Lesley
by Dave

Album: Psychodrama (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This emotional 11-minute track finds Dave detailing the story of a girl named Lesley, whom he befriends on the train from Norbury Station. She confides to him how she suffers abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, Jason.

    She used to be the life of the party for true
    And now she going out hardly ever
    Her man got her in the yard forever
    And her friends wanna help but it's hard to tell her


    Dave told The Observer that the song is a tale "about someone suffering a complete loss of character by being with someone that isn't good for them."
  • Two tracks later, on '"Drama," Dave reveals that the song is based on the experiences of his own relatives.

    Do you believe that I can illustrate what Streatham is
    Then break the fourth? wall and base Lesley on my relatives?
  • The female vocalist is Maggie Eckford from the Nashville electronic pop group Ruelle.

Comments: 3

  • Lance Ogilvie from EdinburghThis is one of the best ‘story’ songs I’ve ever heard, right up there with the likes of STAN by Eminem, tbh o Dnt see how this is any less of a masterpiece, possibly better given its basis is true, or extrapolated from truth, Dave is my favourite rapper atm and with tracks like this who can argue he is one hell of a talent bordering on genius.
  • Ash-shaun from Stockwell, LondonRespect. F$%k those jasons
  • Santam from LondonYou got it right. Mad respect
see more comments

Editor's Picks

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.