Down On The Farm
U.K. Subs Lyrics
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Before I do somebody some harm
I feel just like a vegetable
Down here on the farm
Nobody comes to see me
Nobody here to turn me on
I ain't even got a lover
They told me to get healthy
They told me to get some sun
But boredom eats me like cancer
Down here on the farm
Drinkin' lemonade shanty
Ain't nobody here to do me harm
But I'm like a fish out of water
Down here on the farm
I wrote a thousand letters
Till my fingers all gone numb
But I never see no postman
Down here on the farm
I call my baby on the telephone, I say
Come down and have some fun
But she knows what the score is
Down here on the farm
I can't fall in love with a wheatfield
I can't fall in love with a barn
Well everything smells like horse shit
Down here on the farm
Blue skies and swimming pools
Add so much charm
But I'd rather be back in Soho
Than down here on the farm
The U.K. Subs's song "Down On the Farm" talks about a person who is feeling frustrated and trapped in their current situation. They are on a farm, away from any sort of civilization and companionship, and are desperate for some sort of inspiration before they lash out in anger. The opening line, "All I need is some inspiration, before I do somebody some harm" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The person is struggling to find ways to occupy their time and mind, to break the dull and mundane pattern they find themselves in.
Throughout the song, they express their frustration, conveying their loneliness and isolation. They try to stay busy by writing letters and calling their lover, but nothing seems to make a difference. The line "But I'm like a fish out of water, down here on the farm" serves as a metaphor for their complete discomfort and unease in this environment. They can't seem to find anything to love or enjoy, everything just smells like horse shit.
In the end, the person longs to be back in Soho, a place they find more exciting and fulfilling than the farm. Overall, the song touches on themes of frustration, isolation, and longing for a different and better life.
Line by Line Meaning
All I need is some inspiration
The singer requires motivation.
Before I do somebody some harm
The singer is feeling angry and may act out.
I feel just like a vegetable
The singer is feeling lifeless and unproductive.
Down here on the farm
The artist is in a rural, isolated location.
Nobody comes to see me
The artist is lonely and lacks social interaction.
Nobody here to turn me on
The singer lacks stimulation and excitement.
I ain't even got a lover
The singer is without a romantic partner.
They told me to get healthy
The artist has been advised to take care of their well-being.
They told me to get some sun
The artist has been advised to spend time outdoors.
But boredom eats me like cancer
The artist is severely affected by boredom and it feels debilitating.
Drinkin' lemonade shanty
The singer is drinking a simple and makeshift beverage.
Ain't nobody here to do me harm
The artist is safe from physical harm.
But I'm like a fish out of water
The singer feels out of their element in this rural area.
I wrote a thousand letters
The singer has tried to contact others through writing.
Till my fingers all gone numb
The singer has been writing so much that their fingers are numb.
But I never see no postman
The artist has not received any replies to their letters.
I call my baby on the telephone, I say
The artist contacts their romantic partner by phone.
Come down and have some fun
The singer wants their partner to come to the rural area and enjoy themselves.
But she knows what the score is
The singer's partner is aware of how unhappy the singer is in the rural area.
I can't fall in love with a wheatfield
The artist cannot develop romantic feelings for the surrounding agricultural environment.
I can't fall in love with a barn
The artist cannot develop romantic feelings for the surrounding agricultural buildings.
Well everything smells like horse shit
The artist is annoyed by the unpleasant smells in the area.
Blue skies and swimming pools
The singer is contrasting the unpleasant rural area with more desirable settings.
Add so much charm
The artist finds these more desirable settings attractive.
But I'd rather be back in Soho
The singer prefers the urban area of Soho to the rural area.
Than down here on the farm
The singer dislikes the rural area they are currently in.
Writer(s): Charles Harper, Alvin Gibbs, Nicholas Garrett
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@farmandprairie
I'm a farmer and I play this song most days.
@papadepeej
An absolutely great song by one of the best punk bands ever. As you can hear, they even know how to play their instruments.....fantastic.
@therevolution91
Every 14-year old can play power chords.
This actually is really easy.
But:
Punk Rock is easy.
True.
@sKaYj2
How can people like the gnr version and dislike this version at the time?
What does the gnr version do that this version doesn't? Seriously, theyre pretty much the same.
Both fast paced, both punk, both awesome!
@leonixsc
GNR's one is more energetic and more aggressive.
@ariversideview5775
This is definitely better. It has more of a fuck it attitude.
@leonixsc
Hey, everyone has their own opinion, which makes every single one of us unique :)
In my opinion GNR version is better, but these guys also deserve all the respect. After all, if they didn't make this song GNR wouldn't be able to do a cover. And the rythm of the song, is still there on GNR version.
@MilkoOfficialChannel
Yeah, whatever. This one is faster, the gnr better mix maybe and Slash signature sound in the solo hits deep I guess. But both as good.
@foxontherun4754
Who ever say that gnr has a better mix dont understand punk😂 like if you say the black album is so well produced and mixed. It doesnt even sound like heavy metal. A good production or mix doesnt mean a cleaner sound or anything like that. Its about capturing the essence of the music they are playing. This song is perfectly mixed and produced for their music.
@Will-sh8kl
I love both versions for different reasons.