The Lodger was formulated by Pontefract-born songwriter Ben Siddall inside … Read Full Bio ↴The Lodger was formulated by Pontefract-born songwriter Ben Siddall inside a Leeds bedsit. After a few 7-inch singles on a variety of independent labels such as Angular Records and Dance to the Radio, a debut album titled “Grown-Ups” was released in June 2007 around the world. This was swiftly followed up by a second record in May 2008, “Life is Sweet” which was again licensed to various labels all over the universe including the legendary Slumberland Records in the USA and coincided with tours of UK, Europe, Japan and USA.

A 4 song 7” E.P. led by the track “I Think I Need You” was released on Elefant Records of Madrid (Camera Obscura, Au Revoir Simone et al), in June 2009.

Their most recent album, Flashbacks mixes their earlier upbeat brit-pop with a repertoire of horns, strings, and background vocals.

An Unwelcome Guest
The Lodger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen to the words
Come out of my mouth
I'm leaving this place
And moving down south
This time
It's a new way of life

I haven't got much hope

It's gone beyond a joke

I find I live my life in a daydream
A reverie
A constant stream

Would you like to extend your hand
And help a man who can't understand?
Why everyone is leaving the nest
I'm feeling like an unwelcome guest

Help me find a way to get what I need
I need to be strong and I want to succeed
This time
It's a new way of life

I haven't got much hope
It's gone beyond a joke

I find I live my life on the outside
Looking in
I have my pride

Would you like to extend your hand
And help a man who can't understand?
Why everyone is leaving the nest
I'm feeling like an unwelcome guest

And all my friends have drifted apart
It's time for their excuses to start

Now everyone is flying the nest
I'm feeling like an unwelcome guest

Overall Meaning

In "An Unwelcome Guest," The Lodger performs a poignant song about feeling lost and alone while watching friends and loved ones move on to new phases of their lives. The singer expresses a desire to escape from their current situation to start a new life down south in search of hope and success. However, they feel trapped in their daydreams and constantly live in a state of reverie. The singer feels like an outcast, an unwelcome guest in their community, and doesn't understand why everyone seems to be leaving the nest, drifting apart and making excuses. They ask for help in finding a way to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

The lyrics display a sense of sadness, hopelessness, and confusion that many people can relate to in times of despair. The song speaks to the experience of feeling stuck in one's life and dreams of starting anew. While the singer doesn't have much hope, they hold onto their pride and seek help from those around them. Overall, "An Unwelcome Guest" is a moving and insightful song that beautifully captures the human experience of yearning to break free from difficult circumstances and find one's true calling.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen to the words
Pay attention to what I'm saying

Come out of my mouth
I'm speaking

I'm leaving this place
I'm moving away

And moving down south
To a place in the south

This time
Right now

It's a new way of life
I'm starting fresh

I haven't got much hope
I don't have a lot of optimism

It's gone beyond a joke
It's no longer funny

I find I live my life in a daydream
I often fantasize

A reverie
A daydream

A constant stream
A continuous flow