The Blue Nile is an alternative/pop band from Glasgow, Scotland, known for … Read Full Bio ↴The Blue Nile is an alternative/pop band from Glasgow, Scotland, known for their perfectionist work ethic and long gaps between releases.

The music of The Blue Nile is built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works have featured acoustic guitar more prominently. Despite the "coldness" often associated with the use of such electronic instruments, The Blue Nile has managed to create music that is deeply emotional, and a lot of this has to do with the plaintive vocals of lead singer Paul Buchanan, whom critics have often compared to Peter Gabriel. The lyrics are often stream-of-consciousness descriptions of feelings and environments, which heighten the drama of the compositions, which are as much soundscapes as they are songs.

The band was formed when friends Buchanan and Paul Joseph Moore met Robert Bell shortly after graduating from the University of Glasgow in the late 1970s. Their debut album A Walk Across the Rooftops was the result of a request from the Linn Company to test a newly built recording studio!

The rare, later albums - which include acclaimed titles like Hats (1989) - have been released by the Scottish high end hifi company Linn and feature exceptional sound and production values.

Automobile Noise
The Blue Nile Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Automobile noise
Out in the traffic
Black cars and blue cars go by
Backwards and forward
The names and places I know
Alright I cross the same old ground, yeah
Automobile noise
Exit signs and subway trains

Twenty-four hours, statues in the rain
Walk in the headlights, walk in the daylight
Automobile noise
Climbing a ladder to all the money in the world
Watching it blow across the wire
Automobile noise
Exit signs and subway trains
Twenty-four hours, statues in the rain
Walk in the headlights, walk in the daylight
Automobile noise
I am weary of this fighting
I'm weary of surrender
Heat of the moment
Then the unwinding of it all
Saddle the horses and we'll go
Automobile noise
Exit signs and subway trains
Twenty-four hours, statues in the rain

Walk in the headlights, walk into daylight
Automobile noise

Overall Meaning

The Blue Nile's song "Automobile Noise" is an ode to the hustle and bustle of city life. The opening line describes the titular "automobile noise" that permeates the streets, setting the stage for a narrative that runs throughout the song. As the lyrics progress, the singer observes the flow of cars, the ever-present signs, and the crowds of people darting in and out of the subway stations. All of these everyday details come together to create a frenetic and chaotic portrait of urban life.

Despite the frenzied atmosphere, there is a sense of familiarity and routine to the singer's surroundings. They "cross the same old ground" and know the "names and places" that surround them. Yet the monotony of everyday life is juxtaposed with a burning desire for something more. The singer sees the wealthy and powerful "climbing a ladder to all the money in the world" but knows that even this ultimate goal can be just as fleeting as the cars that speed by.

Overall, "Automobile Noise" is a song about the contradictions and complexities of urban life. It captures both the excitement and the weariness that comes with living in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment.

Line by Line Meaning

Automobile noise
The sound of cars driving past.

Out in the traffic
Amidst the busy flow of cars on the road.

Black cars and blue cars go by
Cars of different colors pass by.

Backwards and forward
The cars move in both directions.

The names and places I know
The familiar places and people I see.

Alright I cross the same old ground, yeah
I continue to walk the same paths and see the same things.

Exit signs and subway trains
Signs directing drivers to leave the highway and trains running underground.

Twenty-four hours, statues in the rain
The city is active all day and night, with statues standing in the rain.

Walk in the headlights, walk in the daylight
Traverse the city both during the day and at night.

Climbing a ladder to all the money in the world
Striving for wealth and success.

Watching it blow across the wire
Seeing wealth and success slip away quickly and easily.

I am weary of this fighting
Tired of struggling and competing.

I'm weary of surrender
Giving up is also exhausting and discouraging.

Heat of the moment
Strong emotions felt in intense situations.

Then the unwinding of it all
The aftermath and unraveling of those intense moments.

Saddle the horses and we'll go
Let's leave this all behind and start fresh.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL GERARD BUCHANAN, ROBERT BELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Peaches N Cream

One of my all time favorite songs. Fell in love with their sound in late 1984 and they still get played by me at least monthly 37 years later. If anyone doesn't know, Paul Buchanan also has a solo album on Youtube circa 2014. This album here is my Favorite.