He raped me in the chalet lines
The girl I shared with was away for the night
I couldn't get up for my shift today
I'll have to leave the camp now anyway

I'll go to London there's a mate of mine I know
She'll give me a place
Full of woe and further to go
She caught the bus

"Oh I'll go anywhere"
She caught the bus
Her face was just a smear on the pane
He raped me in the chalet lines

I had just said no for the final time
Although it's last month it's like yesterday
I missed my time, I don't think I could stand
To take the test, I'm feeling sick

Fuck this, I've felt like this for a week
I'd put a knife right into his eyes
My friend can't see
She asks me why I don't

Tell the law
Oh what's the fucking point at all
He raped me in the chalet lines
It was a party, it was going fine

With the boys from the amusement park
A few were idiots, they were a really good laugh
They had the shows on till way after dark
I hope she'll give me a place

Full of woe and further to go
She caught the bus
"Oh I'll go anywhere"
She caught the bus
Her face was just a smear on the pane


Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher, edited by AVORY, theconradw

The Chalet Lines Lyrics as written by Colburn Campbe

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Chalet Lines song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I think this song is actually a girls perspective, although Stuart sings it. I believe that its about a girl who was drunk or something, and a guy forced her, or as literally said, raped her. Now it seems that she's got pregnant ("I missed my time") and she's freaking out to her friends who don't understand. This is sad.

    myfriendbrennon April 16, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    bjort is kinda right Chalet lines refers literally to a line of Chalets. In the UK there is a chain of holiday camps called Butlins. they cater for thousands of people at a time living in these rented chalets. The main activities are amusement rides during the day "the shows" and lots of drinking at night.Stuart Murdoch comes from Ayrshire in Scotland where there happens to be a particularly large Butlins Camp.

    spaton April 28, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love the fact that Stuart sings this, rather than Isobel even though it's obviously is about a girl. It makes Stuart seem like such a sensitive and sweet guy, and his voice is so tender. It's a really sad song, especially since it's so true. "Oh, what's the fucking point at all?" really is the question that keeps rape victims from reporting it, you can almost be sure that justice won't get the rapist since there's never enough proof nor resources. The mixture of apathy, sadness, pain and hatred is so perfect in this song, almost as if he'd gone through it himself. Love it. One of their best songs.

    Felison July 26, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Extremely sad song, made more effective by Stuart Murdoch's tender and emotive vocals.

    rubyoverdiamondson May 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Absolutely chilling.

    This song makes me cry.

    tooth_brushon October 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I found research that the Chalet Lines are vacation areas, and possibly a girl , or maybe working area, was raped became pregnant.

    bjorton April 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Makes me not want to go on vacation there. English geography is so complicated when you're someone in the states.

    bjorton June 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Makes me not want to go on vacation there. English geography is so complicated when you're someone in the states.

    bjorton June 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "full of woe and further to go"....does anyone have thoughts on this? it seems to quote the children's rhyme about birth days, I believe that "Wednesday's child is full of woe" and "Thursday's child has far/further to go".....thoughts? anyways I like it.

    Schatzion July 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Schatzi, that's a great point you're making. I haven't even thought about it and since I'm swedish I had no idea there even was such a children's rhyme but if it is like you said then couldn't it just be an expression for that she'll find a place where she can just pass her time, let the days turn into weeks and so on? Not in a good way obviously, just like... ah, I don't know how to explain, but maybe she hopes that if she just leaves the place where it happened then maybe she'll get over it by herself if she just gives it time rather than asking for help. The sadness in Stuart's voice when he sings this line makes it clear that it won't happen, she cannot leave the pain and memories behind and she will keep falling apart no matter where she tries to hide from them. The "She caught the bus"-part is the only part of the song where Stuart turns into an observer rather than the girl herself, as if he's watching her slowly shaking his head knowing what she's thinking and that none of it will make it easier. Take care y'all.

    Felison August 10, 2006   Link

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