The band formed in Liverpool, England in 2001, taking their name from Magic Band guitarist Bill Harkleroad, better known as Zoot Horn (or "Zuton") Rollo. With all the members being Liverpudlian, this led to comparisions with The Coral, especially as both bands were signed to the same record label - Deltasonic - and had the same producer - Ian Broudie. Their debut album - Who Killed The Zutons? - was released on October 18th 2004, and reached number 9 in the UK album chart.
Line up
David McCabe on lead vocals and guitar Abi Harding on saxophone and vocals
Sean Payne on drums, percussion and vocals
Russell Pritchard on bass guitar and vocals
Valerie
The Zutons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And through my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Did you have to go to jail
Put your house on up for sale?
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn't catch a tan
I hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere
Changed the color of your hair
Are you busy?
And did you have to pay the fine
You were dodging all the time are you still dizzy?
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why wont you come on over
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Well sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I, think of all the things
What you're doing
And in my head I make a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
The lyrics to The Zutons's song Valerie tell the story of a man who is missing his ex-girlfriend named Valerie. He spends his nights by the water, reminiscing about their memories and wondering what she is doing. The singer mentions that since coming back home, his health and mental state have been in a state of mess because he cannot get Valerie out of his head. He longs for her physical appearance, mentioning her ginger hair and how she used to dress. The chorus is a plea for her to come back to him and stop making a fool out of him.
The second verse focuses on the man's curiosity about what Valerie has been up to since their breakup. He asks if she went to jail, put her house up for sale, and if she found the right man to fix things for her. He also wonders if she has changed her appearance or if she is still dodging fines. The man's feelings for Valerie are still strong, and he is still hoping for a reunion with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Well sometimes I go out by myself
The singer occasionally goes out alone.
And I look across the water
The singer looks out over the water, possibly at a river or a bay.
And I, think of all the things
The singer thinks about many things.
What you're doing
The singer wonders what the addressee is doing.
And through my head I make a picture
The singer imagines an image in their mind.
'Cause since I've come on home
Things have been difficult for the singer since they came home.
Well my body's been a mess
The singer's body has been in disarray.
And I miss your ginger hair
The singer misses the addressee's red hair.
And the way you like to dress
The singer misses the addressee's fashion sense.
Won't you come on over
The singer wants the addressee to visit.
Stop making a fool out of me
The singer feels embarrassed or foolish because of the addressee's actions.
Why won't you come on over
The singer is questioning why the addressee won't visit.
Valerie, Valerie
The singer is addressing the addressee.
Did you have to go to jail
The singer is asking if the addressee went to jail.
Put your house on up for sale?
The singer is asking if the addressee sold their house.
Did you get a good lawyer?
The singer is asking if the addressee got a good lawyer.
I hope you didn't catch a tan
The singer hopes the addressee didn't get a suntan.
I hope you find the right man
The singer hopes the addressee finds the right partner.
Who'll fix it for you
The singer hopes the addressee finds someone who can help them.
Are you shopping anywhere
The singer is asking if the addressee is shopping.
Changed the color of your hair
The singer is asking if the addressee changed their hair color.
Are you busy?
The singer is asking if the addressee is busy.
And did you have to pay the fine
The singer is asking if the addressee had to pay a fine.
You were dodging all the time
The singer is suggesting that the addressee may have been avoiding something.
Are you still dizzy?
The singer is asking if the addressee is still feeling lightheaded.
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
The singer repeats the addressee's name.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Abigail Harding, Boyan Chowdhury, David Alan McCabe, Russell Thomas Pritchard, Sean Francis Caleb Payne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sra. Enéas
VALERIE
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things of what you're doing
In my head I paint a picture
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Did you have to go to jail?
Put your house out up for sale?
Did you get a good lawyer?
I hope you didn't catch a tan,
Hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere?
Change the color of your hair
And are you busy?
Did you have to pay that fine
That you were dodging all the time?
Are you still dizzy?
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things of what you're doing
In my head I paint a picture
Since I've come home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I miss your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Oh, won't you come on over?
Stop making a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie
Why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Rachel Maurtua
This version and
Amy's version are completely different. This one is more rock while Amy's was more soul. Therefore it's clearly logical for people to like one over the other since everyone had a preferred genre. I thnk both are really great in different ways.
Peter Thomas
Totally agree with you
the beauty of covers
Both are on my play list
Both are amazing
Justin Long
Eight years later i agree with you, stranger.
Jonny Roxx
These guys wrote a great song. That’s why it works so well in different arrangements. I play an acoustic version that’s different from everyone else’s and it still sounds great.
YouBazinga
I agree and I really like both versions.
Dru Underwood
R.I.P. Mum.
Horton Remstead
This song was a big hit in the UK and Amy loved it too, made a cover and made everyone who loved this song love her more in the process.
Matthias Görgens
@Valerie Neilson The Germans do.
Carine Demolin
Absolutely. I prefer this one but I'm not offended by Amy's version. No one goes around moaning the Whitney's I will always love you is a cover are they?
Lottie Anne
❤️