DARE

Well, i think to understand this song, you have to look at the album as one song with multiple movements. (well at least that's helped me understand it better) At the beginning your stranded in a terrible place, people everywhere are dead, children need guns to protect themselves, everything is bleak, no nature is left.

I'm not really sure how to explain dirty harry to all alone, but i guess i'll just make an (kinda) educated guess.

The use of children in dirty harry is to signify the same message as in kids with guns, and it's kinda a representation of your own innocence, while still needing an immoral sort of protection (a gun). The use of a choir instead of just one child may also be used to signify that your in a group of sorts. Feel good inc. might represent how people are telling you to change yourself because bad is the new good (So all you fill the streets it's appealing to see | You wont get out the county, 'cos you're bad and free), and how you change so much, your group (being summer? cuz i mean summer is a nice warm season, and i guess being with a group of your friends and family is a warm sensation right?. ) can barely recognize you (el manana [summer don't know me no more]). You and your band travel around, finding everything you come across dead. (every planet we reach is dead) Then you do something really bad (november has come) and you find yourself all alone (guess what song!).

I think i kinda understand all alone and the rest of the album from here though.

Then you see two paths, one delving deeper into the darkness, and one heading into the light (white light). The DARE is when you're deciding which path to follow.

The explanation of DARE: So the way I see it, the "protagonist" of the album has chosen the path to absolution, but he's still feeling the urges of his old, bad self (it's coming up,...). But he's trying to repress those urges (You've got to press it on you). And he's trying to think of a way to quell his urges, so he thinks about it, and creates the sensation he got from it (you just think it, thats what you do baby. hold it down DARE [which is supposed to be there, as i've heard{there as in, deep inside your soul}]). Then his evil side saying, it never did anything bad. (never did no harm). And the songs basically him fighting it out with himself.

Fire Coming out of the Monkey's Head is either a flashback, or another, more apocalyptic catastrophe that occurs, in which the protagonist reaches the site where it's happening. Then he realizes that he's really been living in a hell, and he can either choose to stay in the hell or fling himself in the volcano to get out of it. His evil side tries to tell him to stay (Don't go over the edge, you'll make a big mistake). He decides to jump in the volcano and ignored his evil side (i took a line but it wasn't with you). Then he goes to heaven and is greeted by a choir of angels who absolve him of his sins and let him into heaven.

At least thats my interpretation, and i am only a teenager, but i hope it strikes a chord with some people.

Dude fuck the meaning.

makes me wanna strip naked and run in slow mo around my neighborhood.

anyone esle?

While the song is sexy the words and video do not appear directly sexy. Overall impressions derive from mixed media and sensations. Feels like abstract art or pure homo sapien research and development. Phrases that stick out include "you have to press it on you" and "work it out" "like you were there yourself". One interpretation may suggest the artists is recommending the listener to "experience the moment" jump with the moon (symbol of the subconscious) and live life for you! Just an idea.

When Blur first started they released an album entitled Leisure. It followed a long line of madchester-styled bands of the time but showed glimpses of pure brilliance, pour example Sing, any Albarn newcomers, get a listen its truly beautiful... Inspiration of Lost? by Coldplay.

Now, one of the leading bands at the time who were described under the same madchester bracket were The Happy Mondays, fronted by Shaun Ryder who sings vocals on this track.

Ryder was, and still is so I've heard, a huge influence to Albarn and his work. Albarn according to legend loved the way that Ryder pronounces "there"; ever heard someone say something in an accent and thought "wow that sounds great with his/her voice?

Well reportedly it was Albarn just admiring his hero and "exploiting" if you like the strengths of a vocalist: in this case, his accent...

Oh and you lot that think this is about drugs? Ryder may have seen more weed than Alan Titchmarsh but just because a writer does drugs, doesnt mean they write about it? Pete Townshend? David Bowie? Occaisonal defences but nothing concrete... Check out Albarn's past lyrics; Charmless Man, Parklife... Some of the stuff from 13 alludes to his fiancée's addiction but he doesnt seem the type to me.

Well i have seen most people say its about drugs or sex but i have always thought of this song asa conflict between ones self. like when she says " you have to push it on you" shes kind of pushing her self to do something but she really does not want to. and with the line " never did no harm" shes kinda trying to talk her self into it. As for the "its coming up, its dare" part they added it because when they where recording he asked for the to turn of the head phone and as they where doing so he said " its coming up, it coming up, its there" but there sounded like dare. Lastly the part where she says " act like you where there your self" shes kinda imagining what it would be like if she did do it, but thats just my thoughts on it.

why not my friends is the question.

okay, I just read the rest of comments, yes it is definitely about masturbastion.

Ha, much love for Shaun Ryder! I think Peterenton is right about the meaning as well. It's nostalgic.

Great song, one of the bests tracks on Demon Days... but I like Miho Hatori as Noodle more than the woman they used for this...

i think the whole masterbation/sex idea is great it fits the song and its just so fucking funny!