Born Slippy

In the Guardian newspaper February 24, 2006, Karl Hyde said: "We used to go out drinking in Soho and I ended up in the Ship on Wardour Street. All the lyrics were written on that night. A drunk sees the world in fragments and I wanted to recreate that. I was inspired by Lou Reed's New York album and Sam Shepard's Motel Chronicles. I was into flash photography as well, so I was walking around Soho with a notebook and camera, just observing things. In those days I'd open the book whenever a musical idea inspired me. Rick [Smith] came up with a rhythm and I started singing over it. The vocals were done in one take. When I lost my place, I'd repeat the same line; that's why it goes, 'lager, lager, lager, lager.' The first time we played it live, people raised their lager cans and I was horrified because I was still deep into alcoholism. It was never meant to be a drinking anthem; it was a cry for help. Now I don't mind. Why Born Slippy? It was a greyhound we won money on."

The beginning of the song shows a boy being tempted by a beautiful but enigmatic woman. The term "lipstick boy" means that the woman is using makeup to alter her appearance. The phrase "dirty numb angel boy" characterizes the boy as feeling aimless and looking for something to guide him.

It then mentions the boy's "inner space," which refers to his thoughts and emotions. He's involved in dangerous and possibly criminal activities, with mentions of "hand girls" and "steel." The word "chemicals" further implies that he's using drugs or other substances to alter his state of mind.

"Drive boy dive boy" is repeated several times in the song, which creates a feeling of urgency or a call for action. The woman smiles at the boy and motions for him to come over to her, as if she is offering him a temporary escape from his problems.

The middle section of the song delves further into the subjects of drug abuse, addiction, and personal identity. It encourages you to be honest with your emotions but also to conceal your true self by wearing a metaphorical "mask." This suggests that the narrator may be hiding their true nature or persona from others.

The song gives a sense of longing for a perfect image of beauty through the phrase "random blonde bio high density." The repetition of "blonde boy" and "blonde country blonde high density" reinforces this idea of a perfect image.

"You are my drug boy, You're real boy" means that there is an emotional reliance on a person or object. Using "boy" as a term of affection reinforces the idea that there is a power imbalance in the relationship.

The song becomes more surreal after this point, with phrases like "dirty numb cracking boy" and "babes and babes and babes and babes and babes." It means life of seeking pleasure and indulgence. The mention of an "angel" walking in provides a moment of clarity amidst the chaos and confusion of addiction and identity struggles.

Towards the end of the song, the tone becomes darker. The narrator is drunk and in a tube station, ranting about drinking and other things. The narrator is struggling with aimlessness or a lack of direction in their life. The mention of a blonde returning to Romford and the line "so many things to see and do in the tube hole true" also reinforce this sense of aimlessness and uncertainty.

In the final part of the song, the narrator expresses a sense of disillusionment and an awareness that his indulgent lifestyle is causing him pain and problems. The line "How am I at having fun" shows that he is questioning the value of the pleasures he is seeking. The phrase "on your way to a new tension, headache" implies that he is experiencing physical and emotional distress as a result of his actions.

to me this words sound like the chaotic thoughts you have in a wild club night. when you're on the dancefloor and completely sunk into the music. on certain substances...

Just listening to this song make you feel as though you're high as a kite.

for some reason the lyrics make me think of candy darling en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Darling

I reckon its about taking ecstacy on a night out. Musically, the song starts off with the anticipation then everything starts to kick in slowly (when your coming up) then it all just kicks off when the drumbeat comes in (when you've actually come up)

"You had chemicals boy I've grown so close to you" its about the loved up feelings you get when on E.

"Mega mega white thing" talking about the actual pill itself

the last line is about the comedown of E.
I always end up with a headache on a comedown

I think it's just about being out. There aren't many bands that attempt to recreate the chaos of a good night on the tiles in lyric form. This and Moaner are about the only songs I can think of that do that. They're like sister-tracks in a way.

I think this is a song about drugs, well a drug! I think it gives so many refernces to PCP or Angel dust. The terms 'Get wet boy, big big time boy, acid bear boy' also the angel references as well as what he is feeling. He is invincible. He feels so good. Then again i may be wrong wrong wrong!

Whatever. The song is a classic and is an anthem!

this song takes the post-rave british club/drug/drink (wheres the separating line between those three exactly?) culture and fires shots at the ground on which it stands, forcing its terrified and vulnerable ass to dance.

people love dancing to this. sure it is a hell of a drumbeat, but i still dont see how. this isnt a song for dancing, this is a song for collapsing drunk and high on some dude's sofa and wondering what the fuck you're doing with your life.

"Let your feelings slip boy But never your mask boy" is such an amazing line. When i first heard it......unbelievable