The band has released seven 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) and The Car (2022) (the first six of which debuted at #1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Each of the band's first five singles "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor", "When the Sun Goes Down", "Leave Before The Lights Come On", "Brianstorm" and "Fluorescent Adolescent" hit the UK Top Five, but their sixth single, "Teddy Picker", only went Top 20 and their seventh single, "Crying Lightning" peaked at #12.
The band's 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.
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 single "Leave Before The Lights Come On" came out on August 14th, but only reached Number 4 on the UK charts, denying the band a third consecutive number 1 single.
Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not won the 2006 Mercury Prize, was chosen as the best album of year 2006 by Q Magazine, and received a slew of other accolades.
Their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare was released on April 23rd 2007. It was preceded by "Brianstorm", the first single from the album, which was released a week before. Like its predecessor, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" sold more than the rest of the Top 20 combined, and - due to an error on iTunes - every song on the record appeared on the UK Top 200 Singles the next week.
When asked about Favourite Worst Nightmare Turner commented, "We haven't changed that much. It's still about making contact with girls or not making contact with girls".
The band began to write and record demos for the third album in January 2008, Turner said "We had tunes that we'd already been playing on tour so we recorded them. That’s six [songs]. We’re going to take it easy and start practicing over the summer and doing new stuff."
The band premiered new material from the unreleased album during their January 2009 tour of New Zealand, playing small venues in Wellington and Auckland ahead of the Big Day Out festival. Their first show in more than a year was on January 13, 2009 at Wellington's Town Hall. In both cities, the new songs played were "Crying Lightning", "Go-Kart", "Dangerous Animals" and "Pretty Visitors." The full setlist from the Auckland gig is available online. Also played was a cover of the Nick Cave song "Red Right Hand." During their last tour, the band had played new songs "Put Me In A Terror Pocket", "Sandtrap," and "The Fire and The Thud" live.
Lead singer/songwriter Alex Turner started a two-man project with the singer from the Rascals, Miles Kane.
The band is called 'The Last Shadow Puppets'
The Arctic Monkeys band released their album Humbug in August of 2009, preceded by the single "Crying Lightning"
They released their fourth studio album, Suck It And See, on June 6th, 2011.
They released their fifth studio album, AM, on September 9th, 2013.
They released their sixth studio album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, with no preceding single releases, on May 11th, 2018.
They released their seventh studio album, The Car, on October 21st, 2022, preceded by the singles "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball", "Body Paint" and "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am".
http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/
19 Leave Before The Lights Come On
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't one
Well, my friend fancies you
Oh, what a way to begin it all
You said, "They're always exciting words to hear"
And they woke up together not quite realizing how
Awkwardly stretching and yawning
And I suppose that's the price you pay
Well, oh, it isn't what it was
She's thinking he looks different today
And now there's nothing left to guess now
They left before the lights came on
Because they didn't want to ruin what it was that was brewing
Before they absolutely had to
And how can you wake up with someone you don't love
And not feel slightly fazed by it?
Oh, he had a struggle
And they woke up together not quite realizing how
Awkwardly stretching and yawning
It's always hard in the morning
And I suppose that's the price you pay
Well, oh, it isn't what it was
She's thinking he looks different today
And now there's nothing left to guess now
Well, quick, let's leave before the lights come on
'Cause then you don't have to see
'Cause then you don't have to see what you've done
Well, quick, let's leave before the lights come on
'Cause then you don't have to see
'Cause then you don't have to see what you've done
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?
I'll walk you up
The lyrics of Arctic Monkeys' song "Leave Before The Lights Come On" depict a story of two people who had a one-night stand but wake up regretting it. The mood of the song is melancholic and reflective, capturing the hazy feeling of the morning after. The opening lines "Well, this is a good idea, he wouldn't do it if it wasn't" is a play on the fact that the main character is trying to convince themselves that the previous night was a good idea and that he wouldn't have done it otherwise.
The lyrics in the chorus "And how can you wake up with someone you don't love? And not feel slightly phased by it" speak to the disconnect felt by the two characters, who clearly don't have any emotional attachment to each other. The lyrics also suggest the fear of facing the reality of what they have done and not wanting to ruin the fleeting moment by avoiding the morning-after confrontation. The concluding lines of the song "I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?" suggest that though it may not have been the perfect night, the two characters share a sense of camaraderie and are attempting to move forward from their one night of passion.
Overall, "Leave Before The Lights Come On" is an introspective take on the aftermath of a one-night stand, showcasing Alex Turner's skills in crafting vivid and reflective lyrical narratives.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, this is a good idea
Beginning of the story, someone is about to do something
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't
The person is confident in their decision to do what they're about to do
He wouldn't do it if it wasn't one
Reiteration that the person is convinced doing what they're doing is a good idea
Well, my friend fancies you
A confession that the artist's friend finds the person they're talking to attractive
Oh, what a way to begin it all
Acknowledgement that this could be the beginning of something exciting
You said they're always exciting words to hear
The person they're talking to said the right thing to make the moment exciting
They woke up together
The two people slept together
Not quite realizing how
They weren't entirely sure how they ended up sleeping together
Awkwardly stretching and yawning
They woke up feeling awkward and tired
It's always hard in the morning
A common understanding that mornings can be tough after a night like the one they had
And I suppose that's the price you pay
Suggesting that there are consequences to their actions and they have to face them
Well, oh, it isn't what it was
Acknowledging that the situation isn't as great as they thought it would be
She's thinking he looks different today
One of the two people is starting to have second thoughts
And oh, there's nothing left to guess now
The situation is clear and there's no more pretending
They left before the lights came on
The two people didn't want to confront the reality of their situation
Because they didn't want to ruin
The two people wanted to preserve the moment they had shared
What it was that was brewing
They wanted to preserve their possible romance
Before they absolutely had to
They wanted to delay having to confront their feelings
And how can you wake up
A rhetorical question about the difficulty of waking up beside someone you don't have feelings for
With someone you don't love?
The question is clarified
And not feel slightly phased by it
Expressing surprise that faced with the situation, they're not feeling more conflicted
Oh, he had a struggle
One of the people is struggling with their feelings
Quick, let's leave
The two people make a quick exit
What time's the bus come?
The person who's leaving wants to know when the bus is coming
'cause then you don't have to see
It becomes clear they don't want to face their emotions
'cause then you don't have to see what you've done
Leaving before the lights come on avoids having to see the aftermath of their actions
I'll walk you up
One of the people offers to accompany the other to the bus stop
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
c o
Alex Turner is pure class
Declan Hayes
I need to stop saying ladies and gentlemen that must be the 14th time
Avacado Man
Matt Helders is amazing he comes up with some incredible stuff.
Gavin Furey
That pause at 1:26 gets me everytime
rarethen9
haha it's mind-blowing
Alicia Anthony
This version FUCKING bangs!!!!!!
charlie hudson
Amazing
Carla Ann
Did he say, I’m gonna have a slice of toast? 😂
Saturn Studios
ankyou very muh