You Probably Couldn
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics


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One look sends it coursing through the veins
Oh, how the feeling races
Back up to their brains
To form expressions on their stupid faces
They don't want to say hello
Like I want to say hello
Well, the heartbeat's at its peak
When you're coming up to speak

And oh, I'm so tense, never tenser
Could all go a bit Frank Spencer
And I'm talking gibberish
Tip of the tongue but I can't deliver it properly
Oh, it's all gettin' on top of me
And if it weren't this dark
You'd see how red my face has gone, yeah

Everybody's tryna crack the jokes and that
To make you smile
Those that claim that they're not showing off
Are drowning in denial
But they're not half as bad as me
Say anything and I'll agree
'Cause when it comes to acting up
I'm sure I could write the book

And now that you're more than a part in the play
It's slightly easier to think what to say
You had us all standing on our heads
Doin' our best tricks, yeah

Never again
Well, never again, no, will there be another one
Quite as desirable as you
One look sends it coursing through the veins
Oh, how the feeling races




Back up to their brains
To form expressions on their stupid faces

Overall Meaning

In the Arctic Monkeys’ song “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” lead singer Alex Turner captures the nervous energy and anticipation of approaching someone at a party. The opening lines, “One look sends it coursing through the veins oh how the feeling races/Back up to their brains to form expressions on their stupid faces,” describe the adrenaline rush that comes with seeing someone attractive and wanting to make a move.


As the song continues, Turner portrays his own awkwardness and insecurities in trying to interact with this person. He describes feeling tense, talking gibberish, and struggling to deliver his words properly, all while surrounded by people trying to show off and make an impression. The second verse reflects on how this person has captured everyone’s attention and made them want to impress, but Turner realizes he’s not particularly good at “acting up” and putting on a show.


The song’s chorus is a repetition of the opening lines, capturing the way that physical attraction can create an intense desire to connect with someone. The final verse suggests that, after the initial nerves have passed, the connection has been made and the person has become more than just a fleeting interest - “now that you're more than a part of the play/it's slightly easier to think what to say.”


Overall, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” provides a snapshot of the universal experience of wanting to approach someone you’re attracted to but feeling nervous and unsure of yourself in the process.


Line by Line Meaning

One look sends it coursing through the veins oh how the feeling races
Seeing the person in question causes a surge of emotions and adrenaline rush.


Back up to their brains to form expressions on there stupid faces
The intensity of the emotions prompts others to make silly facial expressions.


They don't want to say hello
Others are hesitant to greet the person in question.


Like I want to say hello
The artist, however, is eager to greet the person.


Oh the heartbeats at its peak when you're coming up to speak
The prospect of speaking to the person makes the artist's heart beat rapidly.


And I'm so tense, never tenser
The singer is incredibly nervous and anxious.


Could all go a bit frank spencer?
The situation could go disastrously wrong.


I'm talking gibberish, tip of the tongue but I can't deliver it
The artist struggles to articulate their thoughts coherently.


Properly, oh it's all getting on top of me
The pressure of the situation is becoming overwhelming.


And if it weren't this dark you'd see how red my face has gone
The artist is so embarrassed, their face is red, but the darkness conceals it.


Everybody's trying to crack the jokes and that to make you smile
Others are attempting to make the person laugh.


Those that claim that they're not showing off are drowning in denial
Those who deny showing off are actually doing so.


They're not half as bad as me say anything and I'll agree
The singer admits to being worse at acting up than others.


'Cause when it comes to acting up, I'm sure I could write the book
The singer is confident they could teach others how to act up.


And now that you're more than a part in the play
The person is now a significant part of the singer's life.


It's slightly easier to think what to say
Conversing with the person has become somewhat easier.


You had us all, standing on our heads
The person had captivated everyone's attention and imagination.


Doing our best tricks
Others are trying to impress the person.


Never again
The singer doesn't believe they will experience something like this again.


Never again, will there be another one that's as desirable as you
The person is unique and cannot be replaced.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Sir Psycho Sexy

Love the speed in this performance. When they play songs from the first 2 albums nowadays, they tend to slow them down, which really takes away from the power of the original recordings.

Aaron Gutierrez

I think I remember that on some interview, the thing of the tempo was brought out, and they just said that they don’t do it on purpose and that they don’t even have idea how they manage to play with the fast tempo.

Luchooo Hip-Hop life style

Majas

Yourantsally

+Sir Psycho Sexy i mean on the original album its a little slower than this, but too slow and you really loose the punkieness of it

1 More Replies...

oh ok

I get why they don't play it on live shows anymore, because damn that shit looks hard to play

afel

i feel like bald alex would pass out if he tried singing this fast again

Sketchead17

This used to be my favourite AM song a few years ago, just loved the lyrics and the pace of it aha :) I can see why they never played this live much though, they can only just keep up with the speed :D

clamptile

@IndigoRiver 8 and is also the initials for arctic monkeys..

thganks fan account

@IndigoRiver 8 he means AM as in Arctic Monkeys. its a term lots of people use. i used to get confused by it a lot too.

Duane Dibbley

@IndigoRiver 8 err doesn’t it stand for arctic monkeys?

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