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.

Regret
The Blue Nile Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fire engines
Are winding back to start up again
Over the bridges
Where many people gather
Trying to reach the sea
And I'm thinking of you
Regret
The church is empty now

Newspapers blowing on to the street
I read my downfall
And count the Coca Cola signs
I'll give up all my old ideas
It's 3: 30
And I'm thinking of you
Regret
Though I'm standing still
I'm in a moving place
The wilderness is quiet
The wilderness
Fire engines
Are winding back to start up again
This is the window
That overlooks my better times
And I can't let them go
I can't let them go
And I'm thinking of you
Regret

Regret
Regret

Overall Meaning

The Blue Nile's song Regret is a melancholic and reflective ballad that elicits a mood of sadness, loss, and nostalgia. The lyrics are replete with vivid imagery that paints a picture of the singer's surroundings, thoughts, and emotions. The first verse sets the scene of a bustling city with "fire engines" winding back to their starting point, "bridges" filled with people trying to reach the "sea." Amidst all this hustle and bustle, the singer's mind is fixated on someone they deeply regret losing.

The second verse is a stark contrast to the first, with "the church" being "empty," "newspapers" blowing "on to the street," and the singer reading about their "downfall." The Coca Cola signs that are counted further emphasize the ubiquitous consumerism that surrounds us. The singer is giving up on their "old ideas" and is left with their thoughts at 3:30 am, as they continue to ponder their loss.

The chorus, "regret," is repeated thrice, signaling the theme of the song. The wilderness that is "quiet" is a metaphor for the singer's mind, which is in turmoil. The window that overlooks the singer's "better times" is a reminder of the past and the inability to let it go. The song ends with the word "regret" being repeated once more, conveying a sense of finality and loss.

Overall, the lyrics of the song Regret evoke a sense of mournfulness and reflect the complicated emotions involved in letting go of someone you once held dear. The vivid descriptions of the environment and the singer's mind create a sense of place and reinforce the mood of longing and remorse.

Line by Line Meaning

Fire engines
The chaos around the singer's life is starting again.

Are winding back to start up again
The likelihood of the singer returning to their old habits or way of life is increasing.

Over the bridges
The singer is watching the chaos from a higher level, perhaps with a bit of detachment.

Where many people gather
The chaos and confusion is affecting many others as well.

Trying to reach the sea
The ultimate goal for all the people involved in the chaos is to find peace.

And I'm thinking of you
Despite the chaos around the singer, their mind is fixated on a specific person.

Regret
The singer feels deep remorse for something they did or didn't do.

The church is empty now
The artist finds little solace or support in organized religion.

Newspapers blowing on to the street
News of the artist's issue might be made public.

I read my downfall
The artist recognizes they may have contributed to their current situation.

And count the Coca Cola signs
The singer is aware of the commercial influences around them and how these may have contributed to their downfall.

I'll give up all my old ideas
The artist is ready to make necessary changes to try and make things right again.

It's 3: 30
The time doesn't have any significance, but serves more as a statement of fact.

And I'm thinking of you
Despite making changes and recognizing their mistake, the singer still can't shake their regret and thoughts about a specific person.

Regret
The singer is plagued by their past actions and inactions.

Though I'm standing still
The artist feels stuck in their current situation.

I'm in a moving place
Despite feeling stationary, the world around the artist is constantly changing.

The wilderness is quiet
The singer currently finds themselves isolated or alone in their feelings.

The wilderness
The solitude and emptiness around the singer feels all-consuming.

This is the window
The artist is staring out a window, either literally or metaphorically.

That overlooks my better times
The artist finds themselves longing for a time in the past when things were easier or better.

And I can't let them go
The artist feels like they are unable to move on from the past.

Regret
The singer is consumed by an overwhelming sense of remorse.

Regret
The artist's regret is all-consuming and inescapable.

Regret
The singer is unable to move on from their past actions or inactions and has yet to find peace or closure.

Writer(s): Paul Buchanan, Robert Bell

Contributed by Henry B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.