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/
Scummy
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder what went wrong
So that she had to roam the streets
She don't do major credit cards
I doubt she does receipts
It's all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah
That he's got a driving ban
Amongst some other offences
And I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!
Although you're trying not to listen
I bet your eyes are staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
Sorry love I'll have to turn you down
And oh he must be up to something
Want half a chance to show he's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
I start to wonder what his story might be
What his story might be
They said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around
And look here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous
And he don't have to say 'owt
She understands she's here to get picked up
And she's delighted when she sees him
Pulling in and giving her the eye
Because she must be fucking freezing
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
She don't stop in the winter, no and...
They said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
They said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here
What a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all
In Arctic Monkeys' song "Scummy," the lyrics tell a story of a group of individuals navigating a seedy and ominous setting. The first verse describes a mysterious lady who is wandering the streets without major credit cards, alluding to some sketchy dealings. The second verse introduces a "scummy man" who is likely to rob others, and the singer has seen him with "girls of the night." The chorus repeats the description of the scummy man and declares him a "scumbag." In the third verse, the singer turns down a proposition from the lady mentioned earlier and wonders about the scummy man's backstory. Finally, the last verse portrays the scummy man picking up the lady and the singer criticizing the situation.
The lyrics of "Scummy" are masterfully written, painting vivid images of shady characters and the dirty environment they exist in. The song's meaning is open to interpretation, but it seems to be a commentary on the darker aspects of society. The scummy man and the lady he picks up are both victims of a toxic environment where desperation and opportunism thrive. The singer's criticism of the situation serves to highlight the discomfort and pain such lifestyles can cause, calling for empathy and action.
Line by Line Meaning
So who's that girl there?
The singer is curious about the girl who is walking around the streets.
I wonder what went wrong
The singer ponders on what led the girl to this situation.
So that she had to roam the streets
The singer implies that there could be a tragic event or circumstance that made her leave her house.
She don't do major credit cards
The artist suggests that the girl cannot afford anything expensive, so she might be poor.
I doubt she does receipts
The artist implies that the girl is involved in suspicious activities, which make it impossible for her to have legitimate earnings.
It's all not quite legitimate
The singer concludes that something seems wrong with the girl's situation.
And what a scummy man
The singer introduces a male character who is untrustworthy and has a bad reputation.
Just give him half a chance
The artist suggests that this man might take advantage of people if given the opportunity.
I bet he'll rob you if he can
The artist is sure that the man is not to be trusted and would not hesitate to steal from those around him.
Can see it in his eyes, yeah
The artist can tell by looking at the man that he is up to no good.
That he's got a driving ban
The singer reveals that the man has been prohibited from driving, which could signify that he has been involved in something illegal.
Amongst some other offences
The artist suggests that the man has a criminal record that goes beyond just the driving ban.
And I've seen him with girls of the night
The singer has witnessed the man with women who are prostitutes.
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
The man asked a prostitute named Roxanne to turn on her red light (a sign that she is available) so he could purchase her services.
They're all infected but he'll be alright
The singer implies that the women with whom this man associates may have sexually transmitted diseases, but he is not worried about contracting them.
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
The artist reiterates that the man is not trustworthy and has a bad reputation.
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!
The artist emphasizes that the man is a scumbag and is not to be trusted.
Although you're trying not to listen
The singer acknowledges that the listener may not want to hear what they are saying.
I bet your eyes are staring at the ground
The singer suspects that the listener may be uncomfortable with the discussion and is avoiding eye contact.
She makes a subtle proposition
The artist reveals that there is a woman who may be a prostitute and is making a subtle suggestion to someone.
Sorry love I'll have to turn you down
The listener is declining the woman's proposition, despite her suggestive behavior.
And oh he must be up to something
The artist suggests that the man they were discussing earlier is up to something suspicious.
Want half a chance to show he's more than likely
The singer implies that the man is likely seeking an opportunity to prove himself as something more than what people perceive him to be.
I've got a feeling in my stomach
The artist has a gut feeling that something is not right with the situation.
I start to wonder what his story might be
The singer is curious about the man's background and his motivations for his behavior.
They said it changes when the sun goes down
The singer is referencing a local saying that implies that things turn dark and twisted at night.
Around here
The singer specifies that this saying is relevant to their current location.
And look here comes a Ford Mondeo
The artist sees a particular car approaching their location.
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous
The artist is being sarcastic and implying that the man driving the car is not subtle at all.
And he don't have to say 'owt
The singer implies the man doesn't have to say anything because he is easily recognizable as someone up to no good.
She understands she's here to get picked up
The singer suggests that the woman who could be a prostitute, sees the car approaching and knows she is about to be picked up.
And she's delighted when she sees him
The woman is pleased to see the man driving the car and how easy their meeting has been arranged.
Pulling in and giving her the eye
The man pulls up to the woman and looks her over.
Because she must be fucking freezing
The artist notes that the woman is scantily clad and must be cold in the nighttime chill.
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
The singer describes the woman's attire without judgement.
She don't stop in the winter, no and...
The artist implies that the woman continues to work in her job as a prostitute despite the winter weather.
What a scummy man
The singer concludes that the man is indeed scummy and not to be trusted.
Just give him half a chance
The singer reiterates their belief that the man is untrustworthy and would take advantage of the situation if given the opportunity.
I bet he'll rob you if he can
The singer suggests that the man has a proclivity to steal and would not hesitate to do so if he thought he could get away with it.
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
The artist can tell by looking at the man that there is something sinister going on in his mind.
I hope you're not involved at all
The artist is expressing concern for the listener and hoping that they are not involved in anything related to this man.
Contributed by Wyatt J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Seb Morreale
YES this is the best version. So much better than the actual release
Artdec0
Brilliant - both riff and lyrics.
WhereMyKeys
I prefer this to the album version; this sounds much more raw
Jesper van Wieringen
There are more differences than only the instruments, they're small but they're there. In this one he ends with: Over the river going out of town, where in scummy he sticks with they said he changes when the sun goes down. And the sheffield accent is stronger in Scummy than it is in the album version When the sun goes down. So the person who uploaded this is indeed right, this is the demo version. Liston to the album version and you'll see I'm right.
Funny Arab halal Man
Jesper van Wieringen I also noticed that in this version, Alex pronounces ford mondeo as more accurately, in the album version he pronounces it as “Ford monteo”
MeadowlakeSt
The vocals are more direct too or more up-front in the mix. Sounds much more lively and intriguing.
Matt Anderson
I remember my mate who introduced me to them stopped listening to them after they changed the name of this song lol
TheAstronomyFloyd
The only differences are the guitar when the drums kick in, the way the chorus is sung and the last verse which repeats "They Said he Changes When the Sun Goes Down" instead of the albums verse "Over the River Going Out of Town".
o
better than the album version
Jelly Pinkbelly
The differences are in the instruments only, right?Most noticable on the drums.