Here We Are Nowhere
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics


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Friday night's here
What's the scene?
Nothing to do
Y'know what I mean?
Nothing on the telly, there is no late-night show
No shows in town, there is no place to go
Here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go
Is it a crime
To be young
'Cause every time we have some fun
They put us down and tell us that we're wrong
Every time they sing the same old song
Here we are nowhere, maybe that's where we belong

You know it's nothing but what they would do
Don't look at me now, I'm looking at you
And sitting there won't change a thing
Must we only wonder what the future will bring, two-three-four!





Here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go
And I said, here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go

Overall Meaning

In "Here We Are Nowhere," Stiff Little Fingers paints a portrait of the aimlessness and frustration of the youth living in late '70s Belfast. The song speaks to the ennui that sets in when you're young and long for something to do while finding yourself stuck with a sense of hopelessness. The singer seems to convey that the options before him are limited, with nothing going on in town, and nothing coming on the telly at late hours. The lines "Nothing to do, Y'know what I mean?" speak volumes to anyone who has experienced the pain of living in a small town or any place with limited recreational activities.


The song's chorus, "Here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go," reiterates the hopelessness of the singer and his people's plight. There are no shows in town, no late-night options, and no place to go if they could find something to do. The singer wonders if it's a crime to be young, cursing the establishment for dampening youthful spirits and taking away some of the joys associated with youth. In the end, the singer seems to suggest that nowhere is perhaps the only place the youth can belong, as their experiences and desires differ significantly from those of the adults who create the rules.


Line by Line Meaning

Friday night's here
The beginning of the weekend has arrived


What's the scene?
What are the plans or events for the night?


Nothing to do
There are no activities or entertainment options available


Y'know what I mean?
Do you understand and relate to this feeling of boredom?


Nothing on the telly, there is no late-night show
There are no interesting TV programs or performances to watch late at night


No shows in town, there is no place to go
There are no concerts or events happening nearby


Here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go
Feeling trapped and without options for entertainment


Is it a crime
Is it wrong or punishable


To be young
To be youthful and enjoy oneself


'Cause every time we have some fun
Because whenever we seek enjoyment or entertainment


They put us down and tell us that we're wrong
Society or authority figures judge and criticize our choices and actions


Every time they sing the same old song
Their disapproval is repetitive and unchanging


Here we are nowhere, maybe that's where we belong
Feeling misunderstood and isolated leads us to question where we truly fit in society


You know it's nothing but what they would do
The judgment and criticism we face is what society and authority figures have been doing for generations


Don't look at me now, I'm looking at you
I am just as much a victim of their judgment as you are


And sitting there won't change a thing
Passively accepting this situation won't bring about any improvement


Must we only wonder what the future will bring, two-three-four!
We need to take action and shape our own future instead of waiting for something to happen


Here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go
Reiterating the feeling of being stuck and without options for entertainment or fulfillment


And I said, here we are nowhere, nowhere left to go
Again emphasizing the hopelessness and frustration of the current situation




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRY WILLIAM CLUNEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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