This song’s narrative expands upon the strange imagery told throughout “Star Treatment”. However, while that song lamented introspectively, “American Sports” is very open and external.
"That vocal was done close to the beginning of recording that track at home. I feel like there’s an opportunity to capture something when you’re not even sure you’ve completely written it yet. I tried to replace the vocals later but I couldn’t do the thing that we liked about it anymore, so we left it the way it was. It’s probably not the most well-recorded thing."
Alex Turner describing the song in an interview with Pitchfork.
American Sports
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does it wipe that stupid look off of your face?
I saw this aura over the battleground states
I lost the money, lost the keys
But I'm still handcuffed to the briefcase
And I never thought, not in a million years
That I'd meet so many LolasCan I please have my money back?
My virtual reality mask is stuck on "Parliament Brawl"
Emergency battery pack just in time
For my weekly chat with God on video call
Breaking news, they take the truth and make it fluid
The trainer's explanation was accepted by the steward
A montage of the latest ancient ruins
Soundtracked by a chorus of "you don't know what you're doing"
And I never thought, not in a million years
That I'd meet so many Lolas
And all of my most muscular regrets explode
Behind my eyes like American sports
And I never thought, not in a million years
That I'd meet so many lovers
The lyrics of Arctic Monkeys' American Sports are artistic and thought-provoking. The line, "So when you gaze at planet earth from outer space, does it wipe that stupid look off of your face?" invokes the image of a person leaving the world behind to look at it from afar, almost as an outsider. It's a reflection on how perspective changes when you see something from a distance, making something that once felt monumental seem insignificant. The aura over battleground states is a commentary on the political climate, while losing money and keys but being handcuffed to a briefcase may indicate being tied to materialism or a corporate lifestyle.
The lyrics go on to question the artificiality of modern life, with lines like "My virtual reality mask is stuck on 'Parliament Brawl'" and "Breaking news, they take the truth and make it and fluid." These statements pose questions about the media's role in shaping our view of the world and the prevalence of technology in our lives. The phrase "emergency battery pack just in time for my weekly chat with God on video call" furthers the artificiality of the world and the disconnection from nature.
The chorus, "And all of my most muscular regrets explode, behind my eyes like American sports" brings the song back to the personal, invoking feelings of loss and regret. The line "That I'd meet so many lovers" is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of relationships and the uncertainty of life.
Line by Line Meaning
So when you gaze at planet earth from outer space
Have you ever observed planet earth from space? Has that view cleared your mind of trivial thoughts?
Does it wipe that stupid look off of your face?
Does the beautiful and pristine view of the earth from space clear all the negative thoughts on your mind?
I saw this aura over the battleground states
I observed an atmosphere of conflict over US states where elections are held.
I lost the money, lost the keys
I have lost money as well as the keys to access important things.
But I'm still handcuffed to the briefcase
Despite losing everything, I am still bound and limited by material things.
And I never thought, not in a million years
I could never have imagined or predicted that any of this would happen.
That I'd meet so many lovers
That I would encounter so many people who love me or that I love.
Can I please have my money back?
Requesting a reimbursement of lost money.
My virtual reality mask is stuck on 'Parliament Brawl'
My mind is focused and stuck on the chaos and disagreements of politics.
Emergency battery pack just in time
A backup source of power arrived just in time to prevent a crisis.
For my weekly chat with God on video call
Communicating with one's faith, hopefully for guidance or insight.
Breaking news, they take the truth and make it fluid
The news media changes what is real and immutable into something flexible and subjective.
The trainer's explanation was accepted by the steward
The authority accepted an explanation from a professional trainer regarding a certain matter.
A montage of the latest ancient ruins
A sequence of scenes featuring the most recent discoveries of ancient ruins.
Soundtracked by a chorus of 'you don't know what you're doing'
A musical composition accompanied by a harmonious chorus voice that suggests a lack of confidence or expertise.
And all of my most muscular regrets explode
Strong feelings of regret suddenly burst forth and come to the foreground of my thoughts.
Behind my eyes like American sports
As if events of American sports are playing out behind my eyes as a memory or focus.
And I never thought, not in a million years
I could never have imagined or predicted that any of this would happen.
That I'd meet so many lovers
That I would encounter so many people who love me, or that I love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@musiciyneo3517
Lyrics:
So when you gaze at planet earth from outer space
Does it wipe that stupid look off of your face?
I saw this aura over the battleground states
I lost the money, lost the keys
But I'm still handcuffed to the briefcase
And I never thought, not in a million year
That I'd meet so many Lola's
Can I please have my money back?
My virtual reality mask is stuck on 'Parliament Brawl'
Emergency battery pack just in time for my weekly chat with God on videocall
Breaking news they take the truth and make it fluid
The trainer's explanation was accepted by the steward
A montage of the latest ancient ruins
Soundtracked by a chorus of "you don't know what you're doing"
And I never thought, not in a million year
That I'd meet so many Lola's
And all of my most muscular regrets explode behind my eyes like American sports
And I never thought, not in a million year
That I'd meet so many Lola's
@brxne
Those debating if it's "so many lovers" or "so many Lolas", it's "Lolas"...
The book Her Name Was Lola describes a middle-aged writer struggling with a creative impasse. It covers much of the same territory as Fellini’s 8 ½, which Turner has mentioned during interviews in reference to exploring his writer’s block. The book includes the line “There are so many Lolas!” which suggests this may be a direct reference.
The name Lola is significant because it is the shortened form of Dolores, meaning “sorrows” in Spanish. Turner quotes elsewhere on the album from the L.A. lexicon of Spanish loanwords and may here be writing a play on words meaning “I never thought I’d meet so many sorrows“.
Another possibility, in keeping with the album’s imagery of lounge singers and tawdry nightclubs, is that the name invokes the heroine of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana.”
Source : Genius Lyrics
@kellypapav44
Verse 1]
So when you gaze at planet Earth from outer space
Does it wipe that stupid look off of your face?
I saw this aura over the battleground states
I lost the money, lost the keys
But I'm still handcuffed to the briefcase
[Chorus]
And I never thought, not in a million year
That I'd meet so many Lolas
Can I please have my money back?
My virtual reality mask is stuck on ‘Parliament Brawl’
Emergency battery pack, just in time for my weekly chat
With God on video call
[Verse 2]
Breaking news, they take the truth and make it fluid
The trainer's explanation was accepted by the steward
A montage of the latest ancient ruins
Soundtracked by a chorus of "You don't know what you're doing"
[Chorus]
And I never thought, not in a million years
That I'd meet so many Lolas
[Bridge]
And all of my most muscular regrets
Explode behind my eyes like American sports
[Chorus]
And I never thought, not in a million year
That I'd meet so many Lolas
@perrofunky7832
If this album came out in 1970s it would be considered a Masterpiece today
@joshrazorjt
Exactly
@Alcantara7entero
People in 30 years from now, will say this is a classic album from the Monkeys.
@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435
..or it ended up like this instead
Robert Christgau, TBH+C: (C- )
"Just another boring, pretentious, derivative muzak."
@weezerplease9049
Fr
@thehairysun8897
Just give it 20 years and it will be huge you know when were old showing this to kids
@melancholic2002
This is my little sister's favourite album.
And she's only 11.
I'm freaking proud of her.
@mati8160
🥺
@ermelindaciaramella5271
Omg i'm 12
@ghostcookies8562
Dang im proud of her, im pretty young too and this is one of my fav albums (my fav is whatever people say i am, that's what I'm not) People think i have weird music taste 😃👍🏻