"Fluorescent Adolescent" was described as a ballad about sex, ageing and nostalgia for youth. It describes a woman who dreams of her youth while her current sex life is unsatisfying and boring. The song peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart and was the 83rd best-selling song of 2007 in the United Kingdom. "Fluorescent Adolescent" is one of the band's most popular songs, and is frequently performed as a closer to their concerts. Kate Nash performed a cover of the song on 5 October 2007. It appears on Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3.
Fluorescent Adolescent was written by Alex Turner with his ex-girlfriend, Johanna Bennett, during a Mediterranean holiday, when they were reminiscing about characters they knew at school. The video for the song was based on John Cooper Clarke's poem "Out of Control Fairground", which was written specifically for the release of the single. He recalls in The Times magazine July 28, 2007: "It started off as a joke. Then it was like, 'Here's another verse." We were having a laugh. Some of the lines were hers. I couldn't have not credited her. It's just right, really."
The song's music video was directed by comedian Richard Ayoade, who is best known for playing the computer geek Maurice Moss in the UK Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd. Ayoade also helmed the band's Live At The Apollo DVD. The music video is based on a fight between a group of clowns and a group of non-clowns at an abandoned warehouse. The presumed leaders of the two groups have a flashback showing that they were friends when they were young children. During the flashback, photos of the band as young children are shown. Throughout the fight, each group leader attempts to kill the other. As the music video climaxes, the non-clown leader tries to run over the clown leader. However, the clown leader notices that the non-clown leader's car (with the non-clown leader inside) has been leaking fuel and drops his cigarette lighter. The car quickly catches fire and the clown leader looks on as his former friend burns and the music video ends.
The video was loosely inspired by the poem "Out of Control Fairground" by John Cooper Clarke. Turner says he is a fan of Clarke and describes him as a lyrical inspiration; Arctic Monkeys would later adapt Clarke's poem "I Wanna Be Yours" into a song on their 2013 album AM. The poem is also printed inside the CD release of "Fluorescent Adolescent." The lines such as "out of control fairground" and "homicidal clowns" support this. The video was preceded by a warning of violent images. In an MTV interview, Turner stated that the music video "is the best thing we've ever done" while Jamie Cook hailed it as "...probably one of the best videos in the last, like, 10 years".
During a live performance of the song on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, the band played the song dressed as clowns, with Alex Turner dressing in the same make-up and clothing as the main clown in the video.
During a performance of the song on the Late Show with David Letterman, Letterman introduced the band by joking that his vinyl copy of "Favourite Worst Nightmare" had been stolen due to its popularity.
On downloads alone, "Fluorescent Adolescent" charted in the UK Singles Chart at number 55 for the week commencing 25 June 2007. The song charted at number five upon release of the single on CD for the week commencing 16 July 2007. On 27 June 2007, "Fluorescent Adolescent" began receiving significant BBC Radio 1 airplay as the first song on "The A-List" Playlist. The song's three B-sides—"Plastic Tramp", "The Bakery" and "Too Much to Ask"—appeared on the UK Singles Chart the week of the single's physical release at number 153, number 161 and number 178, respectively.
In an interview with The Guardian, Johanna Bennett said about the song:
"We were on holiday and had cut ourselves off from everything. We were in a really quiet hotel and didn't watch TV or listen to that much music. So as not to drive each other mad we started messing around with these words like a game, singing them to each other. It's great to think that it came from something we did for fun on holiday. It'll always be a good memory for Alex and I. He doesn't usually write lyrics with other people, though I think he enjoyed it."
Fluorescent Adolescent
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal?
Oh, the boy's a slag, the best you ever had
The best you ever had is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem, aren't as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now when she's told she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging 'til I'm getting sentimental
Said she wasn't going but she went still
Likes her gentlemen not to be gentle
Was it a Mecca dauber or a betting pencil?
Oh, the boy's a slag, the best you ever had
The best you ever had is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem, not as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up
Oh, Flo, where did you go?
