We didn't have nowhere to live
We didn't have nowhere to go
'til someone said "I know this place off Burditt Road."
It was on the fifteenth floor
It had a board across the door
It took an hour to pry it off and get inside
It smelt as if someone had died
The living-room was full of flies
The kitchen sink was blocked
The bathroom sink not there at all
Ooh, it's a mess alright
yes it's... Mile End
And now we're living in the sky
I'd never thought I'd live so high
Just like Heaven
If it didn't look like Hell
The lift is always full of piss
The fifth floor landing smells of fish
Not just on Friday, every single other day
Below the kids come out tonight
They kick a ball and have a fight
And maybe shoot somebody if they lose at pool
Ooh, it's a mess alright
Yes it's... Mile End
Oo-ooh
Nobody wants to be your friend
'cause you're not from round here, ooh
As if that was something to be proud about
The pearly king of the Isle of Dogs
Deels up children in the bogs
Down by the playing fields
Someone sets a car on fire
I guess you have to go right down
Before you understand just how
How low, how low a human being can go
Ooh, it's a mess alright
Yes it's... Mile End.
We didn't have nowhere to go
'til someone said "I know this place off Burditt Road."
It was on the fifteenth floor
It had a board across the door
It took an hour to pry it off and get inside
It smelt as if someone had died
The living-room was full of flies
The kitchen sink was blocked
The bathroom sink not there at all
yes it's... Mile End
I'd never thought I'd live so high
Just like Heaven
If it didn't look like Hell
The lift is always full of piss
The fifth floor landing smells of fish
Not just on Friday, every single other day
Below the kids come out tonight
They kick a ball and have a fight
And maybe shoot somebody if they lose at pool
Yes it's... Mile End
Nobody wants to be your friend
'cause you're not from round here, ooh
As if that was something to be proud about
The pearly king of the Isle of Dogs
Deels up children in the bogs
Down by the playing fields
Someone sets a car on fire
I guess you have to go right down
Before you understand just how
How low, how low a human being can go
Yes it's... Mile End.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The road is spelt Burdett Road for anyone wishing for some reason to visit it.
I wonder if the Pulp really squatted there. Being a squatter, this song means a whole deal to me. Both the joy and ache of hitting rock bottom.
i have been pretty low, in the trainspotting way, but i've never lived in that kind of filth, and i just can't imagine anyone finding this glamourous. no disrespect. manic_ash.
I can't believe no one has commented, I love this song...I love the fact it is talking about such a crap place in a really dancy song. It's just talking about a complete dump, but it makes me want to dance! Also, I like that Jarvis's voice sounds like he really hates the place, but again it's against a really cheery dancy beat.
One of my many fave Pulp tunes. Living knee deep in crap and loving it for the moment. A defiantly joyful punch at anyone who would hold their low class squatter attitude in contempt!
i only heard this pulp song due to watching the film trainspotting, i love pulp and when i heard this one nothing changed! though watching the film it is clearly written for it. doesnt stop it being good!
I love this song, it reminds me of my student house!
I take it to be a tongue-in-cheek song to those people who think being a squatter and living a life like that is glamourous and cool, 'ooh i'm rebelling', but yet the only person you're rebelling against is yourself, and you're shooting yourself in the foot in the end of it. i don't know, what do i know, i'm only a university student, so i have never been a squatter. but in my own opinion, there are probably better ways of trying to rebel against the system than by squatting. doesn't seem to be such a glamourous lifestyle just cos you don't want to buy into our society. but i understand the psychology behind it.
but who would find anything cool or glamourous about this? really?
but who would find anything cool or glamourous about this? really?
manic ash wrote; "there are probably better ways of trying to rebel against the system"
I know there is a chance you will just write me off as 'religious' and not want to hear what I'm saying, but then again you may not do that. So I will add that following Jesus is the ultimate rebellion against the system. Jesus taught that we should work for love and not for money. Imagine if people started doing that! The system as we know it would be gone. I mean, people would still work, but they would work with love, helping those in need, not taking more than you need if it meant someone else would go without (something we do in the west, but have become rather detached to the reality of the situation because we don't see the connection between our abundance and the stark lack that exists in other parts of the world). I don't want to put all the blame on western countries as each individual needs to make the appropriate changes, even those in poor countries. But we are the one's 'leading the way' towards destruction. I hope people aren't offended by me sharing my mind, I know it can be convicting, but conviction is sometimes what is needed.
Oh and I like the song too, heh.