The Ultracheese
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics

Still got pictures of friends on the wall
The singer still has pictures of old friends on their wall, although they no longer have a close relationship with them.

I suppose we aren't really friends anymore
The singer reflects that they and their former friends are no longer close.

Maybe I shouldn't ever have called
The singer regrets having used the term 'friend' to describe someone who they now feel disconnected from.

That thing friendly at all
The artist acknowledges that their connection with the person in question was never really a friendship at all.

Get freaked out from a knock at the door
The artist experiences anxiety when someone unexpectedly shows up at their door.

When I haven't been expecting one
The singer is caught off guard when someone knocks and they're not anticipating it.

And didn't that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?
The singer recalls a time when unexpected visits used to be an enjoyable part of their social life.

We'll be there at the back of the bar
The artist and someone close to them would commonly hang out together towards the rear of a particular drinking establishment.

In a booth like we usually were
When they were there, they would often sit in a particular booth in the bar.

Every time there was a rocket launch
The memory is tied to specific events like when the bar patrons would watch a space launch on TV.

Or some big event
In general, the memory is linked with some noteworthy occurrence.

What a death I died writing that song
The artist feels as though they've sacrificed creatively and put significant effort and emotion into crafting the song they're alluding to.

Start to finish, with you looking on
The creative effort alluded to in the previous line was undertaken in the presence of someone else.

It stays between us, Steinway and his sons
The content of the song is confidential and is only ever to be shared between the singer, the listener, and Steinway and their family.

'Cause it's the ultracheese
The clear implication is that 'ultracheese' refers to the content of the song - something overly sentimental and cloying.

Perhaps it's time that you went for a walk
The singer is encouraging the listener to take a step back from their current situation.

And dress like a fictional character
The artist is inviting the listener to embrace their creativity and dress up in a fanciful way.

From a place they called America
The fictional character the singer has in mind is likely one associated with some romanticized version of America.

In the golden age
The specific character the singer has in mind is probably from an earlier era, further tying into the song's themes of nostalgia and sentimentality.

Trust the politics to come along
The artist expresses cynicism that political concerns inevitably intrude on and corrupt individuals just trying to live their lives.

When you were just trying to orbit the sun
The artist reflects that one's own ambitions (symbolized by orbiting the sun) can be sidetracked by politics, making it difficult to achieve one's goals.

When you were just about to be kind to someone
Similarly, the artist acknowledges that it can be tough to be kind to others when one is caught up in the machinations of politics and wider society.

Because you had the chance
The singer suggests that even in a society that can often seem hostile to genuine human connection, it's still important to take every chance to be compassionate towards others when the opportunity presents itself.

I might look as if I'm deep in thought
The artist appears preoccupied, but in truth they're not engrossed in deep reflection or contemplation.

But the truth is I'm probably not
Despite appearances to the contrary, the singer is not particularly introspective or ponderous.

Oh, the dawn won't stop weighing a tonne
The dawn is a metaphor for the new day, the future and all its possibilities, which weigh heavily on the singer's mind.

I've done some things that I shouldn't have done
The singer has made mistakes in their life, and these weigh heavily on them as they contemplate the future.

But I haven't stopped loving you once, hoo-hoo
Despite all of the artist's mistakes and concerns about the future, they remain devoted to the person they're addressing in the song.