I'm A Loser
by UFO

Album: No Heavy Petting (1976)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a song about homelessness and desperation; vocalist and lyricist Phil Mogg is a Londoner born and bred, and his reference to Euston Station "cold as ice" where "all night specials" move you on, is obviously based on personal observation. This is one of the places in Central London frequented by runaways, winos, down-and-outs and all manner of people who have ended up on the streets for a plethora of reasons. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Bleepyf from Edinburgh, ScotlandAs an interesting aside (I hope) to a great social commentary song:

    As per Alexander Baron's comment above, the Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras rail stations are a pretty desolate place to find yourself in the wee small hours, even passing through. The "all night Specials" are a reference to the Special Constables, who were volunteer police officers, and as such used to get the night shifts because they usually had daytime jobs. Often, with the demand to become a police officer in England & Wales, becoming a "Special" was seen as the best way to selection. These days*, the two options are Police Community Support Officers (who work with police officers and have some, but not all of their powers) and the volunteer Special constables who have the same powers as full-time police. Becoming a PCSO was my son's route into becoming a f/t police officer, as it happens.

    *Scotland has a separate legal system and police service, and does not have PCSOs.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaGreat song and it tells a story. UFO is a very underrated rock band.
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