About
The 80s was written by Robbie Williams and Jerry Meehan, and produced by Meehan. It appears on Rudebox as a spoken-word reflection on Williams’s childhood and teenage years in Stoke-on-Trent. The song continues the autobiographical thread begun with Burslem Normals, tracing the singer’s journey from innocence to experience against the backdrop of the decade that shaped him.
Williams recalls vivid moments from his youth with humour and candour, describing school life, early crushes and his first encounters with pop culture. The conversational, almost confessional delivery draws on influences from Ian Dury and The Streets, blending rap, poetry and storytelling. Its tone oscillates between nostalgia and self-deprecation, punctuated by sharp social observation — “They know they're born today” and “Who are you calling poof? You like Wham, man?” — which evoke the slang and attitudes of the time without endorsing them.
“The 80s and The 90s, like most of my songs, are very autobiographical. It’s bittersweet about a decade where I formed an opinion. I was wrong.”Robbie Williams
Musically, The 80s pairs an understated groove with subtle synths, allowing Williams’s words to take centre stage. He said writing it — alongside The 90s — proved “therapeutic,” helping him to reflect on his past without regret. The track’s honesty and dry wit capture the formative mix of boredom, bravado and curiosity that later fuelled his songwriting.
Performed live for the first time at the 2017 Under the Radar concert, The 80s has since been regarded by fans as one of Williams’s most personal and lyrically accomplished works, combining nostalgia with a self-awareness few pop stars display.
Lyrics
Learned how to skive
Polo mints to hide my breath from my mum
Did a little weed cuz it felt like fun
Did a little bit of speed if my friend had some
Nicked Volkswagen badges I'm a Beastie Boys son
Me so horny, me so young and I still get my washing done
Auntie Joan died of cancer God didn't have an answer
Rhythm was a dancer
Any room for a chancer? That's me in the corner, thanks sir!
I wore astute track suits, British Nike shoes, Kangol hat like LL Cool's
Before I was 'avin it, 'avin it large
They nicked the BMX from out my garage
Knew it was Theo from off the estate cuz every time he'd see me, he'd smile like we were mates
From then on in I'd have to walk to me Nan's
And I'd dream my dreams through a sea of prams
Like a hooligan on the football stands
And I'd throw the v's to Leeds and West Ham
Then I ran, I ran so far away down Scotia Road to a taxi bay
Then I ran again cuz I couldn't pay, a Muslim didn't get his fare that day
I apologise today
Things are better when they start
That's how the 80s broke my heart
And who are you calling poof? You like Wham, man, I hate that stuff
And then my grandad died and left a hole in the family and lots of women had to nanny me
School was a laugh, they didn't have ADD, thick was the term they used for me
(over and over)
Repeatedly
(over and over)
Take my breath away take my breath away
Bidly bidly bidly bom
Pass it on the left hand side, right turn, Clive
That girl in the fourth year, got pregnant and she was raised Catholic, brilliant!
I cried, she cried, we cried, our youth died
Drank cider in the cemetery
The year above us had discovered E and I said it weren't for me
?12.50? I could rob me mum's purse and buy one up Torquay
Met a girl on Monday, drank fizzy pop on Tuesday
Fingered her on Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday
Dumped by Sunday
Things are better when they start
That's how the 80s broke my heart
The wonder years, I've played my part
That's how the 80s broke my heart
Like I said, I lost my virginity to a girl called Anne-Marie, well she said she fancied me
And then she said "fuck me" and I thought 'fuck me, I'm all talk and it'll be over too quickly'
And it was but I couldn't care less, I'd seen a girl's bra and made a mess on her dress, oh yes!
You're now rocking with the best, second person in my year that had seen a breast
I'm in my 30s now and I'm still impressed
Where are the Falklands mum? And what have they done?
Where do girls come from? Where do girls come from? Where do girls come from?
It's the 80s, what you looking at, ya mong?
So young, so long, so young, so long
Too short, so long
What you looking at ya mong?
Too short, so long, too short, so long
So long.
Credits
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Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Robbie Williams, Jerry Meehan