They are one of the first bands to come to public attention via the Internet via MySpace, despite none of them having an account. Their rise to success started in late 2004/early 2005 when demo songs that had been handed out in CD form at gigs found their way onto the internet. These demos rapidly spread among message boards and friends leading to a growing fan base for the band, and were collected on the unofficial Beneath the Boardwalk, which the band recognizes on their website. The band owe much of their success to viral buzz via the Internet, and have eschewed typical 'commercial' channels, including refusing to appear on the UK's (now discontinued) Top Of The Pops music program, which was often seen as a gateway to success.
The band's debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, held the record for the largest first week sales of a debut album in the UK (in its first week, it sold more than the rest of the Top 20 albums combined). The album sold over 360,000 copies in its first week, but lost the title in November 2007 to Leona Lewis's album Spirit.. It also won the 2006 Mercury Prize, was chosen as the best album of year 2006 by Q Magazine, and received a slew of other accolades.
On 19th June 2006 the band officially announced that founding member and bassist Andy Nicholson had left the band after missing the American leg of their tour due to 'fatigue' and the other band members couldn't stand the constant 'missing his girlfriend syndrome' so they told him to sling his hook. Former Dodgems bassist Nick O'Malley was initially brought in as a stand-in, and played the band's remaining summer commitments. He was then announced as Nicholson's permanent replacement.
The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, was released on 23 April 2007, a week after the release of accompanying single "Brianstorm"". Like the first album, this one quickly reached No. 1 in the album charts. Alex Turner described the songs as "very different from last time", adding that the sound of some tracks are "a bit full-on". A secret gig played at Sheffield's Leadmill on 10 February 2007, debuted seven new songs (six from Favourite Worst Nightmare and one other). Early reviews of the release were positive and described it as "very, very fast and very, very loud".
The band recorded half of the third album, Humbug at Rancho De La Luna recording sessions with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age in early autumn, 2008, and half in the New York sessions with James Ellis Ford, their producer, in spring, 2009, following their January tour of New Zealand and Australia. During this tour, lead single "Crying Lightning", along with Humbug songs "Pretty Visitors", "Dangerous Animals" and "Potion Approaching" (then known as "Go-Kart"), was debuted live. It was later revealed by Matt Helders in a video diary that the album would consist of 14 tracks and that Turner would stay in New York to oversee the mixing of the material. However, the final track listing, revealed on 1 June 2009, listed only 10.
NME reported in May 2011 that the band were teaming up with producer James Ellis Ford once again and would be releasing their fourth studio album, Suck It And See, in late spring at the earliest. Q magazine reported that the fourth Arctic Monkeys album would be of a "more accessible vintage" than Humbug. Q printed edition 299 states "It's the sound of a band drawing back the curtains and letting the sunshine in". The album was recorded in Sound City Studios in Los Angeles in 2010 and 2011. On 4 March 2011, the band premiered on its website a new track called "Brick By Brick" with lead vocals by Matt Helders. Helders explained that this is not a single, just a tease of what is coming and that is it is going to be on the fourth album. On 10 March 2011 the band revealed the album name and was released on 6 June 2011. The album's first single, titled "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" was released as a digital download on 12 April and on vinyl with ""Brick By Brick" on 16 April for Record Store Day.
On 27 February 2012, the band released a new song titled "R U Mine" on their YouTube channel, serving as the bands lead single for their fifth studio album AM, despite it was originally going to be a stand alone single. AM has received critical acclaim from music critics, upon the release of AM on 9 September 2013, the album debuted at number 1 in the UK album charts, selling over 157,000 copies in its first week. The album received widespread critical acclaim and brought Arctic Monkeys their third nomination for the Mercury Prize. The album also won the Brit award for Best British Album. In the United States, the album sold 42,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the band's highest-charting album in the United States.
In December 2016, Turner confirmed to BBC Radio Sheffield that the band's hiatus had ended and work had begun on their sixth studio album. The album had begun recording in September 2017.The album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was released on 11 May 2018. It's their first concept album, about being a hotel on the moon. Following its release, the album was promoted by the singles "Four Out Of Five" and "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino". This album had a massive change in sound compared to their first five albums, being slower and more piano based.
On 8 December 2021, the band was announced as the Saturday co-headliner of the 2022 Reading and Leeds Festival. On 23 August 2022 at the Zurich Openair festival, they debuted new song "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am" The following day they announced their seventh studio album, The Car, which was released on 21 October 2022. On 30 August 2022, they released the first single from the album, "There'd Better Be A Mirrorball", accompanied by a video directed by Turner. The Car peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, behind Midnights by Taylor Swift, being their first ever album to not debut at No.1 in the UK. In the US, the album landed at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Lead singer/songwriter Alex Turner started a two-man project with the former singer/guitarist from the Rascals and guitarist of The Little Flames, Miles Kane. The band is called 'The Last Shadow Puppets'.
Studio albums
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
Humbug (2009)
Suck It And See (2011)
AM (2013)
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018)
The Car (2022)
http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/
&")&'"`0&")&`' When The Sun Goes Down
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder what went wrong so that she had to roam the streets
She don't do major credit cards, I doubt she does receipts
It's all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a driving ban
Among some other offencesAnd I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
'Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know?