Where did you go? Where did you go? Oh
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
Just sounding it out
But you're not coming back again
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just sounding it out
But you're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress (falling about)
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness (you took a left)
Landed in a very common crisis (off Last Laugh Lane)
Everything's in order in a black hole
Is everything as pretty as the past though? (We're sounding it out)
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco (but you're not coming back again)
Remember when you used to be a rascal? Oh
The song “Fluorescent Adolescent” by the Arctic Monkeys is a nostalgic take on the changes brought about by growing up and leaving behind a wild youth. The first verse speaks of the evolution in the singer’s taste in attire and behavior, from fishnets to a night dress, and from “naughty nights” to “niceness.” The chorus then reminds us that memories of the past may seem foolish in hindsight, but those dreams were not as daft as they seemed at the time. The second verse takes a wistful look into the past, referencing a book of sex tips and electric boys, and ends with a reference to a Mecca Dauber, a bingo hall marker pen, or a betting pencil that the singer wears as a necklace. The final verse portrays the singer “falling about” and unable to return to the past where everything was in “order in a black hole.”
Line by Line Meaning
You used to get it in your fishnets
You used to be wild and adventurous in your pursuits
Now you only get it in your night dress
Now you are reserved and less adventurous in your ways of seeking indulgence
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
You left behind your wild ways and adapted to conventional lifestyle
Landed in a very common crisis
Despite your efforts to be conventional, you end up in mundane situations
Everything's in order in a black hole
Your life seems organized but lacks any excitement or enthusiasm
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
You feel nostalgia for the wild and adventurous past
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
The excitement and thrill that used to exist is now lost
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
Recalling past wild and exciting times and people
Oh, the boy's a slag
Referring to a promiscuous man
The best you ever had
The most satisfying relationship or experience you had in the past
Is just a memory and those dreams
The past is just a memory and unfulfilled dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Past dreams and aspirations were not foolish despite not being realized
My love, when you dream them up
The singer acknowledges the listener's reminiscing and encourages them to continue dreaming
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Looking for inspiration and ways to feel more excitement in sex
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Recalling a time when sexual attraction and passion were intense and electric
Now, when she tells she's gonna get it
When the woman expresses she wants sexual satisfaction
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
The artist assumes that the woman's desire for sex is more out of habit than passion
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Trying not to get too emotionally involved despite the lack of passion
Said, she wasn't going, but she went, still
The woman initially refused to have sex but eventually agreed to despite not being truly into it
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
The woman prefers rough and passionate sex
Was it a Mecca Dauber or a betting pencil?
Asking a trivial question in an attempt to avoid getting too emotionally involved
Oh, Flo, where did you go?
Referring to a woman named Flo who was once wild and adventurous
Where did you go?
Wondering what happened to the wild and adventurous version of Flo
Where did you go? Oh oh
Continuing to question where the wild and adventurous version of Flo went
You're falling about
You're losing control and becoming sloppy
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You deviated from the conventional path and lifestyle that you adapted to
Just soundin' it out
Exploring ideas and possibilities without fully committing to any of them
But you're not coming back again
Knowing that you can't go back to the wild and adventurous past
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Johanna Bennett, Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DavidMFBowie
***** The Song, in my opinion, is about about a relationship got boring. So to spice up her life again she cheats on her significant other. I found a full explanation online, here it is
" You used to get it in your fishnets
(Which is sexy)
Now you only get it in your night dress
(Typical and boring)
Discarded the naughty nights with niceness
(Less sex more jsut being nice, perhaps having tea with the neighbours or something shit like that.)
Landed in a very common crisis
(This happens to most relationships)
Everything's in order in a black hole
(Relationship is comapred to a black hole its in order but its lifeless and dull and sucks everything that ever was into it)
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
(It was better in the past)
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
(Looking for more kicks in life than the same old boring relationship like adding more tabasco to the bloody mary)
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
(thats what he used to be like)
Oh that boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
(This is the woman looking back on the man and waht he used to be like this is apprent because of the last line of the first verse which tells the woman to remember.)
Is just a memory and those dreams
Not as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seem
My love when you dream them up...
(What he used to be like is just a memory and she dreams that he'll be the same again there not that daft but shes just making them up.)
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
(Trying to spice things up)
Remember when the boys were all electric?
(When she used to get all the boys)
Now when she tells she's gonna get it
(she thinks hses going to get sex)
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget i
(sarcastic comment by the narrator she dosent want to forget it she wants to live it)
Clinging to not getting sentimental
(she dosent want to cling on for someone, settle down, she wants to relive the hayday when she was a 'fluroscent adolescent'.)
Said she wasn't going but she went still
(Perhaps she goes to cheat on her fella?)
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
(Everything in this relationship is just too comfy she wants excitement)
Was it a megadobber or a betting pencil?
