Frank Turner started solo acoustic shows prior to Million Dead's break up. The first official performance was at the first Small Town America all dayer at 93 Feet East on September 18th 2004. The solo performances were, in a sense, a sideline to Million Dead. They did allow Turner to display some of his own songwriting capabilities (without a band) as well as some covers of songs and bands he enjoyed, in some cases the songs were much re-worked to fit an acoustic atmosphere. Solo performances were also used to help bolster or expose Million Dead to new individuals as well, with some acoustic in-store and radio performances of Million Dead songs.
At the end of February and start of March (2006) Frank went to Oxford to record the "Campfire Punkrock" EP with Dive Dive as the backing band for three of the songs. This EP was released on May 15 2006 on a limited run through Xtra Mile recordings. It sold out after only a few weeks on sale and had to be re-pressed to meet demand.
With Jonah Matranga doing some touring in June 2006 in support of his CD/DVD album "Jonah Matranga" there was some discussion of Frank doing supports with Jonah, this only ended up with one show featuring both at The Peel in Kingston. The discussion however lead to the creation of the Jonah Matranga and Frank Turner split 12" vinyl. Released in the USA on Welcome Home Records and in the UK via Xtra Mile Recordings. The release features Frank covering two songs by American songwriters and Jonah covering two songs by British songwriters. He was recently (September 18 2006) the last ever artist to perform on BBC Radio 1's Lamacq Live program, unveiling two new songs from "Sleep Is For The Week".
The good sales of "Campfire Punkrock" meant good news as this allowed Frank to record his debut album "Sleep Is For The Week" in August and September 2006. Recorded in Oxford with Dive Dive as extra band on a selection of the 13 tracks. The last track, "The Ballad Of Me And My Friends", is a live recording from a sold out show at the London Barfly and features the vocal contribution of the (approximately) 200 strong audience during a verse. Those in attendance and gave their names to Xtra Mile Recordings will have their names credited as contributers to this track.
In April 2008, his second album Love, Ire and Song was released to critical acclaim.
His third full-length album, Poetry Of The Deed, was released September 7th 2009, and includes the singles The Road, Try This At Home and Isabel. An accompanying DVD, Take To The Road, was released in March 2010.
Amidst extensive touring in support of Poetry of the Deed, Turner and his then-untitled backing band recorded Rock & Roll, an EP consisting of tracks written at the same time as Poetry of the Deed alongside new material. Following its release, Turner and the band spent twenty days in January 2011, recording their next studio album with producer Tristan Ivemy. The result was England Keep My Bones, the fourth studio album by Frank, released on June 6, 2011, on Xtra Mile in the United Kingdom, and on June 7, 2011, on Epitaph Records worldwide. Preceded by the single, "Peggy Sang the Blues", the album was produced and mixed by Tristan Ivemy, who had previously mixed Love, Ire and Song, Rock & Roll and Campfire Punkrock.
The album's title is taken from William Shakespeare's play, The Life and Death of King John, with Turner noting, "I knew that the album was, for the most part, about mortality, and about Englishness. Shakespeare seemed like a good place to go hunting for some pearls of wisdom, and with a little help from my friend Ben we came across this one, and it just seemed to fit the work really well."
Following the completion of the album, Turner subsequently announced his backing band had named themselves The Sleeping Souls, after a lyric in the track, "I Am Disappeared". The Sleeping Souls are Nigel Powell, Ben LLoyd, Tarant Anderson and Matt Nasir.
Turner recorded his fifth studio album in Burbank, California, in October 2012. The reason for recording first time abroad in California was, that producer Rich Costey wouldn't come to England with all his equipment so he convinced Turner to record it in Burbank. Frank Turner announced via Twitter on 28 October 2012 that recording was completed, and mixing and mastering would be done in time for a March 2013 release date. During the November and December UK tour a free CD titled Good Hangs from Xtra Mile Recordings was distributed for free at Frank Turner shows, this included a yet-to-be-released Turner song titled "Tattoos" plus the Möngöl Hörde song "Casual Threats From Weekend Hardmen". On Christmas Day 2012, the song "Four Simple Words" was released on Xtra Mile Recordings' website as a free download along with the b-side "Cowboy Chords". On 4 January 2013, a video was shot for what would be the first single. On the same day Frank announced on Twitter that the single was the song "Recovery". On 9 January, Frank uploaded a photo to his Instagram page showing the names of all 13 songs that would feature on his new album. This included songs played during the UK and US tours of 2012 such as "Anymore", "Plain Sailing Weather", "We Shall Not Overcome" and "Tell Tale Signs". Frank also posted on his fan forum that an extended edition of his new album would be released that includes an extra 5 or 6 songs. On 19 February 2013, it was announced that Turner had signed a licensing deal with Interscope Records in the US for Tape Deck Heart. Following the release of the album Frank Turner embarked on a short U.K tour.
