I am the message center
Local and direct
Room to room, an operator
No calls today, dear, they'll just have to wait, dear
I call and I collect
So just strike him softly away from the body

You're made up too shiny today (in so much trouble)
Thoughts are just pissing away (in so much trouble)
In so much trouble

I am a manager
I am in control
As the local delegator
No calls today, dear, they'll just have to wait, dear
I offer no guarantee at all
So don't take it lightly you'll put yourself under

You're made up too shiny today (in so much trouble)
Thoughts are just pissing away (in so much trouble)
A new typeface, a new day (in so much trouble)
You can't remember ten minutes ago (in so much trouble)
Too much trouble

La, la-la-la-la
La, la, la, la
La, la-la-la-la
La, la, la, la

You're made up too shiny today (in so much trouble)
Thoughts are just pissing away (in so much trouble)
A new typeface, a new day (in so much trouble)
You can't remember ten minutes ago (in so much trouble)
It's too much trouble (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 Demau Senae, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Trouble in the Message Centre Lyrics as written by David Rowntree Alexander James

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Trouble in the Message Centre song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    I think the message centre=the brain. This is about being screwed up from being on ecstasy and paying the price with your brain not working like it's supposed to. Makes sense since this was written during the rave era in England.

    dontkillwhiteyon March 11, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song might be all about the youth culture in the 90's of going out and getting wasted on drugs or alcohol, or both and then waking up the next morning and realising how irresponsible you were and how much trouble you might be in. At least that's what the chorus sounds like to me anyway.

    The verses sound incredible with Grahams guitar in the background and I think Damon's voice sounds at his best. It sounds very attractive, I'm a heterosexual male but when Damon says, midly sonorously, "I am a manager" "I am in control" It sounds very alpha male and totally secure

    smokyruinson June 21, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    have u listened to 13 album?Some of the style of the songs are rougher...

    amelieleeon January 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Any university student will know the feeling of the office chaos this so cleverly represents, where "thoughts are just p** away" and "you can't remember ten minutes ago" and you're "in so much trouble" because the assignment's due tomorrow. It's such an underrated track.

    DaveyLowellon October 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    After listening about 10 times to the CD Parklife I noticed how great this song is. It's a bit more rough than the other songs on Parklife that's what I like about it.

    arno_von January 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Nope, good idea though...

    arno_von February 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is my favorite Blur song. Great chord progression, and it's hardly 'pop' at all. Excellent.

    Tabuckton April 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah this song is good.

    Geeballs14on December 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Damon wrote the lyrics on a hotel room receipt, lifting phrases from the hotel telephone, "local and direct," "room to room." When these lyrics were reproduced in the liner notes so was director en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Godley 's phone number, which appeared on the receipt itemization. The number was removed in later pressings.

    laurelinwyntreon November 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "I call and I collect" HAHAHAHAHAHA- I LOVE IT!!!

    Perplexion December 14, 2007   Link

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