Fitzpleasure Lyrics
Deep greedy and Googling every corner.
Dead in the middle of the C-O-double M-O-N,
Little did I know then that the Mandela Boys soon become Mandela Men.
Tall woman, pull the pylons down
And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next.
Steepled fingers, ring leaders, queue jumpers, rock fist paper scissors, lingered fluffers.
In your hoof lies the heartland
Where we tent for our treasure, pleasure, leisure, les yeux, it’s all in your eyes.
In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure,
Deep greedy and Googling every corner,
Blended by the lights.
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Tralala is the name of a character from the book Last Exit to Brooklyn. If you don't understand the song, it's worth reading that chapter, in particular the last half a page or so (though be warned the book was banned in several countries for shocking content). If you'd rather not read it, it ends with gang rape culminating in death by broom. A rather pleasant topic for a song, if I do say so myself :) Either way, this is an awesome song
@tiggydong wow that is really awesome and really creepy. I am definitely feeling both… a lot a lot. But cool I don't think I could read it if I tried, that was enough for me.
@tiggydong wow that is really awesome and really creepy. I am definitely feeling both… a lot a lot. But cool I don't think I could read it if I tried, that was enough for me.
Thanks for this info! :)
Thanks for this info! :)
on a side note, I haven't read the book yet but I read it's about lower class Brooklyn. I thought the music video was so good at depicting this.
on a side note, I haven't read the book yet but I read it's about lower class Brooklyn. I thought the music video was so good at depicting this.
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This is copied from an interview with Alt-J. I'm a bit disappointed with them. I get that it's artistic but I feel that their song glorifies the gang rape.
What is Fitzpleasure? Fitzpleasure? Erm It’s not rude is it? It is rude, well it’s not rude, it’s graphic and it’s violent. It’s based on a book by Hubert Selby Jr [Last Exit to Brooklyn]. Each chapter is about a different character and they all intertwine throughout the book. There’s a woman called Tralala so that’s why we sing [sings] Tra-la-la-la there’s a character called Tralala and it’s just about her. So basically the phrase is ‘in your snatch fits pleasure, broom shaped pleasure’ so fits and pleasure and Fitz like a second name, like Fitzpatrick so we thought Fitzpleasure, so more subtle. But it’s about the end of the chapter where she gets, er, gang-raped, so it’s really horrible. Who read the book? I did. I always believe that you write about what moves you and although that gang-rape scene is horrible… it really moved me, it’s really well written, you don’t really know which way is up after that chapter. I thought it was a really powerful thing to write about. We like your shoes, where are they from? They’re Doc Martins.
Well, love them, but this song... I´ll skip from now on
Well, love them, but this song... I´ll skip from now on
Yeah, its weird. The lyrical content and mood of the song don't do anything to condemn the actions described which is a little disturbing to me.
Yeah, its weird. The lyrical content and mood of the song don't do anything to condemn the actions described which is a little disturbing to me.
The Irish prefix "Fitz" indicates illigitimatcy. "Fitzpatrick" means "bastard son of Patrick."
The Irish prefix "Fitz" indicates illigitimatcy. "Fitzpatrick" means "bastard son of Patrick."
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Also read in NME that the common in the song "dead in the middle of the c, o double m, o, n" is a reference to a place near where the band grew up. A lot of dodgy characters used to hang out there including a gang called the mandella boys "little did i know then, that the mandella boys soon became mandella men".
Such a dark song, but I love it :D
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Tiggydong, very valid comment. I see vague references to Trainspotting, specifically with "pleasure leisure leishya" and the term snatch as well as the general violent nature of the lyrics.
Its not leishya. The lyric is, "les yeux", which is French for, "the eyes". The following lyric, "Its all in your eyes."
Its not leishya. The lyric is, "les yeux", which is French for, "the eyes". The following lyric, "Its all in your eyes."
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This songs is brilliant The Mandela Boys are a gang in Southampton who are always getting into trouble but I guess they've toned down a little as growing to 'men' (still wouldn't mess with them though)
also I live right next to the common and yeh I walk my dog there most days and have never actually encountered anything too frightening but then again there are loads of horror stories that prevent me from going there alone! haha
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I love they way that Joe Newman sings the word "corner" in the second line when he says "Deep greedy and Googling every corner"
He pronounces it in such a way that the word itself BECOMES an actual corner. ("deep, greedy, and googling every coooor-ner).
The rhythm in which the entire line is sung adds to the overall imagery that is evoked in the listeners mind almost as much as the words do.
Alt J pulls these little tricks in many of their songs and these small subtleties are what make them truly amazing.
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In the line - And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next. I always hear - around the necks..I wont affect this mainly queue to be the next. It also speaks to the nature of the song, the animalistic and patriarchal theme of the assault
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This songs is brilliant The Mandela Boys are a gang in Southampton who are always getting into trouble but I guess they've toned down a little as growing to 'men' (still wouldn't mess with them though)
also I live right next to the common and yeh I walk my dog there most days and have never actually encountered anything too frightening but then again there are loads of horror stories that prevent me from going there alone! haha
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im stunned that its all english. The delivery of these lyrics is nothing short of uh, uh, uh
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well i havent read the book, but i get the overwhelming sense that it is about a woman/prostitute will a possible murderous streak in her.....boys become men...deep greedy googling every corner? shes blended by the lights so noone sees her coming and dont realize they are prey,... just saying. thats what i get. =)
but now i am soooo gonna read the book. thanx.
but now i am soooo gonna read the book. thanx.