A song from Arctic Monkeys' 2006 album "Whatever People Say I Am, That’s Wh… Read Full Bio ↴A song from Arctic Monkeys' 2006 album "Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not". It remains a fan favourite and helped popularise the Yorkshire word ‘mardy’, meaning sulky or uncooperative.

He argues with his girlfriend (or lover) who is simply not having it and being mardy with him; in the choruses he recollects the beginning of the relationship, comparing it to how moody she’s acting in the verses.

The charm of the song lies in the fact that there is no consoling a woman who has already made up her mind; i.e. who’s got the face on.

Mardy Bum
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, now then, mardy bum
I've seen your frown and it's like looking down
The barrel of a gun
And it goes off
And out come all these words
Oh, there's a very pleasant side to you
A side I much prefer

It's one that laughs and jokes around
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on

Well, now then, mardy bum
Oh, I'm in trouble again, aren't I?
I thought as much
'Cause you turned over there
Pulling that silent disappointment face
The one that I can't bare

Well, can't we just laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today
When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on

And, yeah, I'm sorry I was late
But I missed the train
And then the traffic was a state
And I can't be arsed to carry on in this debate
That reoccurs, oh, when you say I don't care
But, of course I do, yeah, I clearly do

So laugh and joke around?
Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah
To get things off the ground
And it was up, up and away
Oh, but it's right hard to remember that
On a day like today

When you're all argumentative
And you've got the face on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Arctic Monkeys’ song Mardy Bum depict a conversation between two individuals that were previously close, but one of them has become distant and unwilling to communicate. The first verse begins with the singer addressing the other person as “mardy bum,” slang for someone who is grumpy and irritable. The singer notices the other person’s negative demeanor and describes it as “like looking down the barrel of a gun.” Despite the other person’s bad mood, the singer acknowledges that there is another side to them that they prefer - one that is pleasant and lighthearted. The second verse sees the singer attempting to lighten the mood by reminiscing about past experiences they shared together. Despite their efforts, the other person remains argumentative and unresponsive.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the two are in some sort of argument. The singer apologizes for being late and explains that they missed their train, but the other person remains uninterested in the conversation. The singer expresses frustration with the argument that constantly occurs between them and insists that they do care about the other person’s feelings. The song ends with the singer pleading with the other person to remember the good times they shared and to lighten up.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, now then, mardy bum
The singer greets the person, who is grumpy and difficult to deal with

I've seen your frown and it's like looking down The barrel of a gun
The person is so intensely gloomy and unhappy that being around them is just as unpleasant as staring down a loaded gun

And it goes off And out come all these words
Their negative emotions tend to explode outward and they express themselves in a hurtful or defensive way

Oh, there's a very pleasant side to you A side I much prefer
The singer knows that the person isn't always unpleasant, and wishes that they would show more of the positive and likable aspects of themself

It's one that laughs and jokes around
The singer prefers when the person is lighthearted and humorous

Remember cuddles in the kitchen, yeah To get things off the ground And it was up, up and away Oh, but it's right hard to remember that On a day like today
The singer reminisces about happier times when they and the person were more affectionate and worked together to overcome challenges - it's hard to remember those times when things are difficult in the present

When you're all argumentative And you've got the face on
The person is currently being unpleasant and uncooperative, making it hard for the singer to deal with them

Oh, I'm in trouble again, aren't I? I thought as much
The singer knows that their interaction with the person is going to be difficult, and expects to be blamed or criticized by them

'Cause you turned over there Pulling that silent disappointment face The one that I can't bare
The person's facial expression is conveying disappointment, judgement, or disapproval, which is difficult for the singer to deal with

Well, can't we just laugh and joke around?
The singer asks the person to try to be more light-hearted and positive, in order to improve the interaction

And, yeah, I'm sorry I was late But I missed the train And then the traffic was a state
The singer offers an explanation for their lateness, hoping to avoid more conflict with the person

And I can't be arsed to carry on in this debate That reoccurs, oh, when you say I don't care But, of course I do, yeah, I clearly do
The singer is tired of having the same argument with the person, in which they are accused of not caring - the singer insists that they do care, even if they're not expressing it well in the moment

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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