(Ha don't know what this is about. But the first thing i thought of was that it was some sort of sex game or something and i dont know here the megadobebr or the betting pencil are going. Maybe shes comparing the size of her partners dick to this new fellas. No idea)
Falling about
(Shes drunk)
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
(Turns down the road and laughs. She's ahd the last laugh at her boring fella)
You just sounded it out
(She just got it all out of her by having a bit of excitment with another guy not leading the boring drab lifestyle)
You're not coming back again.
(However she's not doing again... she dosen't need to shes had her fun its back to her normal life.)"
@Todojuntoo
The LYRICS
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
Oh, the boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seemed
My love, when you dream them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now, when she tells she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Said, she wasn't going, but she went, still
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
Was it a Mecca Dauber or a betting pencil?
Oh, the boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seemed
My love, when you dream them up
Oh, Flo, where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you go? Oh oh
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
Just soundin' it out
But you're not coming back again
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just soundin' it out
But you're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets (falling about)
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness (you took a left off Last Laugh Lane)
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole (were sounding it out)
Is everything as pretty as the past though?
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco (you're not coming back again)
Remember when he used to be a rascal? Oh
@patricio4546
Lyrics:
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal?
Oh, the boy's a slag, the best you ever had
The best you ever had is just a memory and those dreams
Not as daft as they seem, not as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now when she's told she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Said she wasn't going but she went still
Likes her gentlemen not to be gentle
Was it a Mecca dauber or a betting pencil?
Oh, the boy's a slag, the best you ever had
The best you ever had is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't daft as they seem, not as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up oh, Flo
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
Just sounding it out
But you're not coming back again
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just sounding it out
But you're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets
(Falling about) Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
(You took a left off Last Laugh Lane) Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though (You were just sounding it out)
(You're not coming back again) That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal?
@ilhammadani3281
Lyrics
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
Oh, the boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seemed
My love, when you dream them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now, when she tells she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Said, she wasn't going, but she went, still
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
Was it a Mecca Dauber or a betting pencil?
Oh, the boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seemed
My love, when you dream them up
Oh, Flo, where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you go? Oh oh
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
Just soundin' it out
But you're not coming back again
You're falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just soundin' it out
But you're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets (falling about)
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness (you took a left off Last Laugh Lane)
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole (were sounding it out)
Is everything as pretty as the past though?
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco (you're not coming back again)
Remember when he used to be a rascal? Oh
@fullmetalfanboy6280
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking a Tabasco
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
Oh, that boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
Not as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now, when she tells she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Said, she wasn't going, but she went, still
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
Was it a mega-dobber or a betting pencil?
Oh, that boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory, and those dreams
Weren't as daft as they seem
Not as daft as they seem
My love, when you dream them up
Oh, where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you go? Whoa
Falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You just sounded it out
You're not coming back again
Falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You just sounded it out
You're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Started all the naughty nights with niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Everything was pretty in the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when he used to be a rascal?
The lyrics to the song make my argument for me.
@melissasatie
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking a Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal?
Oh, that boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
But as daft as they seem
As daft as they seem
My love, when you dreamed them up
Flicking through a little book of sex tips
Remember when the boys were all electric?
Now when she tells she's gonna get it
I'm guessing that she'd rather just forget it
Clinging to not getting sentimental
Said she wasn't going but she went still
Likes her gentlemen to not be gentle
Was it a megadobber or a betting pencil?
Oh, that boy's a slag
The best you ever had
The best you ever had
Is just a memory and those dreams
But as daft as they seem
As daft as they seem
My love when you dream them up
Oh, flo
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you go? Woah
Falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just sounded it out
But you're not coming back again
You’re falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You were just sounded it out
But you're not coming back again
You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
(Falling about)
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
(You took a left off Last Laugh Lane)
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
(You were just sounding it out)
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal?
(You're not coming back again)
@MidnightCarnage
Fluorescent Adolescent is got be the coolest name ever for a song
@theblurryviewfinder
It is also an episode name in a music series 😌
@MidnightCarnage
@@theblurryviewfinder Good to know this thanks
@creatorchannel8845
And ridiculous
@alessa8946
Given jajajajajajaj
@theblurryviewfinder
@@alessa8946 YES-
@therailtracerofrivia5012
This song makes me feel depressed and happy at the same time, so confusing. Masterpiece
@ninuz2107
You basically just described melancholia
@joannaazevedo6679
You basically just described me
@agustin5424
You are bipolar!!