The band's first single, Babyshambles, was released in April 2004 on High Society Records. Fewer than 1,000 copies of the CD and 7" were released and both can now be found changing hands for more than £50 on internet auction sites such as eBay.
During September and October 2004 Babyshambles embarked on a UK tour culminating in two sold-out shows at the London Scala. Despite claims that the band were only touring to raise money to support Doherty's drug habit the tour sold-out and received critical acclaim. The band's second single Killamangiro was released November 29 2004 on Rough Trade Records and reached number 8 in the UK charts. The band embarked on another tour in December amid increasing concern about Doherty's drug use. During a gig in Blackpool the band walked off stage as it became clear Doherty was too intoxicated to perform and a riot broke out at the London Astoria when Doherty failed to turn up for a gig.
In January 2005, Gemma Clarke quit the band, citing disagreements with the management who she considered irresponsible for failing to address Doherty's obvious drug problem. She was replaced with Adam Ficek, Patrick Walden's former bandmate in The White Sport. In February 2005 Doherty, along with fellow musician Alan Wass, was arrested on suspicion of assault and blackmail. It was alleged that Doherty assaulted Max Carlish, a documentary maker, in a London hotel, a charge he strenuously denied. Carlish had made a documentary about Doherty, from which clips were used for the channel 4 documentary 'Stalking Pete Doherty'. After allegedly assaulting Carlish, Doherty spent several nights in prison until £150,000 bail could be raised. After being released on bail Doherty spent several weeks in a recording studio in Wales working on Babyshambles' debut album. All charges against him were dropped in April 2005.
On October 1, 2005, the Babyshambles tour bus was raided by police. Doherty was charged on suspicion of possession of class A drugs and bailed until December, although Doherty claims that the substances were related to his Naltrexone implant.
Work on Babyshambles' debut album continued throughout April and May 2005 with Mick Jones, who worked with Doherty on the producing of The Libertines' albums. The album, Down in Albion was released on 14th November, having been leaked onto the internet on 19th October. It came 10th in the Radio 1 Album Charts. The single Albion was released on the 28th November and came 8th in the Radio 1 Single Charts. Another single Fuck Forever was released on August 15th, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart.
Peter Doherty appeared on Newsnight at the end of 2005, and played a few secret and personal gigs to fans at the end of the year. At the start of 2006 the band announced that they would play 3 small club shows in London, Sheffield and Stoke. To fans' surprise, Babyshambles performed at the first of the London dates without guitarist Patrick Walden. Instead of Walden, Doherty played guitar at the London date. The band have since made an announcement that Walden quit the band to pursue other projects. Walden was replaced by Mick Whitnall.
December 2006 saw the release of a new EP, featuring The Blinding EP, the July single 'Beg, Steal & Borrow' and new single 'I Love You (But You're Green)'.
On January 18th, 2007 it was announced that the band signed a "long term" album deal with Parlophone.
Babyshambles released their 2nd album, Shotter's Nation, on October 1, 2007. It was produced by Stephen Street (Morrissey, Blur) and features Bert Jansch on guitar on the last track Lost Art Of Murder.
Dr. No
Babyshambles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trown me a bone 'cause I'm trying to stay sane
I'm half fried, all tied up in this bed
Give me moonshine blues from my head to my legs
Dr. No Dr. No
Dr. No Dr. No
Sharks in the water and the water's deep
I prey to the Lord my soul to keep
There are sharks in the water and they're swimming in their sleep
Dr. No Dr. No I can't take no more
Dr. No Dr. No I'm on the floor
Dr. No Dr. No don't you be no swine
Lock the door give me more, don't you spin on a dime
Just do me a favour, and call it another dollar
Take me to the hollow with a flash bang wallop
Dr. No Dr. No
Dr. No Dr. No
I'm a lonely boy, I got no money in my pocket
And I'm a proud man anyway, so what of it?
Yes I can always see harm in the reckless charm of an armful
And there is only one thing that I have learnt throughout the distances we travel
And that is
There are sharks in the water and the water's deep
Sharks in the water and the water's deep
I prey to the Lord my soul to keep
There are sharks in the water and they're swimming in their sleep
The lyrics to Babyshambles' song Dr. No speak to the desire for escape and release from the stresses of the world. The singer is seeking out a fix - be it alcohol, drugs, or simply distraction - in order to quiet his mind and escape the sharks that he feels are always lurking beneath the surface. The repeated invocation of "Dr. No" suggests that the singer is perhaps hoping for some sort of guidance, some sort of prescription or direction to help him feel as though he is not alone in his struggles.
The sharks in the water, as described in the song, represent the dangers and pressures of the world which are always present and always threatening to overwhelm the singer. The repetition of the phrase "sharks in the water and the water's deep" emphasizes the sense of danger and uncertainty that lurks everywhere, and the repeated invocation to the Lord for protection suggests that the singer is aware of his own vulnerability.
The final lines of the song, however, suggest a degree of acceptance of this vulnerability. The fact that the singer is still alive and still fighting, even though the sharks are always there and always circling, speaks to a sense of resilience and determination. The final image of the sharks sleeping in the water suggests that, even though they are always there, maybe they are not so threatening as they seem - maybe the singer can find a way to coexist with them, to live his life despite their dangers.
Line by Line Meaning
Dr. No Dr. No can you hear what I say?
Asking for help and hoping to be heard.
Trown me a bone 'cause I'm trying to stay sane
Requesting support and sanity to cope with problems.
I'm half fried, all tied up in this bed
Feeling overwhelmed and trapped in a difficult situation.
Give me moonshine blues from my head to my legs
Seeking a way to escape or find solace.
There are sharks in the water and the water's deep
Awareness of danger and unpredictability in life.
I prey to the Lord my soul to keep
Looking for protection, guidance, and faith in a higher power.
Dr. No Dr. No I can't take no more
Reaching a breaking point and needing urgent help.
Dr. No Dr. No I'm on the floor
Feeling defeated and in need of rescue.
Dr. No Dr. No don't you be no swine
Urging for compassion, not indifference or cruelty.
Lock the door give me more, don't you spin on a dime
Asking for privacy, care, and respect.
Just do me a favour, and call it another dollar
Expressing cynicism and skepticism about money and favors.
Take me to the hollow with a flash bang wallop
Desiring excitement, adventure, or escape.
I'm a lonely boy, I got no money in my pocket
Admitting vulnerability, isolation, and poverty.
And I'm a proud man anyway, so what of it?
Declaring dignity, independence, and defiance.
Yes I can always see harm in the reckless charm of an armful
Recognizing the risks and downsides of addiction, temptation, or indulgence.
And that is
Summing up the theme or message of the song.
There are sharks in the water and the water's deep
Repeating the warning and perception of threat.
I prey to the Lord my soul to keep
Emphasizing the need for protection and guidance.
There are sharks in the water and they're swimming in their sleep
Highlighting the lurking and hidden danger, as well as the inescapable nature of risks.
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.