Carl Barât was born in Basingstoke, England and grew up in the nearby town of Whitchurch, England. According to a September 2004 interview with Blender Magazine, Barât had mentioned to have a French, Polish, and Russian ethnic background. Other sources have suggested that Barât also has Spanish blood. He divided his youth between his father, who worked in an armaments factory, and his mother, Chrissie, who was part of the commune-dwelling counterculture, such as CND and peace groups. Barât spent part of his childhood living with his mother on a commune in Somerset. He has one sister, Lucie Barat, an actress-turned-singer, who most notably played Helen's handmaiden in the 2004 film Troy and is currently the lead singer of The Fay Wrays.[1] and several half siblings.
In 1996, Barât was studying for a drama degree at Brunel University in Uxbridge. He was somewhat disillusioned by his fellow drama students, however he did meet and get on well with a girl named Amy-Jo, who happened to be Peter Doherty's sister. Through Amy-Jo, Barât met Doherty.[2] Barât initially disliked Doherty but they developed a very intense friendship, the two building a mythical view of an English arcadia, and "The Albion," a ship sailing to Arcadia which is populated in equal degrees by Dickensian gentlemen and cockney wide boys. The Libertines were subsequently formed with bassist John Hassall and drummer Gary Powell, with Barât and Doherty sharing songwriter and singing duties, examples of which can be heard on almost all of their songs.
The Libertines
The Libertines' first album, "Up the Bracket", was released in 2002 to critical acclaim. The band quickly became famous in part due to their volatile stage performances, characterised by intense bouts of mic-sharing, and fighting between Barât and Doherty. This paralleled their relationship, which over time had progressed to verging on dysfunctional and abusive, with Barât and Doherty being equally competitive and possessive towards each other.
In 2003, numerous troubles stemming from Doherty's addiction to both heroin and crack cocaine led to Barât asking Doherty to leave the band. Doherty discovered that the Libertines had left without him to perform in Japan, and he broke into Barât's Mayfair flat, stealing various items including an antique guitar and an NME Award. He was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison. The sentence was later shortened to two months, during which Barât and Doherty had reconciled through correspondence. Barât later warmly welcomed Doherty back to The Libertines on the day of his release and later perform an impromptu gig at the "Tap 'n' Tin" club, Chatham, Kent, dubbed 'The Freedom Gig'. The historic photograph that adorns The Libertines' self-titled second album, "The Libertines" and on the cover of Roger Sargent's (who took the photograph) and Anthony Thornton's book, "The Libertines Bound Together", is of that very night on October 8, 2003.
However, Doherty's drug addiction continued, even while the band carried on working on their second album in 2004. This strained his relationship with Barât both professionally and privately. Bodyguards were needed in the recording sessions, allegedly to prevent Barât and Doherty from physically assaulting each other and to keep Doherty's hangers-on away from him.
Before the release of the second album in 2004, simply entitled "The Libertines", relations between Barât and Doherty reached a breaking point. This resulted in Doherty being expelled from the band once again. Doherty did not take the expulsion well, especially as the Libertines continued touring without him as per contractual obligations. Doherty admitted in a September 2005 interview that he had not spoken to any of his former bandmates since then.
What was intended as a short leave of absence has turned into something more permanent, as Doherty has formed a new band, Babyshambles, whom he describes as "The New Libertines" and Barât calls "Pete's denial band" for their seemingly lax attitude regarding Doherty's drug habits.
Post-Libertines
Barât himself disbanded The Libertines in December 2004, citing his lack of desire to continue the band without ex-partner Doherty and an "ongoing problem with [his] health." In 2005, Barât underwent surgery to remove a tumour behind his ear and spent several weeks recovering from the operation.
In February of 2005, the Libertines won NME's Best British Band award and Barât paid tribute to Doherty in his acceptance speech. Days later, it was officially announced that Barât had signed to Vertigo Records as a solo artist.
Barât's first work as a solo artist was providing vocals for the European duo Client on their single, "Pornography". Barât set up the London club Dirty Pretty Things in June 2004 where he regularly serves as DJ. In July 2005, he released an album contributing to the Under the Influence series, where musicians select tracks that have influenced them as artists.
Barât's was seen with Doherty on April 18, 2005, where the two publicly reunited at the Boogaloo Bar in Highgate, North London.
On April 17, 2006, Barât said about Pete's drug addiction "It's just sad and I wish he would sort it out. I would really like to work with him again some day. I don't deny that but I've not seen him really."
On 'Friday Night with Jonathan Ross', aired July 7, 2006 Pete Doherty said that he did not have a relationship with Barat anymore, shooting down rumours that the pair speak regularly. Although he too, said that he would like to work with Carl again. On July 18, 2006 Carl and Pete met in the Dublin Castle pub in Camden, London.
Dirty Pretty Things
On September 15, 2005, it was announced that Barât was forming a new band. His fellow bandmates include former Libertines drummer Gary Powell, Anthony Rossomando, who filled in as guitarist following Pete Doherty's departure from the group, and Didz Hammond, formerly of The Cooper Temple Clause, on bass. It was later announced that the band have taken the name "Dirty Pretty Things".
They played their first shows in Italy and Paris, France in October 2005, before recording their debut album in November 2005 in Los Angeles, California. This was produced by Dave Sardy, who has also worked with Supergrass, the Dandy Warhols, Jet, Marilyn Manson, The Rolling Stones, and Oasis. The album - entitled Waterloo to Anywhere - was released on May 8 2006 in the UK and August 8 2006 in the US.
Their first studio recorded demo, "Bang Bang You're Dead", can be heard on the Dirty Pretty Things website in the form of a flash video. Its sound has been likened to that of the early Libertines', mixing punk and reggae influences. This song was released as their debut single on April 24 and reached number 5 in the UK single chart. This coincided with the latter part of their first tour of the United Kingdom, which spanned from the 26th February to the 24th May 2006.
