We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place
The Angels Lyrics


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In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refused to shine
People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'

Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
Oh yes I know it

(Yeah!) He's been workin' so hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every night and day
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you

Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true, yeah
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it

Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
I know he's been workin' so hard

(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every day baby
(Yeah!) Whoa!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Somewhere baby, somehow I know it

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Believe me baby




I know it baby
You know it too

Overall Meaning

The Angels' song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" is an impassioned plea from the lead singer to his partner to leave their current circumstances and find a better life. The song is set in a gritty, run-down part of the city where the sun never shines, and people tell him there's no point in trying to escape. The singer draws on the experience of watching his father die in bed, his hair turning grey from years of hard work and slavery. The song declares that there is a better life out there for him and his partner, and they need to find it.


The song was popularized by the British band The Animals, who reworked the original tune by The Angels and made it a hit in the UK and the US. The Animals' version became an anthem for disaffected young people in the 1960s, and its message continues to resonate today. The song's themes of working-class struggle, social mobility, and the search for freedom and meaning are timeless and universal. The song's driving beat, powerful vocals, and wailing guitar solos make it one of the most memorable rock anthems of all time.


Line by Line Meaning

In this dirty old part of the city
We are currently living in a rundown area of town


Where the sun refused to shine
The area is dark and gloomy


People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'
The people here discourage attempts to improve life


Now my girl you're so young and pretty
My girlfriend is youthful and attractive


And one thing I know is true
I am certain of one thing


You'll be dead before your time is due, I know
This place is so harsh that it could lead to untimely death


Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
I have seen my father on his deathbed


Watched his hair been turnin' grey
The stress and toil of this place has aged my father prematurely


He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
My father has spent his entire life working hard and struggling to survive


Oh yes I know it
I am painfully aware of this fact


(Yeah!) He's been workin' so hard
My father has been working non-stop


(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
I have also been working tirelessly


(Yeah!) Every night and day
I work constantly, without a break


(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
I am extremely frustrated with this situation


We gotta get out of this place
We need to leave this place urgently


If it's the last thing we ever do
Even if it's the last thing we do in life


'Cause girl, there's a better life for me and you
There is a better life waiting for us elsewhere


Now my girl you're so young and pretty
My girlfriend is still youthful and attractive


And one thing I know is true, yeah
I am certain of this one thing


You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it
This place is so harsh that it could lead to untimely death


Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
I have seen my father on his deathbed


Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
The stress and toil of this place has aged my father prematurely


He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
My father has spent his entire life working hard and struggling to survive


I know he's been workin' so hard
I am well aware of the extent of my father's struggle


(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
I have also been working tirelessly


(Yeah!) Every day baby
I work constantly, without rest


(Yeah!) Whoa!
I am deeply frustrated and exhausted


(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
I cannot take it anymore


We gotta get out of this place
We need to leave this place urgently


If it's the last thing we ever do
Even if it's the last thing we do in life


We gotta get out of this place
We must escape from this difficult situation


Girl, there's a better life for me and you
There is a better life waiting for us elsewhere


Somewhere baby, somehow I know it
I am confident that we will find a better life somewhere


We gotta get out of this place
We need to leave this place urgently


If it's the last thing we ever do
Even if it's the last thing we do in life


We gotta get out of this place
We must escape from this difficult situation


Girl, there's a better life for me and you
There is a better life waiting for us elsewhere


Believe me baby
Trust me, my love


I know it baby
I am certain of it, my love


You know it too
You also believe it, my love




Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@tropicwave1

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
The Angels

In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refused to shine
People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
Oh yes I know it
(Yeah!) He's been workin' so hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every night and day
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true, yeah
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
I know he's been workin' so hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every day baby
(Yeah!) Whoa!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Somewhere baby, somehow I know it
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Believe me baby
I know it baby
You know it too

Songwriters: Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place lyrics © EMI Music Publishing



All comments from YouTube:

@terryirvine7090

Great version! Still sounds brilliant in 2022!
There's only one Angels, there's only one Doc!

@richardgreaney

The energy these guys injected into this song is just amazing. I absolutely love the feel in the verse.

@murraycatto1

Saw these guys live many times. Don't know why the rest of the world didn't make them a super band. Love this version and I hope Eric Burdon and the Animals approve. One of very few songs covered by a band that is at least as good as the original from the best band in Australasia bar none. Thats hard to say for a Kiwi.

@Bribie12

As an official Pommie old fart, I used to go to the Newcastle on Tyne Club a Go-Go ( "the Gogg") when I was 18 back then when the Animals were a local group.
Personally, now as an Aussie I really prefer the Angels' version.

@mickc6370

They absolutely carved this up at every gig . Every place was rockin .

@The_Random_Aussie

How can anyone not like this song? The best cover of any song in the world!

@hoddo33

The Animals were one of the greatest groups of all time, but The Angels made this song their own. Brilliant!

@marmac83

They really didn't, though.

@richme1631

@Martin McNickle Yeah, did.

@marmac83

@Rich Me Nah.

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