[this section requires expansion, to cover the period 2013 to 2018]
Discography:
2005 - Frank Turner's Demo
2007 - Campfire Punkrock
2007 - The Real Damage
2007 - Sleep Is For The Week
2008 - Love Ire & Song
2008 - The First Three Years
2009 - Poetry Of The Deed
2010 - Take to the Road: Live 2009
2010 - iTunes Festival: London 2010
2011 - 2011-11-17: Daytrotter Session, Big Orange Studios, Austin, TX, USA
2012 - The Second Three Years
2012 - Last Minutes and Lost Evenings
2013 - Tape Deck Heart
2014 - Polaroid Picture
2014 - The Third Three Years
2015 - Positive Songs for Negative People
2017 - Songbook
2018 - Be More Kind
2019 - No Man's Land
2020 - West Coast vs. Wessex
2020 - Buddies II: Still Buddies
Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
Frank Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your self-absorption makes you messier
Just settle down and you will feel a whole lot better
Deep down you're just like everybody else
She's not as pretty as she thinks she is
Just picture her after she's had kids
I bet she sits at home and listens to The Smiths
So why are you sat at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
Cos it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
He's not as clever as he likes to think
He's just ambitious with his arguing
He's crap at dancing, yeah and he can't hold his drink
Deep down he's just like everybody else
I'm not as awesome as this song makes out
I'm angry, underweight and sketching out
I'm building bonfires on my vanities and doubts
To get warm just like everybody else
So why are you sat at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
Cos it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
Amy thinks that life is lacking in drama
So she fell for horoscopes, faith-healing and karma
She's so wrapped up in her invisible armor
She'll never grow into herself
And it's OK thinking me and all my friends are just wasters
But saying that I can still see through her heirs and graces
I bet she's scared her life won't leave any traces
Caught up like everyone else
That's not the point anyway
Oh darling, I felt compelled to call you up to say
So why are you sat at home?
You're not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying "no"
So get up and get down and get outside
Cos it's a lovely sunny day
But you hide yourself away
You've only got yourself to blame
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Get up and get down and get outside
Frank Turner's song "Reasons Not to Be an Idiot" is a catchy tune with a relatable message. The lyrics describe a self-awareness that can be hard to come by, as the singer points out the flaws of others before admitting his own shortcomings and advocating for a more proactive and positive approach to life. The first verse reminds the listener that they are not as messed up as they might think, but their self-absorption can make them seem messier than they really are. The solution is to settle down and recognize that deep down, everyone is just like everybody else. The same is true for the people we judge or envy, such as the woman who is not as pretty as she thinks she is, or the man who is not as clever or talented as he thinks he is. We all have doubts, insecurities, and weaknesses, but we also have the potential to get up, get down, and get outside to enjoy a lovely sunny day and break out of our self-imposed isolation.
The chorus repeats the plea to get up and get down and get outside, since we are not designed to be alone and should not get used to saying "no" to opportunities to connect with others and enjoy life. The last verse introduces a character named Amy, who is struggling with a lack of drama in her life and has turned to horoscopes, faith healing, and karma in search of meaning. The singer acknowledges that while it may seem like he and his friends are just wasters, he can still see through Amy's airs and graces and her fear that her life won't leave any traces. In the end, the point of the song is to challenge the listener (and Amy) to let go of their fears, insecurities, and preconceptions, and to take a leap of faith and embrace the joys and challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You're not as messed up as you think you are
You may feel like you have a lot of issues, but in reality, you are not as bad as you believe you are.
Your self-absorption makes you messier
Focusing only on yourself can actually make your problems worse and make you more of a mess.
Just settle down and you will feel a whole lot better
If you calm down and take a step back, you will feel much better and more in control of the situation.
