Last Chance
Soft Cell Lyrics

In a city lost in time
The song’s protagonist is in a place where they feel lost and stuck, unable to move forward or progress in their life.

Somewhere sordid and sublime
The city the singer is in is a mixture of negative and positive qualities, with both ugly, seedy elements and beautiful, awe-inspiring ones.

We met over a gin and lime
The singer and their love interest met while drinking gin and lime together on a rainy evening, which was a chance encounter that brought them together.

One rainy evening
The night the artist and their love interest met was characterized by rain, making it feel more melancholy and bittersweet.

Survivors clinging to the mast
The artist and their love interest are described as being like sailors in a storm, trying to hold on tight and stay afloat amidst difficult circumstances.

Trying to make the moment last just
The singer is desperate to keep this chance encounter going for as long as possible, as they know that it may be their last opportunity for love.

Two people way past their prime
The singer and their love interest are older and feel like they may have missed their chance for a romantic connection, making this meeting all the more significant.

And how it shows
The artist notes how their age is visible in their appearance and demeanor, which may hurt their chances of finding love.

So come over here
The artist now urges their love interest to come closer and spend time with them, in a bid to make the most of this unexpected opportunity for love.

For some romance
The artist wants to have a romantic connection with their love interest, as they both feel an attraction to each other.

And dance with me
The singer wants to have a fun and carefree time with their love interest, preferably involving dancing to upbeat music.

Like it's the last dance
The artist wants to dance with their love interest as though it’s their last chance to do so, making the most of this special moment together.

And come home with me
The singer now invites their love interest to come home with them, to continue spending time together and possibly take things further romantically.

Won't you come home with me
The singer repeats their invitation, hoping that their love interest will say yes.

This is our last chance for love
The singer is fully aware that this may be their only opportunity for romance with this person, so they are determined to give it their all.

You thought you looked like Carol White
The artist is now addressing their love interest directly, making an observation about their appearance and how they are trying to emulate a famous character.

Bleached hair piled upon your head but
The artist describes their love interest’s hairstyle and how it is a key component of their look.

You looked more like a lady of the night
Despite their love interest’s efforts to look like Carol White, the singer thinks that they look more like a sex worker than a movie character.

Instead
The singer is now offering an alternative interpretation of their love interest’s appearance, instead of the one they seem to be going for.

In your see-through plastic mac
The artist is describing what their love interest is wearing and how it is a somewhat revealing and unconventional choice.

Homage to cheap sixties tack you're
The artist sees their love interest’s outfit as a nod to the fashion and style of the 1960s, specifically the tacky and exaggerated elements of that era.

So far out You're on your way back in
Despite their unconventional appearance, the artist thinks their love interest is ahead of the curve and on the cusp of something new and trendy.

Again
The singer emphasizes this point by repeating the word “again,” suggesting that their love interest has been ahead of the times before and is about to be again.

I've wasted too many chances
The artist admits that they have missed out on various opportunities for romance in the past, regretting some of those lost chances.

On small ads and Internet romances
The singer now specifies the type of opportunities they have missed, specifically ones that may have been found through newspaper ads or online dating sites.

I toyed with a cigarette
The singer now describes their own behavior during their meeting with their love interest, specifically fiddling with a cigarette in a manner that may have been intended to look cool or seductive.

Trying to look aloof and sexy
The singer admits that their behavior was meant to convey a sense of detached coolness, with an element of sexuality mixed in as well.

But I couldn't see for the smoke
The artist is now admitting that this attempt at being cool was somewhat ruined by their actual inability to see due to the smoke in their eyes.

In my eyes
The smoke specifically affected the artist’s vision.

OK, I have a shaky limp and
The singer is now revealing that they have some physical issues, such as a limp that makes walking difficult.

Dress a little like a pimp but
The singer also has some eccentricities in their style and fashion choices, which may potentially be seen as over-the-top or tacky by others.

After your drink I'll still look OK
Despite these quirks and imperfections, the artist is hopeful that their love interest will still find them attractive and desirable after having a drink together.

In a good light
The artist is relying on their love interest’s perspective and willingness to see the best in them, hoping that this may lead to a romantic connection.

I had some dreams where did they all go
The artist is now reflecting on their past and specifically the aspirations or goals they had that may not have come to fruition.

Gone with my years
The singer realizes that the passage of time has resulted in the loss of some dreams or goals they had, which may make this chance encounter all the more meaningful.

Nothing left to show
The artist feels like they have little to offer in terms of tangible accomplishments or successes, which may further motivate them to make the most of this opportunity for love.

This is our last chance for love
The singer now reiterates the importance and urgency of this moment, knowing that they may never have another opportunity for romance with this person.

Come home with me
The singer repeats their invitation for their love interest to come home with them, indicating that they are still hoping for a deeper romantic connection.

Won't you come home with me
The singer repeats the invitation yet again, hoping that their love interest will say yes this time.

This is our last chance
The artist emphasizes the fact that this is their last chance for romance, trying to convince their love interest to take them up on their offer.

For romance
The artist is specifically asking for a romantic connection, as opposed to just sex or a casual encounter.

Our last chance
The singer emphasizes that this moment is not only their last chance for love but also potentially for personal growth or transformation, as they try to move beyond the regrets of their past and embrace a new future with this person.

This is our last chance for love
The final repetition of this line hammers home the fact that this chance encounter is of paramount importance to the singer, and they will do everything in their power to make it work.