The band eventually broke up over a combination of creative differences and financial difficulties. Their failure to secure a record deal in the US certainly didn't help matters, despite critical acclaim in America. Rolling Stone's review of "Foxheads Stalk This Land" called it "first-rate guitar pop from a top-shelf band. Close Lobsters could have been just another jangle group, but they have a lot more going for them than just chiming Rickenbackers."
The band reunited briefly in 1991 for a few live gigs before disbanding more permanently.
The Close Lobsters song "Let's Make Some Plans" was covered by the Wedding Present on the b-side of the "California" single in 1992.
Andrew Burnett is a lecturer in the Business faculty at the University of Paisley and guitarist Graeme Wilmington is an Audio Technology lecturer at Stow College, Glasgow.
The band became active again in the 2010s, releasing multiple EPs and an LP, Post Neo Anti - Arte Povera In the Forest Of Symbols in 2020.
Violently Pretty Face
Close Lobsters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this mansion I'm all alone
Want to sit with you at the window
Laugh and understand the view
No no a violently pretty face
I'm jostled and bumped I may be slow
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
And I each day I'm sealed to the fate that I know
I'm gonna be struck before we reach the gate
I'm jostled and bumped and may be slow
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
The lyrics of Close Lobsters’ “Violently Pretty Face” reveal an individual who is alone in a mansion, yearning for companionship and connection. He appears to covet the company of another person in the house, hoping to sit with them at a window and share a laugh. However, the singer is preoccupied with finding the quest, something tantalizing and engaging that could bring their life meaning and purpose.
At the center of the lyrics is the singer’s anxiety about the “violently pretty face” of the person he desires. This individual seems to intimidate and terrify the singer, causing him to feel jostled and bumped. He fears that he will be “struck before we reach the gate," the way we use “the gate” seems to indicate that there is a sense of finality, of possibility unfulfilled. The intensity of the relationship, and the power dynamics therein, seem to be overwhelming to the singer.
“Violently Pretty Face” conveys a sense of yearning, hesitation, and anxiety with a nervous tension that is underscored by the repeated refrain of “but I’m terrified of your violently pretty face.” The use of the words “violently” and “terrified” add a sinister air to what would otherwise be a sweet, though desperate, declaration of love. It's an intriguing concept to consider, how we can simultaneously desire and fear someone's physical beauty, and Close Lobsters capture that nuance well.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't worry, no one will know
It's a secret between us and no one else will find out
In this mansion I'm all alone
I am by myself inside this house
Want to sit with you at the window
I desire to sit with you at the window together
Laugh and understand the view
We will laugh and appreciate the scenery outside
But first I've got to find what's the quest
Before we can do anything, I must figure out what I need to do
No no a violently pretty face
Although your appearance is attractive, it frightens me
I'm jostled and bumped I may be slow
I am struggling to keep up, and may be moving at a slower pace
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
I am scared of your stunning looks even though they lure me in
And I each day I'm sealed to the fate that I know
Every day my fate is sealed, and I am aware of what is to come
I'm gonna be struck before we reach the gate
Something will happen to me before we can reach our destination
I'm jostled and bumped and may be slow
I'm still struggling to keep up and may still be moving at a slower pace
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
Again, I am frightened by the beauty you possess
Contributed by Emily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MissRaniaGr
Don't worry, no one will know
In this mansion I'm all alone
Want to sit with you at the window
Laugh and understand the view
But first I've got to find what's the quest
No no a violently pretty face
I'm jostled and bumped I may be slow
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
And each day I'm sealed to the fate that I know
I'm gonna be struck before we reach the gate
I'm jostled and bumped and may be slow
But I'm terrified of your violently pretty face
@danthestanmanj594
first time listening. love it sm
@davingladstone5157
I didn't appreciate these kinds of alternative European bands back in the 1980s but this is some really great music
@SmithsnMoz
Very good song.. I love it!!
@chrisparedes1744
Que tremendo rescate tiene un sentimiento único una banda romántica y melancólica a la vez.
@AyrtonReid
Grandioso tema, cargado de esas guitarras y nostalgia :D
@Gonzax
one of my favorite songs ever. I hope they will play it next month here in Madrid. Yes, Close Lobsters are back!
@chrismorrison2805
perfect
@ELXOSE80
Thanks for sharing this outstanding Indie-Gem. *10*/Fav
@eliseocandelario8213
Sublime canción solo para conocedores de música
@arantxahernandez7388
❤️😍❤️😍❤️😍