself. The sound of World of Twist plays, and the singer shares a kiss with their companion, making plans despite the heat. The lyrics then ask whether the listener ever wonders where they've been and where they're going, before concluding with a repetition of the refrain to close their eyes and breathe out slowly, allowing the world to love them.

The song is a celebration of a certain kind of carefree youthfulness, and it captures a sense of time and place that is both specific and universal. The lyrics are rich with sensory details, from the feel of the sun to the sound of the music, and they create a vivid image of a moment that is fleeting but beautiful. The idea that London itself can love someone is an interesting one, suggesting a kind of symbiotic relationship between people and the places they inhabit.