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Elbow – Switching Off (2003) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Elbow
Cast of Thousands
Switching Off

TRACK

Switching Off

Release date: 2003

From Cast of Thousands

Track 5

5:05

Alternative Music Pop Britpop

Spotify Apple Music More on Elbow

About This Track

'Switching Off' by Elbow is an alternative track from the album 'Cast of Thousands', released in 2003. The lyrics sketch a cinematic, slightly surreal exit, with a figure popping out of view as “a final scene unfolds”. Rain of sparks, an early June early-evening setting, and a rehearsal of boyish whistling sit alongside a self-interrogating thread, as the speaker keeps asking whether their words add up. Love is suggested in first-blush terms, but it is tied to uncertainty and narration, the voice both describing events and worrying at what it is trying to say.

"Switching Off" is a track by Elbow, from the album Cast of Thousands, released 2003. The track is 5:05 long. It's filed under Alternative. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 3 articles about Elbow.

About the Artist

Elbow

Elbow

Lyrics

Switching Off

Last of the men in hats hops off the coil
And a final scene unfolds inside
Deep in the rain of sparks behind his brow
Is a part replayed from a perfect day
Teaching her how to whistle like a boy
Love's first blush

Is this making sense?
What am I trying to say?
Early evening June
This room and a radio play
This I need to save
I choose my final thoughts today
Switching off with you

All the clocks give in
And the traffic fades
And the insects like, like a neon choir
The instant fizz
Connection made
And the curtains sigh
In time
With you

You're the only sense the world has ever made
Early evening June
This room and radio play
This I need to save
I choose my final scene today
Switching off

Ran to ground, ran to ground
But I came off, came off pretty well
I came off pretty well
Ran to ground, ran to ground for a while there
But I came off pretty well
But I came off pretty well
Oh-oh
Deep in the rain of sparks behind his brow, oh-oh

You're the only sense the world has ever made
This I need to save
A simple trinket locked away
I choose my final scene today
Switching off with you

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Cast of Thousands

5:052003

Listen

Album

Cast of Thousands

Track number

5

Release year

2003

1Ribcage
6:27
2Fallen Angel
4:08
3Fugitive Motel
5:52
4Snooks (Progress Report)
4:00

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(Where Is It?)AUDIO VERTIGO (Deluxe)
0:27
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0:27
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0:38
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5:43
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1:43

Showing 10 of 20

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Guy Garvey

Doves

Doves

Turin Brakes

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I Am Kloot

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Gomez

Gomez

Athlete

Athlete

5Switching Off

5:05

7I've Got Your Number

8Buttons and Zips

9Crawling With Idiot

10Grace Under Pressure

11Flying Dream 143

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Craig Potter, Guy Garvey, Mark Potter, Pete Turner, Richard Jupp
Lyricist: Guy Garvey
Producer: Ben Hillier, Elbow
Bass: Pete Turner
Drums: Richard Jupp
Guitar: Craig Potter
Vocals: Guy Garvey
Background Vocals: Craig Potter, Mark Potter, Pete Turner, Richard Jupp

READ MORE ABOUT ELBOW

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