Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

The Jam

About Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" was the second single taken from the album All Mod Cons by The Jam. Released on 13 October 1978, it reached #15 in the United Kingdom's Singles Chart on release. The single was backed by a cover version of The Who's song "So Sad About Us", and the song "The Night", written by Bruce Foxton. (Some copies of the single were pressed with "Down in the Tube Station" as the B side, with "So Sad About Us" and "The Night" appearing on the A Side).  


Year:
1983
4:03
166 
#1

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The distant echo
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever
The glazed, dirty steps, repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrappers and this morning's paper
Mr. Jones got run down
Headlines of death and sorrow, they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight
I fumble for change, and pull out the Queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows, gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
"Hey boy" they shout, "have you got any money?"
And I said, "I've a little money and a takeaway curry
I'm on my way home to my wife
She'll be lining up the cutlery, you know she's expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork"
I'm down in the tube station at midnight

I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in its own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
Filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth, it blocked all my senses
Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight

The last thing that I saw as I lay there on the floor
Was "Jesus saves" painted by an atheist nutter
And a British rail poster read "have an away day, a cheap holiday
Do it today"
I glanced back on my life, and thought about my wife
'Cause they took the keys, and she'll think it's me
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight

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The Jam

The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes, and they incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock and R&B influences rather than rejecting them, placing The Jam at the forefront of the mod revival movement. more »

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Written by: Paul John Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Overview
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" is a song by British band "The Jam" released in 1978.
Chart Performance
The song peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.
Musical Composition
The song is known for its richly descriptive lyrics, its evocative melody and its blend of punk rock and pop influences.
Lyrics
The song narrates a biting social commentary on racial violence experienced in a subway station at midnight.
Album
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" featured on the band's third album named "All Mod Cons", which is recognized as one of their most acclaimed albums.
Songwriter
Lead vocalist and guitarist, Paul Weller, wrote this song and it's considered one of his best works.
Accolades
In 2008, the song was included in Radio X's "1,000 Greatest Songs of All Time" list at number 97, showcasing its timeless appeal.
Inspirations
The song is considered a reflection of the social and political climate in England during the 1970s.
Fame in Other Media
"Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" has been featured in several films and TV shows, reflecting its enduring popularity.
Impact
The song is hailed as one of the important and vivid depictions of city life, and has influenced a generation of songwriters.

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