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.
Side Of The Road
Babyshambles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A quarter ticking over on the middle by the side of the road
Don't get surrounded by people you hate
They'll choke you out the house
Down the path and out the garden gate
Ooh, I'll ever, never, not once when we're together
One gun punks on vogue at the side with the bands
With the monkey man high with a little girl at his side
What is it that you're doing to me?
Oh, I don't know, I know, I know, I know
I know, there came a truce and tea
Ooh, I will never, never, not chop those two together
With wheeling dope just do it on the side
With the bands and the fans and gangs and the clan
With the monkey man high with a little girl at his side
Well, I'll never, ever, now that we're together
Waiting on the dope
As he's queuing up inside, inside graveyard
I'm half dead, I'm the third alive
A quarter ticking over on the middle by the side of the road
The lyrics to Babyshambles' "Side Of The Road" are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song begins with the singer describing his state of being as "half dead, I'm the third alive, a quarter ticking over on the middle by the side of the road." This could be interpreted as feeling disconnected from the world and stuck in a state of stagnation.
The following lines caution against surrounding oneself with people one hates as they could "choke you out the house." The second verse describes a scene with "one gun punks on vogue at the side with the bands and the vans and the gangs and the clan." This could be interpreted as a portrayal of the underground music scene, with the "monkey man high with a little girl at his side" representing a drug dealer or user.
The chorus repeats the line "Ooh, I'll never, never, not once when we're together," perhaps indicating a reluctance to conform or fit in with the scene. The final verse describes "waiting on the dope" in a graveyard as "he's queuing up inside." The song closes with the singer once again describing his solitude on the side of the road.
Overall, the lyrics of "Side Of The Road" suggest a sense of alienation and disillusionment with the world, particularly with regards to the music scene and drug culture.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm half dead, I'm the third alive
I am feeling like I'm barely hanging on and not fully living.
A quarter ticking over on the middle by the side of the road
My life is like a clock ticking away, stuck in a state of indecision and feeling stuck by the side of the road.
Don't get surrounded by people you hate
It's important to stay clear of people that bring negativity and toxicity into your life.
They'll choke you out the house, down the path and out the garden gate
These negative people can consume your thoughts and actions and cause you to leave your own home and the places that bring you peace.
Ooh, I'll ever, never, not once when we're together
When I am with you, I feel complete and would never want to lose you.
One gun punks on vogue at the side with the bands and the vans and the gangs and the clan
The scene around me is full of violent and disruptive individuals while the bands, the vans, the gangs, and the clan continue on as usual.
With the monkey man high with a little girl by his side
Even amidst all the chaos, there is still love and companionship to be found between disparate personalities.
What is it that you're doing to me?
What is it that you are doing to me to make me feel so alive and connected?
Oh, I don't know, I know, I know, I know
I can't explain what it is, but I feel it and it is real.
I know, there came a truce and tea
I know that something good came from this, and we shared a peaceful moment together.
Ooh, I will never, never, not chop those two together
I will not mix and mingle with the people who bring violence and negativity.
With wheeling dope just do it on the side with the bands and the fans and gangs and the clan
Instead, I will find my own way to find joy and happiness with the bands, the fans, the gangs, and the clan.
With the monkey man high with a little girl by his side
Even amidst all the chaos, there is still love and companionship to be found between disparate personalities.
Well, I'll never, ever, now that we're together
Now that I have found you, I will never let you go.
Waiting on the dope as he's queuing up inside, inside graveyard
But even as things around us change, we can always find peace and connection with each other.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER DOHERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind