A police car and a screaming siren
A pneumatic drill and ripped up concrete
A baby wailing and stray dog howling
The screech of brakes and lamp light blinking

That's entertainment, that's entertainment

A smash of glass and the rumble of boots
An electric train and a ripped up phone booth
Paint splattered walls and the cry of a tomcat
Lights going out and a kick in the balls

I tell ya that's entertainment, that's entertainment

Days of speed and slow time Monday's
Pissing down with rain on a boring Wednesday
Watching the news and not eating your tea
A freezing cold flat and damp on the walls

I say that's entertainment, that's entertainment

Waking up at six AM on a cool warm morning
Opening the windows and breathing in petrol
An amateur band rehearsing in a nearby yard
Watching the tele and thinking about your holidays

That's entertainment, that's entertainment

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la

Waking up from bad dreams and smoking cigarettes
Cuddling a warm girl and smelling stale perfume
A hot summer's day and sticky black tarmac
Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away

That's entertainment, that's entertainment

Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight
Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude
Getting a cab and travelling on buses
Reading the graffiti about slashed seat affairs

I tell ya that's entertainment, that's entertainment

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la

La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la


Lyrics submitted by tallan, edited by Garito

That's Entertainment Lyrics as written by Paul John Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Thats Entertainment song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment
    When I hear it I think of someone in a less than standard living space just looking around. Instead of getting upset and mumbling curses about it he's found a kind of humour in it all. My thumb almost breaks off trying to play this song. I don't know why.
    Blackmofasa9on December 05, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment
    I think this brings out the feeling a lot of people have when your near 18 in an enlgish town or city watching all the goings on and thats what you do most weekends. Reminds me of my youth.
    julia666on May 08, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    None of Weller's examples were meant to be taken as entertainment-- he is obviously being sarcastic. He is describing the dire conditions of lower class life and what a sorry state it is when police sirens, the smell of petrol, the sounds of a burglary in progress, etc. are your chief form of entertainment. And I believe the lyric is "and the kicking of balls", not "a kick in the balls".
    total_blam_blamon July 30, 2007   Link
  • +3
    Song Meaning
    total_blam_blam is the only one who gets it right. This song is Sarasm in it's purest form. It is about how depressing everyday British life is, but we mask it with a sigh of "that's entertainment". Is the pinnacle of our life really watching Eastenders and wishing away the days to our fortnight in Spain? Such a sad, bleak song that is so easily misinterpreted.
    d3v01don January 02, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    A story of living in any dirty old town in England. A classic.
    Paulyon April 04, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    Ask me the meaning? Life sucks, its mudane, trivial. What is being described these are the things we see, the things we experience and the things we do to cope or convince ourselves that we might as well hang around for another day. This song always makes me smile. Very punk POV. If you enjoyed this song: see Elenor Rigby, The Beatles.
    Retton September 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song is amazing - and if you didn't know, he came home from the pub absolutely pissed one night, and wrote it in 10 mins :D
    Libertine1on July 20, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Paint splattered walls and the cry of a tomcat - Lights going out and a kick in the balls - That's fuckin genius!!!.
    the.paki.ladon January 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    this song gives me goose bumps and makes me fill up every time i hear it. this song was my life living on an over crowded, filthy council estate with my mum on benefits, these brilliant lyrics were how my life was and give great praise to the genius of weller.... i now own several properties and two successful businesses. thats entertainment humbles me to my roots
    itsaringthingon May 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Takes me back to being out of work with nothing to do. Takes me back to my childhood too, parents struggling for money, can't afford to do much other than look out of the window in my rough part of Bradford.
    SmithersJones87on October 27, 2008   Link

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