I'm going to take a different viewpoint. At the time this song was written (late '80s - early '90s) Britain, like the US was undergoing a problem of young people leaving their families in provincial towns and heading for the bright lights, ie London. I think he is looking for this girl professionally.
-If you were looking methodically for someone you would check hospitals, voters registers and the local police or social services - "There's gotta be a record of you somewhere, you've gotta be on somebody's books,"
If you were looking for someone, would you not have a photograph to show around? "The lowdown - a picture of your face".
Does she have a grievance against her family, friends or boyfriend? "The injured looks"
Has she leat things she holds very dear to her; or things she doesn't really care about? "The sacred and profane".
Was she the victim of abuse at home or in a relationship? "The pleasure and the pain"
She's out there somewhere. "Somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete".
As he walks down the street he's looking at all those who pass. "And it's your face I'm looking for, on every street".
He tracks down a man (at a rail or bus station?) These people used to hang around waiting for young people arriving in the city to get them into prostitution or drug dealing. They were often attractive to the young and impressionable. "A ladykiller - regulation tattoo, silver spurs on his heels".
He makes excuses.....it wasn't his fault. "Says what can I tell you, as I'm standing next to you, she threw herself under my wheels".
There are risks in everything, what can I do about it? - "Oh it's a dangerous road, it's a hazardous load"
If she doesn't want to be found, then she can please herself. "The fireworks of liberty explode in the heat, and it's your face I'm looking for. on every street."
Could never decide about the next line. "A three chord symphony crashes into space."
The next line is purely descriptive, he's looking at a reflection in a puddle. Or is he reflecting on the futility of his search, or is the moon mocking his efforts? "The moon is hanging upside down".
He doesn't really think he'll ever find her. "I don't know why I'm still on the case".
He's saying that the city will consume the naive and unwary. "It's a ravenous town"
He won't find her if she doesn't want to be found. "And you still refuse to be traced".
If she feels trapped by the city or her circumstances (drugs, prostitution, crime) "It seems to me such a waste".
When he finds a runaway he may be taking them back to where they were running away from in the first place. "And every victory has a taste that's bitter-sweet".
"And it's your face I'm looking for, on every street."
I'm going to take a different viewpoint. At the time this song was written (late '80s - early '90s) Britain, like the US was undergoing a problem of young people leaving their families in provincial towns and heading for the bright lights, ie London. I think he is looking for this girl professionally. -If you were looking methodically for someone you would check hospitals, voters registers and the local police or social services - "There's gotta be a record of you somewhere, you've gotta be on somebody's books,"
If you were looking for someone, would you not have a photograph to show around? "The lowdown - a picture of your face".
Does she have a grievance against her family, friends or boyfriend? "The injured looks"
Has she leat things she holds very dear to her; or things she doesn't really care about? "The sacred and profane".
Was she the victim of abuse at home or in a relationship? "The pleasure and the pain"
She's out there somewhere. "Somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete".
As he walks down the street he's looking at all those who pass. "And it's your face I'm looking for, on every street".
He tracks down a man (at a rail or bus station?) These people used to hang around waiting for young people arriving in the city to get them into prostitution or drug dealing. They were often attractive to the young and impressionable. "A ladykiller - regulation tattoo, silver spurs on his heels".
He makes excuses.....it wasn't his fault. "Says what can I tell you, as I'm standing next to you, she threw herself under my wheels".
There are risks in everything, what can I do about it? - "Oh it's a dangerous road, it's a hazardous load"
If she doesn't want to be found, then she can please herself. "The fireworks of liberty explode in the heat, and it's your face I'm looking for. on every street."
Could never decide about the next line. "A three chord symphony crashes into space."
The next line is purely descriptive, he's looking at a reflection in a puddle. Or is he reflecting on the futility of his search, or is the moon mocking his efforts? "The moon is hanging upside down".
He doesn't really think he'll ever find her. "I don't know why I'm still on the case".
He's saying that the city will consume the naive and unwary. "It's a ravenous town"
He won't find her if she doesn't want to be found. "And you still refuse to be traced".
If she feels trapped by the city or her circumstances (drugs, prostitution, crime) "It seems to me such a waste".
When he finds a runaway he may be taking them back to where they were running away from in the first place. "And every victory has a taste that's bitter-sweet".
"And it's your face I'm looking for, on every street."