Following in the footsteps of unflinching musicians and writers such as the… Read Full Bio ↴Following in the footsteps of unflinching musicians and writers such as the Fall, Television Personalities, and Irvine Welsh, South London's bracing post-punk outfit Shame features vocalist Charlie Steen, guitarists Sean Coyle-Smith and Eddie Green, bassist Josh Finerty, and drummer Charlie Forbes. The quintet met in school and formed Shame in 2014 while still in their teens. A family connection led them to practice at the Queen's Head, a gritty Brixton pub that was also home to Fat White Family. Gigs with that band, the Garden, and Slaves led to an appearance at 2016's Pitchfork Music Festival Paris; later that year, Shame released their debut single "The Lick/Gold Hole" on Fnord Communications. In 2017, the band signed with Dead Oceans and released the singles "Tasteless," "Concrete," and "Visa Vulture," a commentary on Prime Minister Theresa May's stance on immigration. That year, Shame recorded their debut album, Songs of Praise, at Wales' Rockfield Studios; the album arrived in early 2018.

There are other artists with the same name:

2 - Shame was a Japanese rock/visual kei band, active from 1994 until 2002, and again from 2006 until 2009.

3 - SHAME is a mathcore band from Oklahoma

4 - Shame is independent band from Brazil

5 - Shame is a rapper from New York who's track "Bronx Bounce" featured on 1988's The B-Boy Boogie Down Sampler 2

6 - Shame is a bay area rapper, he released 2 street albums California and Random Acts. His deep lyrics and sharp delivery created a fresh, unique sound.

7 - Shame is a Swedish dancehall band http://www.shame.se/

8 - Shame is an ambient/black metal band from the Netherlands.

9- SHAME is a noisy punk band from Olympia, Washington.
https://shameolympia.bandcamp.com/

Born in Luton
Shame Lyrics

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Double locked, titanium steel
Curtains closed, the windows are sealed
There's never anyone in this house

If it brings you a smile, then it's worth a tear
I feel both of those things when you are near

Buzzers broken, I guess I'll just wait

No umbrella and it's starting to rain
There's never anyone in this house

I've been waiting outside for all of my life
And now I've got to the door, there's no one inside
When are you coming back?
When are you coming home?
I've been kicking the curb, I've been chipping the stone

Body heat of a thousand degrees
Letter box open, so I can feel the AC
There's never anyone in this house

And if the body is willing, then so is the mind
If you can't trust in either, prepare to decline

Ring, ring, pick up your telephone
Knock, knock, there's nobody home
There's never anyone in this house

I've been waiting outside for all of my life
And now I've got to the door, there's no one inside
When are you coming back?
When are you coming home?
I've been kicking the curb, I've been chipping the stone

I've been waiting outside for all of my life
And now I've got to the door, there's no one inside

What's going on down there?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shame's song "Born in Luton" describe the frustration and loneliness of waiting for someone who never seems to be home. The persona in the song is standing outside a locked house with its windows and curtains closed, waiting for someone who never arrives. The person has been waiting for a long time, and their eagerness to see the individual is turning into desperation as they start to kick the curb and chip the stone. They wonder when the person will come back or come home, but there is no answer.

Furthermore, the lyrics contain poetic and metaphorical language that highlights the person's intense emotions. For instance, the persona speaks of the "double locked, titanium steel" needed to secure the house, which could be a metaphor for the person's emotional barriers. Similarly, the description of the persona waiting and feeling both happiness and sadness when the individual is near depicts the mixed emotions that come with wanting someone who is unavailable.

Overall, "Born in Luton" is a song about longing, unrequited love, and the uncertainty that comes with wanting someone who seems impossible to obtain. The lyrics beautifully capture the pain and desperation of the persona's situation, and the music's frantic energy matches the emotions expressed.

Line by Line Meaning

Double locked, titanium steel
The house is very secure and nearly impenetrable.

Curtains closed, the windows are sealed
The house is hidden from view and completely shut off from the outside world.

There's never anyone in this house
The house is always empty and devoid of human presence.

If it brings you a smile, then it's worth a tear
The feeling of happiness is often accompanied by a sense of loss or sadness.

I feel both of those things when you are near
Being around the person in question elicits both joy and pain in the singer.

Buzzers broken, I guess I'll just wait
The entrance to the house is difficult to access, and the singer must wait for someone to let them in.

No umbrella and it's starting to rain
The singer is ill-prepared for the elements and is getting wet in the rain.

I've been waiting outside for all of my life
The singer has been waiting for a long time to gain entry to the house.

And now I've got to the door, there's no one inside
Despite reaching the house, there is still no one around to let the singer in.

When are you coming back?
The singer is waiting for someone specific to return to the house.

When are you coming home?
The singer wants whoever they are waiting for to return to the house.

I've been kicking the curb, I've been chipping the stone
The singer is growing restless and frustrated while waiting outside the house.

Body heat of a thousand degrees
The inside of the house is very warm and inviting.

Letter box open, so I can feel the AC
The only relief the singer can get from the heat outside is by sticking their head into the mailbox to feel the cool air conditioning inside.

And if the body is willing, then so is the mind
One's mental strength can be bolstered by physical strength or endurance.

If you can't trust in either, prepare to decline
If you can't trust your own mind or body, you will start to see a decline in your ability to function properly.

Ring, ring, pick up your telephone
The singer is calling whoever they are waiting for to return.

Knock, knock, there's nobody home
Despite knocking on the door, there is no one inside to answer.

What's going on down there?
The singer is wondering what is happening inside the house.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Charles John Forbes, Charlie Steen, Edward Hammond Green, Joshua Bevan Finerty, Sean Coyle-Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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