They formed in 2018, consisting of Sean Murphy-O'Neill (Vocals/Guitar), Sean Thomas (Drums), Joshua Cope (Guitar) and Connor McCann (bass) and quickly built a known reputation for themselves in the Liverpool music scene.
2019 brought them their first single "Not Yr Man" and several support slots with bands such as Heavy Lungs, FEET and Sports Team.
In January of 2020, they released fan-favourite single "Football". This was met with great critical reception and got them their first mainstream radio play on BBC Radio 1 and 6.
Lockdown hit and they released label-debut "David Byrne’s Badside" under Nice Swan Records.
In August, while restrictions were temporarily eased, they took to Whitewood Studios again to record "Grand National". Lead single "Popshop!" was released in November with the announcement of the EP. This took the band to a new horizon, with the addition of live guitarist/noisemaker – Josh Cope – a good friend of the band. Two remixes of the song from The Lounge Society and Home Counties were released shortly after.
In March 2021 they released the second single and title track from the EP, "Grand National". They announced their debut headline tour shortly after this release: including an upgrade of hometown headline (from Phase One to O2 Academy 2).
On April 9th, they released debut EP "Grand National" to high acclaim. The band toured extensively behind this in September 2021.
The band would then release their debut studio album "Guitar Music" the following year in 2022.
David Byrne's Badside
Courting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Man, I thought we united, he says it's his home
I'm not racist or tasteless, they're invasive, they're hateful
At The Rose, the boys don't question his behaviour
Yeah, football shirts tucked into tracksuits
Counts as formal wear, not drug dealing casual
Hard times 'round here, man, we gotta get through it
Though it's perfectly fine when Tom or Paul do it
[Pre-Chorus]
We want it easy
Keep it polite
Don't wanna get on
David Byrne's bad side
[Chorus]
Now he's afraid to go outside
To feed the ducks, to unionise
They keep on telling him
"Just go back home"
[Verse 2]
Homes Under the Hammer, well, it blares from the bar
Until Daddy picks him up in his European sports car
"A '19 plate?" Well, he muses who made it
"Built in England," he wonders, "a Britishman's labour"
Yet painful to watch as he watches The Chase
As he hates all his neighbours, he praises his saviour Nige
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[Pre-Chorus]
We want it easy
Keep things polite
Don't want to get on
David Byrne's bad side
No, no, no
[Chorus]
Now he's afraid to go outside
To feed the ducks, to unionise
They keep on telling him
"Just go back home"
He's told them all plenty of times
He's from 'round here, they don't sympathise
They keep on telling him
"Just go back home"
[Outro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Woo
Uh
The lyrics of "David Byrne's Badside" by Courting tackle themes of racism, xenophobia, elitism, and societal double standards. In the first verse, the singer seems to express anti-immigrant sentiments, spitting at people he perceives as not belonging in his community. Despite claiming not to be racist, he justifies his disdain for these individuals as they are seen as invasive and hateful. The mention of football shirts tucked into tracksuits being deemed as formal wear highlights a skewed perspective on class and what is considered acceptable attire. The line "Hard times 'round here, man, we gotta get through it / Though it's perfectly fine when Tom or Paul do it" points to the hypocrisy in how certain behaviors are judged based on who is doing them.
The pre-chorus emphasizes a desire for ease and politeness, indicating a preference for avoiding conflict or confrontation, especially with someone as influential or intimidating as David Byrne. The chorus reflects the singer's fear of facing the outside world, where he feels ostracized and pressured to conform to a certain norm. The repeated refrain of "Just go back home" suggests a rejection of his presence and a push for him to retreat to where he supposedly belongs, insinuating a lack of acceptance or belonging in his current environment.
In the second verse, the imagery of watching "Homes Under the Hammer" in a bar and being picked up by his father in a luxury car underscores themes of entitlement and detachment from reality. The singer's fascination with the car's origin raises questions about national identity and pride in British craftsmanship, juxtaposed against his disdain for his neighbors and his support for a figure like "Nige," presumably a nod to a right-wing, nationalist character. This contrast highlights the character's conflicting views and allegiances, revealing a complex inner turmoil and external posturing.
The outro with its repetitive chants and exclamations may symbolize a sense of frustration, disillusionment, or resignation. The overall narrative woven through the lyrics of "David Byrne's Badside" paints a picture of a character grappling with identity, belonging, and societal pressures, while also touching on larger themes of prejudice, social division, and the struggles of navigating a world rife with contradictions and biases.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sean Murphy-O'Neill, Sean Thomas, Robert Whiteley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind