Lonesome Street
by Blur

Album: The Magic Whip (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song opens The Magic Whip. It finds Blur taking aim at modern life, a particular favorite theme for singer Damon Albarn. Guitarist Graham Coxon told NME: "There was a definite familiarity with that song. It's got that cheeky - sounding focal of Damon's, that perverse nursery rhyme feel, and it all sounds a bit like you're careering from a night of chaos."
  • The song was put together in a piecemeal fashion. "When I was listening back to it with Stephen (Street, producer), I thought, 'Why not go the whole hog and have a really Syd Barrett-y middle eight in there? recalled Coxon. "So I wrote another section for it, which is about the way you seem to ride the tarmac in Hong Kong; you stand on the road, you don't move and it will take you anywhere you want to go. It's a very lighthearted way to start the record."
  • The band enlisted San Francisco's Phoenix Fly Line Dancing Group, specialists in Chinese folk dancing, for the music video. The choreographed clip was directed by Ben Reed, who has also worked for Joan as Police Woman and Funeral For a Friend.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.