Fake Tales Of San Francisco
● Arctic Monkeys Lyrics


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Fake Tales of San Francisco
Echo through the room
More point to a wedding disco
Without a bride or groom
There's a super cool band yeah
With their trilbys and their glasses of white wine
And all the weekend rockstars are in the toilets
Practicing their lines

I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear, you know
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
I don't want to hear your

Fake Tales of San Francisco
Echo through the air
And there's a few bored faces at the back
All wishing they weren't there

And as the microphone squeaks
A young girl's telephone beeps
Yeah she's dashing for the exit
Oh she's running to the streets outside
"Oh you've saved me," she screams down the line
"The band were fucking wank
And I'm not having a nice time"

I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear, you know
(Kick me out, kick me out)

Yeah but his bird said it's amazing, though
So all that's left
Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf

He talks of San Francisco, he's from Hunter's Bar
I don't quite know the distance
But I'm sure that's far
Yeah I'm sure it's pretty far

And yeah, I'd love to tell you all my problem
You're not from New York City, you're from Rotherham
So get off the bandwagon, and put down the handbook
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook




Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook

Overall Meaning

The song 'Fake Tales of San Francisco' by Arctic Monkeys is a satirical take on the music industry and the concept of 'fake' bands trying to make it big. The opening lines set the tone of the song as the singer hears 'fake tales' about a wedding disco in San Francisco, where there is no bride or groom, and a cool band wearing trilbys and sipping white wine. The weekend rockstars in the toilets are practicing their lines, implying that they are not actually talented musicians, but rather image-conscious individuals trying to find success through superficial means.


The chorus of the song is a repetition of 'I don't want to hear you', emphasizing the disillusionment with the fake stories and image that people try to present in the industry. As the song progresses, the singer highlights the emptiness of the scene by describing the bored faces of the audience and a young girl who tries to escape from the music.


The second half of the song shifts towards criticizing individuals who try to present themselves as part of a scene or culture that they do not actually belong to. The singer mentions a person who talks about San Francisco but is actually from Hunter's Bar, emphasizing how people try to fake their way through life. The song ends with the lyrics 'Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook', calling for people to be true to themselves and not indulge in superficial trends.


Line by Line Meaning

Fake Tales of San Francisco Echo through the room More point to a wedding disco Without a bride or groom
People are pretending to be from San Francisco at this event, but it's really just a boring wedding reception with no actual wedding ceremony happening.


There's a super cool band yeah With their trilbys and their glasses of white wine And all the weekend rockstars are in the toilets Practicing their lines
The band playing is trying to look cool and sophisticated, but really they're just amateurs practicing in the bathroom.


I don't want to hear you (Kick me out, kick me out) I don't want to hear, you know (Kick me out, kick me out) I don't want to hear you (Kick me out, kick me out) I don't want to hear you I don't want to hear your
The singer is tired of hearing fake stories and pretentiousness and wants to leave.


And there's a few bored faces at the back All wishing they weren't there
Some people in the crowd are unimpressed and would rather be somewhere else.


Yeah but his bird said it's amazing, though So all that's left Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf
The artist's friend's significant other thinks the band is great, but the artist doesn't agree and thinks that love is blind and deaf.


He talks of San Francisco, he's from Hunter's Bar I don't quite know the distance But I'm sure that's far Yeah I'm sure it's pretty far
One of the band members claims to be from San Francisco, but really he's from a neighborhood in their hometown that is far from San Francisco.


And yeah, I'd love to tell you all my problem You're not from New York City, you're from Rotherham So get off the bandwagon, and put down the handbook Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The singer wants to express their frustrations, but realizes that the person they're talking to doesn't understand because they're not from the same city. They tell them to stop pretending to be something they're not and to stop following a trend or guidebook.


Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
The repeated chorus emphasizes the artist's desire for people to stop pretending and conforming to trends and instead be genuine.




Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX TURNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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