The A Team
The Ukuleles Lyrics

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White lips, pale face
Breathing in snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, day's end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men

And they say

She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly

Ripped gloves, raincoat
Tried to swim and stay afloat
Dry house, wet clothes
Loose change, bank notes
Weary-eyed, dry throat
Call girl, no phone

And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
And they scream
The worst things in life come free to us
'Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
An angel will die
Covered in white
Closed eye
And hoping for a better life
This time, we'll fade out tonight
Straight down the line

And they say
She's in the Class A Team
Stuck in her daydream
Been this way since eighteen
But lately her face seems
Slowly sinking, wasting
Crumbling like pastries
They scream
The worst things in life come free to us
And we're all under the upper hand
Go mad for a couple grams
And we don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland
Or sell love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
To fly, fly

For angels to fly, to fly, to fly
For angels to die

Overall Meaning

The song "The A Team" by The Ukuleles is a raw and emotional portrayal of the struggles faced by a young, impoverished woman working in the sex industry. The first verse describes her physical deterioration, with "white lips" and "burnt lungs" suggesting drug abuse and a "sour taste" indicating a lifetime of unhealthy choices. The line "struggling to pay rent, long nights, strange men" paints a picture of the difficulties faced by those with limited opportunities, who have fallen into this line of work to make ends meet.

The chorus emphasizes her reliance on drugs, and her desire to escape her bleak reality. "It's too cold outside for angels to fly" suggests her longing for a better life, but her inability to break free from her current life. The second verse describes her efforts to keep her head above water, with "ripped gloves" and "wet clothes" suggesting her lack of resources. The line "call girl, no phone" is particularly poignant, symbolizing her isolation and hopelessness.

Overall, The A Team is a powerful portrayal of the harsh realities faced by those living in poverty, particularly women who resort to the sex industry to make ends meet. It exposes the many injustices and dangers of this line of work and highlights the tragic consequences of society's failure to address systemic inequality.

Interesting Facts About The A Team:

1) The song was written by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who released it as his debut single in 2011.
2) The song was inspired by a homeless woman Sheeran met while performing at a homeless shelter in London.
3) The Ukuleles' version of the song was released in 2016 and gained widespread popularity on YouTube.
4) The song was a commercial and critical success, reaching number three on the UK singles chart and receiving a nomination for Best British Single at the 2012 BRIT Awards.
5) The song's music video was directed by Ruskin Kyle, and features Sheeran performing the song in a darkened room with a single spotlight.
6) The song has been covered by numerous artists, including boy band One Direction and singer-songwriter Birdy.
7) The song's title refers to a term used in the UK to describe the country's elite institutions and social classes.
8) The song's lyrics caused controversy due to its references to drug use and sex work, with some critics accusing Sheeran of glamorizing these activities.
9) Despite this controversy, the song is widely regarded as a powerful and poignant commentary on poverty and societal inequality.
10) The song's success helped launch Sheeran's career, and he has since become one of the world's most successful and popular singer-songwriters.

Chords:
Verse: C, F, Am, G
Chorus: Am, F, C, G
Bridge: A#m, F, C, G

Line by Line Meaning

White lips, pale face
The person has a pale complexion probably due to malnutrition or illness.

Breathing in snowflakes
The person is probably homeless and living outside in the cold.

Burnt lungs, sour taste
The person might be smoking or inhaling harmful substances.

Light's gone, day's end
It's nighttime or getting dark.

Struggling to pay rent
The person is having trouble paying for basic necessities like housing.

Long nights, strange men
The person is probably involved in sex work to make ends meet.

And they say She's in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen But lately her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting Crumbling like pastries And they scream
The public knows about the person's struggles and appearance, and they are making harsh judgments and assumptions.

The worst things in life come free to us 'Cause we're just under the upper hand And go mad for a couple grams And she don't want to go outside tonight And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland Or sells love to another man It's too cold outside For angels to fly Angels to fly
The person is struggling with addiction and is willing to do anything to fulfill that need, even if it's harmful or dangerous.

Ripped gloves, raincoat Tried to swim and stay afloat Dry house, wet clothes Loose change, bank notes Weary-eyed, dry throat Call girl, no phone
The person is dealing with the harsh realities of everyday life, such as lack of resources and difficulty finding work.

An angel will die Covered in white Closed eye And hoping for a better life This time, we'll fade out tonight Straight down the line
The person's situation is dire and they may not survive much longer. The hope for a better life is fading.

And we don't want to go outside tonight And in a pipe we fly to the Motherland Or sell love to another man It's too cold outside For angels to fly Angels to fly To fly, fly For angels to fly, to fly, to fly For angels to die
The cycle of addiction and desperation continues, affecting not only the individual but others around them as well.

Writer(s): Ed Sheeran

Contributed by Lauren Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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