Songfacts®:

• The song's lyrics are based on the Shipping Forecast, which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the UK four times a day. In the program, the waters around the British Isles are divided into a number of different areas and a weather report and forecast is given for each region. In this song it is reported that a low pressure system is hitting Britain.
• Producer Stephen Street told Q magazine March 2009 how he helped songwriter Damon Albarn to complete this song. He recalled: "We'd recorded the music but the lyrics had been pushed to one side. I kept nagging Damon to finish it but he wasn't sure. Eventually, his inspiration came from a piece of wrapping paper on a present Alex James had given him. It had all the shipping regions on it with fantastic names like Cromarty, Fisher, Dogger and Lundy. The song was down to a bit of wrapping paper and gentle persuasion from me."
• According to the Parklife booklet, this is in the key of E major.
• This was included on the band's 2000 Blur: The Best of album. It was the only none single release to be chosen for the compilation.
• Street recalled the recording of the song: to Q magazine April 2011: "It was the very last vocal we recorded for the album. Damon had to go to hospital for an operation on a stomach ulcer or something the same day. I remember him phoning me, drugged up post-up, asking how the mix was going. It was right down to the wire, but it was the perfect final track for the album."