I said, he's a scumbag, don't you know?
Although you're trying not to listen
Avert your eyes and staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
I'm sorry, love, I'll have to turn you down
And oh, he must be up to summat
What are the chances? Sure it's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
And start to wonder what his story might be
What his story might be, yeah
'Cause they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah, they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here, oh
Look, here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?
And he don't even have to say owt
She's in the stance ready to get picked upBet she's delighted when she sees him
Pullin' in and givin' her the eye
Because she must be fuckin' freezin'
Scantily-clad beneath the clear night sky
It don't stop in the winter, no
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah, they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Well, they said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river going out of town
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here, oh
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all
The Arctic Monkeys' "When the Sun Goes Down" paints a vivid picture of a seedy red-light district in Sheffield, England. The song tells the story of a young prostitute and her interactions with the shady patrons of the area. The opening lines introduce a girl that the singer wonders about, questioning what drove her to sell herself on the streets. The following lines describe the characters she interacts with, particularly a "scummy man" who is known to be a thief and has been banned from driving.
As the story unfolds, the singer is propositioned by the prostitute but turns her down. Meanwhile, he observes the man in the Ford Mondeo picking up the girl and taking her away. The song comes full circle as it ends with a repetition of the chorus and a warning about the dangers of getting involved with the wrong crowd.
The lyrics of "When the Sun Goes Down" are incredibly detailed and evocative in their description of the dingy, illicit setting. The song highlights the harsh realities of life for those who are struggling to get by in economically deprived areas, as well as the dangers posed by nefarious figures who take advantage of vulnerable individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
I said, who's that girl there?
The singer wonders about a girl he sees on the street.
I wonder what went wrong so that she had to roam the streets
The singer ponders why the girl is out on the streets.
She don't do major credit cards, I doubt she does receipts
The girl is probably involved in illegal activities.
It's all not quite legitimate
The girl's activities are dubious and not legal.
And what a scummy man
The singer observes a man who is a lowlife.
Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
The lowlife man is likely to steal from people if he gets the opportunity.
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a driving ban
The lowlife man has had his license taken away for some reason.
Among some other offences
The lowlife man has committed other crimes.
And I've seen him with girls of the night
The singer has seen the lowlife man with prostitutes.
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
The lowlife man has requested the services of a prostitute named Roxanne.
They're all infected but he'll be alright
The lowlife man may be involved in risky behavior, but he thinks he'll be okay.
'Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know?
The singer emphasizes that the lowlife man is terrible.
Although you're trying not to listen
The singer notices that the listener is trying to avoid the topic of the lowlife man.
Avert your eyes and staring at the ground
The listener is avoiding making eye contact with the singer, perhaps because they're uncomfortable with the topic.
She makes a subtle proposition
The girl on the street makes a suggestive gesture to the lowlife man.
I'm sorry, love, I'll have to turn you down
The singer imagines turning down a proposition from the girl on the street.
And oh, he must be up to summat
The singer suspects the lowlife man is plotting something.
What are the chances? Sure it's more than likely
The singer thinks it's very probable that the lowlife man is up to something.
I've got a feeling in my stomach
The singer has a gut feeling about the situation.
And start to wonder what his story might be
The singer thinks about what could have led the lowlife man to this point in his life.
'Cause they said it changes when the sun goes down
The singer notes that things might change at night, suggesting that the lowlife man's behavior may be different at night.
Around here
The singer is referring to the area where he is.
Look, here comes a Ford Mondeo
The singer points out a car passing by.
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?
The driver of the car, a Ford Mondeo, seems unremarkable.
And he don't even have to say owt
The driver doesn't even have to say anything to get the girl's attention.
She's in the stance ready to get picked up
The girl expects the driver to pick her up.
Bet she's delighted when she sees him
The girl is probably happy when she sees the driver pick her up.
Pullin' in and givin' her the eye
The driver pulls over and looks at the girl suggestively.
Because she must be fuckin' freezin'
The girl is probably cold because she is scantily clad.
Scantily-clad beneath the clear night sky
The girl is dressed in revealing clothing despite the cold weather.
It don't stop in the winter, no
The activities of the girl and the lowlife man don't stop in the winter.
Over the river going out of town
The singer is referring to a location near a river where people leave town.
Well, they said it changes when the sun goes down
The singer is repeating his earlier observation that things change when the sun goes down.
Around here
The singer is referring again to the area he is in.
And what a scummy man
The singer again emphasizes that the lowlife man is terrible.
Just give him half a chance, I bet he'll rob you if he can
The lowlife man will take advantage of people if he gets the opportunity.
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a nasty plan
The lowlife man has a sinister plan in mind.
I hope you're not involved at all
The singer hopes that the listener is not involved with the lowlife man or the girl on the street.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pax
on 505
yo this is sick
robin
on When the Sun Goes Down
DAMNNN THEY ARE GOOD GOOD
robin
on Old Yellow Bricks
damn looking at these comments remind me that there is so many things to understand about the lyrics
Birgit Eierhoff
on Do I Wanna Know
The sound goes into the blood. :)
Jeannie Smith
on Do I Wanna Know
I like it.