Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? Lyrics
Yeah, everyone wants somebody to adore
But your heroes aren't what they seem
When you've been where we've been
The funny looks and the sniggers?
Are they there at all, or is it just paranoia?
Doing what they're told
You pushed my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicidal
Won't crack or compromise
Your do-rights or individes
Will never unhinge us
Think they're Christopher Columbus
But the settlers had already settled
Yeah, long before ya
Not lining up to be playdoh
Oh, in five years time, will it be
"Who the fuck's Arctic Monkeys?"
Doing what they're told
You pushed my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicidal
Won't crack or compromise
Your do-rights or individes
Will never unhinge us
(La la la la la, la la)
(La la la la la, la la)
Will linger round and multiply in their head
Not that mad to start with
I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues...
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
And bring on the backlash!
Tell him to take out his tongue
Tell him to take out his tongue
It's not you it's them that's the fake
I won't mess with your escape
Is this really your escape?
Lyrical genius, if you ask me.
Everyone who listens to Arctic Monkey should listen to this song. I know a few people who listen to this band and think they're Hipster McHip for listening to them. One guy actually wanted to build himself up and said, "I introduced this band to you," as if Arctic Monkeys were hidden under some rock or something. I don't think he's heard this song, 'cos he obviously thinks he's Christopher Colombus. Truth is, no one's Christopher Colombus, dammit.
I know it's cliche, but it really should be about the music. If you just listened to this band for the first time four days ago in some little American town, or four years ago in Sheffield, who cares? Do you really like the music, the message and the meaning?
Funny thing is, this song is so true, because all the fuss that he did say lingered around in everyone's head and got people thinking about what kind of music enjoyers they truly are.
Who cares, it's music.. sit back and enjoy. And if you don't like it, don't buy it! I know i sound naive and stupid, but this is the truth, in my opinion.. Music is great. Music is fantastic. Just hear it for christ sakes.. And rip it to pieces if you're not pleased.. And who gives a f*ck if it's a media stunt, if they're in it for the money, if they're really 4 girls from india?! I don't! They're 4 lads who play music and i like it.
I like the idea that the "escape" mentioned at the end is Andy leaving the band, seeing as this was the last-recorded song he appeared on.
Generally i think this song is about their rise to fame where they are starting to be in the rooms with the 'really famous' people and meeting their idols only to realize they are actually just giant egotistical douche bags. I suppose you would begin to doubt things if you have grown up loving music not just because its there but because you have a passion for it and then you meet the people you thought shared your opinions but it turns out they are just "doing what their told" and are too worried about "marketing suicide" to take risks and develop. It's quite sad really, when you think about it.
First verse talks about the fact that people want an idol in their lives to adore, or people want the feeling of discovering a new band before everyone else.
Second verse is self explanatory.
Third verse, I think is talking about how everyone is in this "box, doing what they're told" meaning they are following all the trends out there and what not, and the Arctic Monkeys are saying that we don't give a shit if our music is marketing suicidal, (either meaning that their music isn't doing so well, or it means that their music is sending out bad messages), and they will stick to what they are doing cause they don't want to be trapped in that "box".
Fourth verse talking about how people think they have discovered this new band, just to find out that they aren't the first to actually discover them.
Fifth verse is talking about how they are not lining up to be playdoh, or they are not lining up like the rest of these new and upcoming bands to be molded by the public to fit their liking...and they are not gonna put up with that molding of the "playdoh" if that makes sense...
Then they are saying how its not you, its them, meaning its not the fans, its "them"...and who is them? I'm not sure...it could be the general media or what not.
Rest is pretty self explanatory.
Hope this helped. -dial
I like it, I bet it gets slated though and people will say they are acting up and being petulant, I don't think so, think it's just honesty.
Good on them.
I'm pretty disappointed by this LP to be honest. Whatever People Say is already one of my favourite albums possibly of all time after following them from being a small Sheffield band.
The line "But your heroes aren't what they seem When you've been where we've been" hints that they have had a hard up bringing or something when really they've lived in a fairly decent suburb of Sheffield.
Also "And there's a couple of hundred Think they're Christopher Columbus" I suspect is hinting at those who travel great distances to see them and could be interpreted as being very ungrateful but I might be wrong on that one?
i think that the "And there's a couple of hundred Think they're Christopher Columbus But the settlers had already settled Yeah, long before ya" part is about people who think they have discovered a new band, only to find that people where there before them.
i think that the "And there's a couple of hundred Think they're Christopher Columbus But the settlers had already settled Yeah, long before ya" part is about people who think they have discovered a new band, only to find that people where there before them.