I find myself
At the point where we kissed first
On a rooftop
Overlooking the East London mosque

They said, they said, they said, they said
You can't go around breaking young girl's hearts
I said, I said, I said, I said
Keep at casual, easy thing

And you looked so right
In that red dress

Oh how I'd love
To be a rock for you
To be anything
You could rely on

So I'll try, I'll try, I'll try, I'll try
But I'll get caught out
So we'll try, we'll try, we'll try, we'll try
But we'll forget the lines, forget the lines

And you looked so thwarted
In the back of the car
Like you could thwart
A hundred wars

Save my letters
Where we can first call
By the bedroom door
And kitchen floor
(I tried, I tried, I tried)

All my letters
I'm too young
To be the father
To a son
(I tried, I tried, I tried)

Forgive me Oscar


Lyrics submitted by StateOfFlux, edited by pumpkinsoul, hongbody

Letter to My Son Lyrics as written by Kele Okereke Gordon Moakes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Letter to My Son song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentThe correct lyrics are (from Bloc Party.com & the booklet):

    "I found myself at the point where we kissed first
    On a rooftop overlooking the East London mosque

    They say, they say, they say, they say
    "You can't go around breaking young girls' hearts"
    I say, I say, I say, I say
    Keep it casual, easy thing

    And you looked so right in that red dress

    Oh how I'd love to be a rock for you
    To be anything you could rely on

    So I'll try, I'll try, I'll try, I'll try
    But I'll get caught out
    So we'll try, we'll try, we'll try, we'll try
    But we forget the lines, forget the lines

    And you looked so wanton in the back of the car
    Like you could start a hundred wars

    See what trouble we could both cause
    By the bedroom door, the kitchen floor
    I tried, I tried, I tried
    Oh Marlena, I'm too young
    To be the father to our son
    I tried, I tried, I tried

    Forgive me Oscar"

    I couldn't find info anywhere, but I think the song might've been co-written by Gordy. I assume the song was written in 2007/2008 when he learned that he and his wife were expecting their first child. The song could well be about his thoughts about becoming a father, he's reminiscing the time when they first started dating, the first time they had sex and how the relationship has been in the past; but the baby will chance everything and he's not sure if he's ready for that.

    Though they then had a baby girl, Scarlet, but maybe they didn't know which one it was going to be so the "Son" could still fit.
    This is all speculation, but meh... my two cents.

    My fave on the album.
    iacoinon June 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentAnyone else thinks this has similarities to Skeleton?
    ScorchOurBodieson November 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment"But we forget the lies, forget the lies

    And you looked so wanton in the back of the car
    Like you could start/stop a hundred wars

    See what trouble we could both cause
    By the bedroom door, the kitchen floor
    I tried, I tried, I tried
    Oh Marlana im to young
    To be the father to our son
    I tried, I tried, I tried

    Forgive me Oscar
    l8punkroceron November 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI'LL DO THE HONORS HERE ARE THE CORRECT LYRICS:

    I found myself at the point where we kissed first
    On a rooftop overlooking the East London mosque

    They said, they said, they said, they said
    "You can't go around breaking young girl's hearts"
    I say, I say, I say, I say
    Keep it casual, easy fit

    And you looked so right in that red dress

    Oh how I'd love to be a rock for you
    To be anything you could rely on

    So I'll try, I'll try, I'll try, I'll try
    But I'll get caught out
    So we'll try, we'll try, we'll try, we'll try
    But we forget the lines, forget the lines

    And you looked so wanton in the back of the car
    Like you could start a hundred wars

    See what trouble we could both cause
    By the bedroom door, the kitchen floor

    I tried, I tried, I tried

    I tried, I tried, I tried

    Oh Marlana i'm too young
    To be the father to a son

    I tried, I tried, I tried

    I tried, I tried, I tried

    Forgive me Oscar

    Forgive me Oscar

    Forgive me Oscar

    Forgive me Oscar

    Forgive me Oscar


    blocpartyband07on November 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this is about finding that right person (And you looked so right in that red dress). He wants to be Mr. Right for her as well, and be a foundation for her to run to (rock for you... could rely on). The love grew so much they ended up doing it EVERYWHERE (i.e. bedroom, kitchen floor). To make it short, he knocked her up, and he's saying hello to his future son.

    Beautiful song.
    huddyon October 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think the missing lyrics are...
    "Keep it casual, easy fit"
    "And you looked so wonderful in the back of the car"
    "I'll leave it unto them
    To be a good father to our son"
    "Forgive me Autumn"

    I think the song is recounting where he first fell in love with 'Autumn' in the first verse then how they had sex in the back of a car in the second verse but in the 3rd verse she gets pregnant and he prepares to be a good significant other and father but they keep fighting and he ends up feeling no other choice but to leave.
    piggyithon October 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it's "looked so wanton," not wonderful, which would make sense given, well, its the back of a car

    Ace song...Bloc deliver again
    VivaCaliforniaon October 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song reminds me greatly of the old Bloc Party stuff... of the Two More Years era. Much love.

    Could it be that the final line is "Forgive me Oscar" ? I've never been too good at picking Kele's lyrics, but thats what it sounded like to me.

    Beautiful stuff.
    pickupstyxon October 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"You can't go around breaking young girl's hearts" - This could be a reference from billie jean, just a thought
    SammyBlocon November 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentbeautiful song
    blocpartyband07on November 10, 2008   Link

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