On 1st October 2008 Dirty Pretty Things announced their break up and embarked upon a 'Last Waltz' tour which took in the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe and ended shortly before Christmas 2008.
Carl will be doing some solo shows throughout 2009
The Fall
Carl Barât Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Upon a sticky nightclub floor, a wilting rose I found
I snatched her from the clutches of an evil smelling bore
I said, "I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
We quickstepped into love like Fred and Ginger in a trance
At all the most exclusive balls, always too drunk to dance
The snakes and devils of our past were scrupulously ignored
The windswept kisses on the dunes, the only ships at sea
Around the Cape of Vain Hope, the gods smiled on her and me
"If you're reading this, you've come too far," the sign read on the door
I said, "I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
To save us from ourselves, we turned our fury on each other
She'd crucify my confidence, I'd hog the duvet cover
We'd tighten up the thumbscrews and still scream out for more
I said, "I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
We followed every line to where the end always begins
Presented our credentials and they gladly let us in
We washed in filthy sin, and we grew rotten to the core
I said, "I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
Our merry dance was over, every shred of love was gone
Everything that once seemed right, turned out to be so wrong
I woke up on the sofa, found her suitcase in the hall
She said, "I think it's over now", I said nothing at all
The Fall by Carl Barât is a song that captures the highs and lows of a relationship. The lyrics speak of a passionate love story that takes place in the North. The song starts with the singer finding a wilting rose on a sticky dance floor, where he rescues her from the clutches of an unworthy suitor. The two of them fall in love and dance like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but are too drunk to realize it. They ignore the problems that might stand in their way, but that does not last long. They turn their fury on each other and soon realize that they have grown rotten to the core.
The song speaks of how the two lovers followed every line to where the end always begins. They presented their credentials and were let in, but they washed in filthy sin, which eventually led them to the end of their relationship. The lyrics explain that everything that seemed right at one time turned out to be wrong. The singer wakes up to find his lover's suitcase in the hall. She says that she thinks it's over now, and he says nothing.
The song is about the highs and lows that come with a relationship. The lyrics are emotional and personal, with an underlying tone of heartbreak. It speaks of the passion, beauty, and destruction that can come with love.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere in the North, amid the drunken hunting ground
In some unknown place in the north, among a place where people hunt while intoxicated.
Upon a sticky nightclub floor, a wilting rose I found
On a dirty dance floor of a club, I discovered a drooping rose.
I snatched her from the clutches of an evil smelling bore
I rescued her from the grasp of an unpleasant-smelling person.
I said, "I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
I declared that the struggle was finished, but she wasn't convinced.
We quickstepped into love like Fred and Ginger in a trance
We fell in love quickly, as if in a euphoric trance similar to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' dancing.
At all the most exclusive balls, always too drunk to dance
At all of the high-end social gatherings, we were always inebriated and unable to dance.
The snakes and devils of our past were scrupulously ignored
We intentionally disregarded our past mistakes and sins.
The windswept kisses on the dunes, the only ships at sea
Our intimate moments on a deserted beach were like ships passing in the night.
Around the Cape of Vain Hope, the gods smiled on her and me
As we navigated through hopeless situations, fate seemed to be in our favor.
"If you're reading this, you've come too far," the sign read on the door
The sign on the door warned that if someone read it, they had progressed too far and could not turn back.
To save us from ourselves, we turned our fury on each other
In an attempt to rescue ourselves from our own issues, we vented our anger towards each other.
She'd crucify my confidence, I'd hog the duvet cover
She would demolish my self-assurance while I claimed more than my fair share of the blankets.
We'd tighten up the thumbscrews and still scream out for more
Despite enduring rigorous pain, we still yearned for more stimulation.
We followed every line to where the end always begins
We chased every opportunity to its unfortunate conclusion.
Presented our credentials and they gladly let us in
We displayed our qualifications, and they accepted us without hesitation.
We washed in filthy sin, and we grew rotten to the core
We immersed ourselves in immoral activities, and we became thoroughly corrupt.
"I think it's over now", she said, "I'm not so sure"
I thought that our time together had concluded, but she was uncertain about it.
Our merry dance was over, every shred of love was gone
Our passionate relationship had come to a close, and all feelings of love had vanished.
Everything that once seemed right, turned out to be so wrong
Everything that appeared to be correct initially proved to be completely incorrect.
I woke up on the sofa, found her suitcase in the hall
I awoke on the couch and discovered her luggage waiting in the hallway.
She said, "I think it's over now", I said nothing at all
She said that it was time to end the relationship, and I didn't say anything in response.
Contributed by Parker D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
clairecreates
two of my best friends did an amazing ballet duo to this song. its so haunting and amazing, i love it to pieces
Mefisto_falico
I love so much this song!!!
LikeASugarPlumFairy
I love the songs you've already uploaded on youtube.. is there any chance that you could upload the other songs as well? I am buying the album so I would not just steal from Internet. I'm just really curious about other songs like, "Je Regrette, Je Regrette".. thanks for uploading this just now!!
Spader Holic
Carl Barat and Neil Hannon - both geniuses! :)
braddersthemod
this is a quality song! it was co written with neil hannon, so if you like this check out some divine comedy stuff, quite similer in some ways.
chatpuss
scott walker-ish too. very good though
chatpuss
wicked
Daniel Vinilos
Quiero Bailar esta pieza con la niña de mis sueños y decirle que lo que no se pudo en este mundo terrenal, se podra en este mundo útopico, en estos sueños donde ella y yo seremos muy felices por que nos amamos en el fondo del alma.