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One To My Left Lyrics

Did you ever have to do the thing you swore you’d never do
Something filthy and impatient
Something churlish, bold and shrewd
Sit down my boy and I’ll tell you exactly how I crawled right through
Gathering your confidence and hear the story of a man who came undone

First you weigh up your commitments, where your loyalties really lie
And if you bump into Jesus, you just look him in the eye
Tell him that you’re fine, silently return to sharpening your knife
And finally when the time comes, think of who you really need
And close your eyes so tightly think they’ll bleed

Never drop your guard or let them know, the thoughts inside your head
Just do what you've always done, they'll all wish you were dead
Or crush your heart, your spirit and your soul but keep your eyes ahead
Remember when the time comes, there'll be nowhere you can hide
It'll just be you, your heart and your bruised pride

Never break the line, never click your heels in time
If your heart's anything like mine that's not the way
Don’t get comfortable down there
Don’t pretend that it's always fair
And your fingers crossed
And it's not your loss
So if you really want to you can stay
You can stay

Never drop your guard and let them, know the thoughts inside your head
Just do what you’ve always done, they'll all wish you were dead
They’ll crush your heart, the spirit and your soul but keep your eyes ahead
Then someday when your bones break, and you dont know gifts from theft
Drink yourself away one to my left

Never break the line, never click your heels in time
If your heart's anything like mine that's not the way
Don’t get comfortable down there
Don’t pretend that it's always fair
And your fingers crossed
And it’s not your loss
So if you really want to you can stay
You can stay
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10 Meanings

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Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

First to comment on this one! I love it sooo much. My fave Dirty Pretty Things song (and I love them all so that's really saying something). The lyrics are so moving. That first section just sets the scene beautifully for the rest of the song: "Gather in your confidence and hear the story of a man who came undone". Aww Carl... His voice on this track is absolutely gorgeous as well, there's a vulnerability there which really adds to the poignancy of it. But there's something uplifting about the song as well. Simply beautiful. I get shivers down my spine with every listen.

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

"Don't get comfortable down there, don't pretend that it's always fair."

Gorgeous....and I love Anthony playing trumpet. A lot.

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

Well isn't this just the best B-side ever! I really love it! its great so sad at some points angry at others and sometimes almost pretty happy! "Never drop your guard and let them know the thoughts inside you head"- great! I thinks its about not letting people know how you feel inside but at the same time trying not to let some one else make your mistakes again.

beautiful song, Love Carls voice on this!

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

If you read through it carefully, he's talking to someone who's obviously having similiar issues to him..

He's saying "Sit down and I'll tell you how I survived it".

For a song that has quite a few references to suicide (Eg: "Silently return to sharpening your knife" plus the whole chorus is basically saying 'Don't leave") it's incredibly hopeful and unlifting.

DPT's best song and one of the greatest B-sides ever.

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

Its basically Just a commentaryy on everything that had happened to Carl since The whole libs fiasco a very very very sad song and truly brilliant.

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

what a strangely poppy song kind of unexpected

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

this song also reminds me of at the flophouse like they could be connected into one song its weird

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

Did you ever have to do the thing you swore you'd never do Something filthy and impatient Something churlish, bold and shrewd Sit down my boy and I'll tell you exactly how I crawled right through

that reminds me of carl, looking back into his past, feeling remorse about obvious things and how everything turned out to be. maybe the phone call he had to make, telling pete not to come to paris for their tour? he admitted in later interviews it was the hardest decision he ever had to make and wishes never to go through this again..

"Never drop your guard or let them know, the thoughts inside your head Just do what you've always done, they'll all wish you were dead"

this makes me think about all the people who got involved in the whole pete/carl affair, stirring things up instead of leaving them handling their problems on their own (paparrazis, fans, "brown people", family...) carl wishes he'd never listened to anyone

I don't know really.. anyway, very moving DPT song, totally underrated (like all the other carl stuff)

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

Did you ever have to do the thing you swore you'd never do Something filthy and impatient Something churlish, bold and shrewd Sit down my boy and I'll tell you exactly how I crawled right through

that reminds me of carl, looking back into his past, feeling remorse about obvious things and how everything turned out to be. maybe the phone call he had to make, telling pete not to come to paris for their tour? he admitted in later interviews it was the hardest decision he ever had to make and wishes never to go through this again..

"Never drop your guard or let them know, the thoughts inside your head Just do what you've always done, they'll all wish you were dead"

this makes me think about all the people who got involved in the whole pete/carl affair, stirring things up instead of leaving them handling their problems on their own (paparrazis, fans, "brown people", family...) carl wishes he'd never listened to anyone

I don't know really.. anyway, very moving DPT song, totally underrated (like all the other carl stuff)

Cover art for One To My Left lyrics by Dirty Pretty Things

"Never break the line, never click your heels in time If your heart's anything like mine that's not the way"

I love this bit and the "you can stay" at the end.

My Opinion