When The Sun Goes Down
Alex Turner; Arctic Monkeys Lyrics

I said, who's that girl there?
The singer sees a girl on the street and wonders who she is.

I wonder what went wrong so that she had to roam the streets
The singer ponders the girl's circumstances that led her to be homeless.

She don't do major credit cards, I doubt she does receipts
The girl doesn't have access to traditional forms of payment and may rely on illegal means for income.

It's all not quite legitimate
The artist believes the girl's situation is not legal or ethical.

And what a scummy man
The artist observes a shady man nearby.

Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
The man is likely a thief and would steal given the opportunity.

Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a driving ban
The man has a history of traffic violations and may be driving illegally.

Among some other offences
The man has a record of other crimes.

And I've seen him with girls of the night
The artist has witnessed the man with prostitutes.

And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
The man has a history of soliciting women for sex work.

They're all infected but he'll be alright
The singer recognizes the negative influence the man has on those around him.

'Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know?
The man is a despicable character.

Although you're trying not to listen
The singer acknowledges the listener's reluctance to engage with the subject matter.

Avert your eyes and staring at the ground
The listener avoids looking at the scene around them.

She makes a subtle proposition
The homeless girl indicates she is open to prostitution.

I'm sorry, love, I'll have to turn you down
The artist refuses the girl's offer.

And oh, he must be up to summat
The artist suspects the man is planning something nefarious.

What are the chances? Sure it's more than likely
The singer recognizes the likelihood of the man's bad intentions.

I've got a feeling in my stomach
The singer has a gut feeling that something is not right.

And start to wonder what his story might be
The artist considers the man's backstory, trying to understand his motivations.

'Cause they said it changes when the sun goes down
The artist notes that the night brings a shift in mood and behavior.

Around here
This nighttime behavior pertains to their specific area.

Look, here comes a Ford Mondeo
The singer observes a car approaching.

Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?
The artist is being sarcastic, pointing out the car's conspicuousness.

And he don't even have to say owt
The man in the car doesn't need to communicate with words to proposition the girl.

She's in the stance ready to get picked up
The homeless girl is waiting to be picked up and possibly engage in prostitution.

Bet she's delighted when she sees him
The singer is being ironic, noting that the girl may be happy to have a potential client.

Pullin' in and givin' her the eye
The man in the car signals his interest in the girl.

Because she must be fuckin' freezin'
The artist empathizes with the girl's situation and notes the harsh winter conditions.

Scantily-clad beneath the clear night sky
The girl is dressed for prostitution despite the cold weather.

It don't stop in the winter, no
Prostitution continues even in harsh weather conditions.

Over the river going out of town
The artist observes that this behavior extends beyond their immediate area.

And what a scummy man
The man in the car is again noted as being despicable.

Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
The man is again noted as being a thief and untrustworthy.

Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a nasty plan
The car driver's intentions are clear in his demeanor.

I hope you're not involved at all
The artist addresses the listener with concern, hoping they do not get caught up in this dangerous lifestyle.