Third track on the single "Crying Lightning".

This song is one of Al… Read Full Bio ↴Third track on the single "Crying Lightning".

This song is one of Alex Turner’s lyrical masterpieces. The line “I had a hole in the pocket of my favourite coat and my love dropped into the lining” is beyond clever it boggles the mind. The line “You can’t sleep until you’ve sat on the steps to weep until you feel like you’ve wept” just put Turner above all great lyricists, he just dove to the bottom of the pacific ocean my friends, that was DEEP. Absolutely unbelievable.

I Haven't Got My Strange
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I got back from fixing my hair
You were directing the traffic
Letting your story slip on the snow
As if the transmission was automatic
It's arguable that I shouldn't have been there
It was fortunate timing
I had a hole in the pocket of my favorite coat
And my love dropped into the lining

(Have you got your strange?) Not on me
I haven't got my strange
(Have you got your strange?) Not on me

You can't sleep until you've sat on the steps
To weep 'til you feel like you've wept, yeah

(As long as you don't forget your strange)

(Have you got your strange?) No, not on me
I haven't got my strange
(Have you got your strange?) Not on me
I haven't got my strange
I've better fetch my strange

I haven't got my strange
I haven't got my strange

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song seem to suggest a story of someone who comes home and finds their partner on the street, directing traffic. The lover then talks about having a hole in the pocket of his favorite coat and how his love for her slipped into the lining of the coat. The lyrics "I haven't got my strange" could be interpreted as the lover looking for his love that was in the coat's lining or his identity or personality that he seems to have lost. The line "It's arguable that I shouldn't have been there, it was fortunate timing" suggests that the character is not where he is supposed to be but somehow he feels it was a lucky coincidence to find his love in his coat's lining.

The last lines suggest revisiting something that was lost or forgotten, “as long as you don’t forget your strange.” The term "strange" can be interpreted as being the unique qualities that define a person and make them interesting. Therefore only when one has found their "strange" can they truly be themselves. The lover saying "I better fetch my strange" implies that the process of finding oneself would require some effort.

Overall, the song seems to be an attempt to reflect on the importance of finding oneself and being comfortable with who one is. It is not clear who the character in the song is, but it is evident that the lyrics are about making self-discoveries, and being unapologetic about who the person is.

Line by Line Meaning

When I got back from fixing my hair
After spending time on personal grooming,

You were directing the traffic
You were in control and commanding attention,

Letting your story slip on the snow
Recounting a tale that was not meant to be kept secret,

As if the transmission was automatic
As if it was coming out without thought or effort,

It's arguable that I shouldn't have been there
Debatable if it was appropriate for me to be present,

It was fortunate timing
Lucky circumstances led to the opportunity,

I had a hole in the pocket of my favorite coat
There was a literal defect in a cherished item of clothing,

And my love dropped into the lining
Affection or emotional attachment was lost and lodged inside,

(Have you got your strange?) Not on me
Strange or unusual habits or behaviors are not currently present,

You can't sleep until you've sat on the steps
One cannot rest until they have performed a certain ritual or action,

To weep 'til you feel like you've wept, yeah
To cry until the sorrow has been fully experienced and expressed,