I heard this song for the first time in the gym and, I gotta say, it’s a weird song for a gym, or at least the gym I go to. I’m used to (mostly tuning out) bouncy pop songs, a little EDM and bubble gum hip hop. This typical background banality certainly made the transition into Downtown Baby memorable, and a little shocking.

The first thing you notice is a repetitive, melancholy guitar theme that loops with very little variation for the 3-ish minutes. I’m pretty sure the percussion is just a drum machine and there’s some barely noticeable synths on top. It’s not musically complicated and I can totally understand getting bored with the instrumental section. Likewise the vocals aren’t going to blow you away. Bloo has a slightly damaged tenor voice, he doesn’t really do distortion and everything he sings is in a very narrow range. You’re certainly not going to be mistaking him for Freddie Mercury or Layne Staley.

It kind of seems like a standard, disposable hit except for the very strange way the lyrics interact with that sad, repetitive guitar loop. “You’re my downtown baby,” “you’re the dream I want to dream,” “you’re the star that shines in my eye” – it’s like a love song wandered into a funeral dirge.

And then I listened some more and read the lyrics and realized that’s almost exactly what Downtown Baby is. There’s a desperate, codependent but utterly genuine love in this song. I can almost smell the cigarettes, the vomit and the ground-up prescription pills dissolving in the vodka. “Hating to hurt and drinking away the pain. Bringing out the wine when you can’t drink any more liquor.” This stuff is kind of sweet but super dark and codependent.

Reminds me of a relationship I had and how intensely addicting that self-destruction can be, how the attachment I felt got stronger and more visceral the more toxic and isolating it became. If you don’t know how that feels first hand, this song might give you and idea.

My translation of the lyrics below:

Your my downtown baby,

You’re the star that shines in my eye,

You’re the dream I want to dream every night,

Baby without you, I can’t do this anymore.

Your my downtown baby,

You’re the star that shines in my eye,

You’re the dream I want to dream every night,

Baby without you, I can’t do this anymore.

Your house is number 628,

Since I’m nearby let’s roll,

Time’s short so take both my hands,

I don’t want to let go.

Pink hair, three piercings,

I like it when you rest on my arm,

I hate that we’re hurting,

And so there’s only you for me.

Your my downtown baby,

You’re the star that shines in my eye,

You’re the dream I want to dream every night,

Baby without you, I can’t do this anymore.

X2

Let’s watch a movie,

Let’s drink all night long,

Let’s smoke a cigarette and

Talk all night long.

When you’re having a hard time have it with me,

Hold me tight in your thin arms,

Even if you’re hurt it’s alright,

Even if you spend all our time it’s alright,

Your hands are always cold so

Like you always said, give me a hug,

I’ll make you rich, wait a bit,

A day without you is a rainy day,

I’ll do anything, wait a bit,

Even when the bright skies turn grey,

When you couldn’t drink liquor,

I brought you some wine,

When you couldn’t drink liquor,

I’ll come meet you

Cause our hearts ache.

Your my downtown baby,

You’re the star that shines in my eye,

You’re the dream I want to dream every night,

Baby without you, I can’t do this anymore.

X2

It’s okay baby, I’ll always be right here,

It’s okay baby, I’ll leave my phone on for you,

It’s okay baby, I’ll always be right here,

It’s okay baby, I’ll leave my phone on for you,

You’re my downtown baby,

You’re the star that shines in my eye,

You’re the dream I want to dream every night,

Baby without you, I can’t do this anymore.

X2