Retreat
The Rakes Lyrics


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I'm walking unknown territory
Where the sun's not shining
There's nothing golden about Golden Lane
The smoke is heavy in my lungs and
The adverts are working
I just can't sell for who

[Chorus]
I don't want to miss out on anything
At the same time I feel the need to retreat
Everything is temporary these days
Might as well go out for a third night in a row

Should I give my money to a good cause
Or save for a holiday
In a couple of months I could be in paradise
But the girl at the bar is well nice
And she's looking over
It's only right that I get the next round in

[Chorus]

Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Wake up, go out again, repeat!
Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Hook up, again this time, next week!
Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Wake up, go out again, repeat!
Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Hook up, again this time, next week!

[Chorus]

Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Wake up, go out again, repeat!
Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Hook up, again this time, next week!
Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Wake up, go out again, repeat!




Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
Hook up, again this time, next week!

Overall Meaning

The Rakes's song Retreat conveys an ambivalent mood, where the singer is walking through unknown territory that is shrouded in darkness and heavy smoke. He mentions Golden Lane, which was a housing estate in London, and this reference could suggest that the setting of the song is situated in London. The adverts that surround him entice him to spend his money, but the singer feels conflicted about whether he should spend his money for a good cause or splurge it on a holiday. At the same, he realizes that everything in life is temporary and transitory.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's conflicting thoughts and emotions. He doesn't want to miss out on anything, but at the same time, he feels the need to retreat. He is torn between two different worlds and feels unsure about which path to take. He repeats in the chorus that everything is temporary these days and might as well enjoy his life while he can. The last verse reflects the vicious cycle of the singer's life, where he retreats to sleep after a night of partying, only to wake up and repeat the same cycle.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm walking unknown territory
I am venturing into an unfamiliar place or situation.


Where the sun's not shining
It is a grim and gloomy environment.


There's nothing golden about Golden Lane
The place appears to be nice but is not at all what it seems.


The smoke is heavy in my lungs and
The atmosphere is polluted and unhealthy.


The adverts are working
Marketing and advertising are greater than reality.


I just can't sell for who
I am not convinced by the sales pitch or brand.


I don't want to miss out on anything
FOMO - fear of missing out - is pushing me to participate.


At the same time I feel the need to retreat
I also recognize that I need to escape and withdraw.


Everything is temporary these days
Everything is fleeting and momentary in this time.


Might as well go out for a third night in a row
Since everything is temporary, I might as well enjoy each moment to excess.


Should I give my money to a good cause
I am contemplating donating money to charity.


Or save for a holiday
Or keeping my savings for a break.


In a couple of months I could be in paradise
I may have the opportunity to escape to a perfect location soon.


But the girl at the bar is well nice
An attractive woman at the bar is tempting me to stay.


And she's looking over
She reciprocates my interest.


It's only right that I get the next round in
As a gentleman, I should buy a drink for the attractive woman.


Walk home, come down, retreat to sleep!
I return home from the night out and rest.


Wake up, go out again, repeat!
I wake up and repeat the same cycle over and over again every day.


Hook up, again this time, next week!
I continue to meet with the attractive woman regularly.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN DONOHOE, JAMES HORN-SMITH, LASSE PETERSEN, MATTHEW SWINNERTON, MATTHEW JAMES SWINNERTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jonathan Ward

This was my anthem for years. <3

L Ron Cupboard

Great band

Brodown64

We miss em.

ajusticiador de venecas

Aja

Tsunami

i like how mans strolled into the apartment, strummed the guitar a few times, and peaced out

ajusticiador de venecas

Buena banda

Mia Wallace

I found out about this song many years ago from Alex Kapranos. Very good song still

Peter Mariner

January 2022.. still fucking great

zaidabanksnyc

May 21,2023! 👍

Kenny Park

fuck yea

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