The Story In The Song - Blur - Coffee And TV

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1999 - From the album 13 A lovely poignant song written and fronted by guitarist, Graham Coxon rather than Blur’s usual front man, Damon Alban. The song deals with Coxon’s struggles to conquer alcoholism. It is best known for one of the best pop videos ever made. The originality and execution of the concept is unique, and the results are sad, funny and poetic, all at the same time. In the video, Coxon’s family gather for breakfast, but they are all sad because he has run away from home. On the breakfast table they have left a carton of milk that has his picture on it and a request for someone to find their missing boy. The milk carton springs to life and sets out to find Coxon itself. It has various adventures, nearly getting run over, kicked around like a football and almost vomited on by a drunken woman. A kindly motorbike rider gives the carton a lift and Milky (his name) meets and falls in love with a lady milk carton, but she is crushed and killed right in front of him. Finally Milky finds Coxon, who is jamming with the rest of Blur. Coxon reads the heartfelt plea to come home to his family as written on the carton and heads home to a joyful family reunion. As he approaches the house, Coxon tears Milky open to drink the milk and throws Milky in the bin, but then we see the carton gain angel wings and rise into the sky where he is united with the girl carton he met earlier. The song is full of despair about not fitting in, and friends just being hangers-on with no real love and how empty the singer feels inside but that is in huge contrast to the cheery optimism of the milk carton who sacrifices himself to save him. The video on Youtube Arthur Chappell