Deep down you're just like everybody else
Despite your unique qualities and characteristics, at your core, you are no different than anyone else.
She's not as pretty as she thinks she is
While she may believe she is exceptionally attractive, in reality, she is not as stunning as she imagines.
Just picture her after she's had kids
After having children, her appearance may change and she may not look as good as she does now.
I bet she sits at home and listens to The Smiths
In her personal time, she may engage in activities that are unexpected or surprising to others.
So why are you sat at home?
You should not be sitting at home all day.
You're not designed to be alone
Human beings are social creatures and it is not natural for us to be isolated for long periods of time.
You just got used to saying "no"
You have become accustomed to turning down opportunities and avoiding social situations.
So get up and get down and get outside
You need to go out and engage with the world around you.
Cos it's a lovely sunny day
The weather is wonderful outside and it's a great day to go out and do something.
But you hide yourself away
You tend to stay indoors and keep to yourself, avoiding social interactions.
You've only got yourself to blame
If you continue to isolate yourself, there is nobody else that you can hold responsible.
He's not as clever as he likes to think
Even though he may believe he is exceptionally intelligent, in reality, his abilities are not as impressive as he imagines.
He's just ambitious with his arguing
He enjoys engaging in debates and conversations, but may not necessarily be right or have all of the facts.
He's crap at dancing, yeah and he can't hold his drink
Despite his strengths and talents, he also has weaknesses and limitations.
I'm not as awesome as this song makes out
The portrayal of myself in this song is exaggerated and does not accurately reflect who I am.
I'm angry, underweight and sketching out
I am experiencing negative emotions and may be struggling with my mental and physical health.
I'm building bonfires on my vanities and doubts
I am trying to overcome my insecurities and negative self-talk in order to grow and improve.
Amy thinks that life is lacking in drama
She believes that her life is boring and uneventful.
So she fell for horoscopes, faith-healing and karma
In order to add excitement and meaning to her life, she has turned to alternative beliefs and practices.
She's so wrapped up in her invisible armor
She has created a protective barrier around herself to shield her from negative experiences or emotions.
She'll never grow into herself
If she continues to avoid facing her problems and engaging with the world, she will never fully develop and evolve as a person.
And it's OK thinking me and all my friends are just wasters
It is understandable if she believes I and my friends are not productive or successful members of society.
But saying that I can still see through her airs and graces
However, I can still recognize her insincerity and pretentious behavior.
I bet she's scared her life won't leave any traces
She may worry that her life will not leave a lasting impact or that she will not be remembered after she is gone.
Caught up like everyone else
Just like the rest of us, she is struggling to find her place in the world and create a meaningful life for herself.
That's not the point anyway
Regardless of the situation, the point is not what she believes it to be.
Oh darling, I felt compelled to call you up to say
I wanted to reach out to her and have a conversation about the issues presented in this song.
Get up and get down and get outside
The repeated refrain is encouraging and motivating listeners to go out and engage with the world instead of isolating themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EDWARD TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arkatix
Hey Frank, just wanted to let you know that this song helped me climb out of depression. It was one of the few things that helped me to get outside each day. Thanks, you beautiful human.
TestierSage66
hey man, hope your still alright!
Tom Hodges
Ditto but it was get better for me :)
Obi-Jay
Frank, I know you’ll never see this, but I want you to know this song helps me save my life every single day. Thank you for writing it.
xMxH
Why this guy isn't a lot more popular just blows me away. He is amazing!
Chris Taylor
Because he can't twerk and doesn't show his pum pum on TV
Troy
Listens to frank and is also a patriots fan. I think I love you
Elizabeth Matz
Frank Turner has an amazing singing voice! I've traveled some distances to see him and the band and I'm 77, years old that is
Fel M
This is beautiful. I saw him live a few years ago, during a hard time during my bachelor thesis and struggeling with false friends and colleagues. Now I 've returned to this song, because I'm struggeling with my master thesis, my plans for my own company and some low self esteem. Thank you Frank! I have the FT/HC - Symbol on my arm. I look at it from time to time and know, that I will make it. :) I am not designed to be alone!
Jack Rhodes
This song helped a lot. It’s relatable, and put things into perspective. And that’s exactly what I needed! Thanks Frank for making such a good song!