The band first experienced chart success when their second single "Take Me Out" reached #3 in the UK Charts, followed by their debut album Franz Ferdinand which entered the UK album chart at #3. The band went on to win the 2004 Mercury Music Prize and two BRIT Awards in 2005 for Best British Group and Best British Rock Act. NME named Franz Ferdinand as their Album of the Year. From the album, three top-ten singles were released, "Take Me Out", "The Dark of the Matinée" and "This Fire". The band has also received several Grammy Award nominations.
The band is named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria whose assassination was one of the main reasons for the start of the First World War. The band decided on the name after seeing a racehorse named Archduke Ferdinand win the Northumberland Plate in 2001, eventually coming to the decision as the alliteration and sound of the name appealed to them.
- Discography
Franz Ferdinand (2004)
You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
Blood; Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009)
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013)
FFS (2015) (Collaborative album with the band Sparks)
Always Ascending (2018)
Hits to the Head (2022)
04 The Dark Of The Matinee
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slide the nail under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties and I'm
Not to look at you in the shoe
But the eyes
Find the eyes
Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine
I time every journey
To bump into you accidentally, I charm you and tell you
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate, all the words I hate
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
You smile, mention something that you like
Oh, how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like
Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine
So I'm on BBC Two now
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
What I made is unclear now
But his deference is and his laughter is
My words and smile are so easy now
Yes, it's easy now, yes, it's easy now
Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
You will find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine
The song "The Dark of the Matinée" by indie rock band Franz Ferdinand is a love song with a darker twist. The lyrics are filled with imagery and clever wordplay that paint a picture of a passionate but tumultuous relationship. The song starts with a seductive scene where the singer's lover undresses him, and he can't take his eyes off her. He then talks about how he plans his day to accidentally run into her, so he can charm her with his words. They talk about how they hate things and how doing things they like would make them happy.
The second verse seems to suggest that the singer has become successful and famous, appearing on BBC Two with Terry Wogan, but the details of what he made are unclear. However, the deference and laughter from the host make him feel good. The chorus repeats the idea of following each other through corridors and leaving an academic factory, suggesting the characters are perhaps trapped in a stifling situation they wish to escape. The "matinée" references the morning of a performance or a movie showing, which could signify a moment of escape or respite. The line "better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine" shows the singer feels more comfortable and authentic in the shadows, away from the limelight.
Overall, the song is about a passionate but complicated romantic relationship and the need for freedom and escape. The singer is both attracted to and frustrated by his lover, and he finds solace in the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
You take your white finger
You use your finger to adjust my blazer buttons
Slide the nail under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer
You use your nail to slide under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties and I'm
You smooth out the fraying wool and loosen my tie
Not to look at you in the shoe
I should not look at your shoe
But the eyes
I should look into your eyes
Find the eyes
I need to find your eyes
Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
Come find me and follow me through the school buildings and offices
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You have to follow me and leave the school
You will find me in the matinee, the dark of the matinee
You will find me in the afternoon movie, during its darker moments
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
I prefer the afternoon movie when it is dark
I time every journey
I plan every trip to possibly see you
To bump into you accidentally, I charm you and tell you
My goal is to accidentally run into you and then charm you with my words
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate, all the words I hate
I tell you about all the things I dislike
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
I also share how I don't like certain clothes and how I will never be what I dislike
You smile, mention something that you like
You smile and mention something you enjoy
Oh, how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like
I tell you that you would be happier if you did more of the things you enjoy
So I'm on BBC Two now
Now, I'm on the BBC Two channel
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
I'm telling Terry Wogan how I became successful
What I made is unclear now
However, what I accomplished is now uncertain
But his deference is and his laughter is
But what is clear is his respect and his laughter toward me
My words and smile are so easy now
I feel so comfortable speaking and smiling now
Yes, it's easy now, yes, it's easy now
It's so easy now, it's just so easy now
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
I still prefer the afternoon movie when it's dark
You will find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You will locate me and follow me through the school's halls, dining area, and records
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You must follow me and leave this educational institution
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
You will find me in the afternoon movie, during its darker scenes
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
Once again, I prefer the afternoon movie when it's dark
It's mine. Yes, it's mine
The dark of the matinee belongs to me; yes, it's all mine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, ROBERT HARDY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Helena Oliveira
The Dark Of The Matinée
You take your white finger
Slide the nail under
The top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool
Slacken ties and I'm
Not to look at you in the shoe
But the eyes find the eyes
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
I time every journey
To bump into you accidentally
I charm you and tell you
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate
All the words I hate, all the clothes I hate
How I'll never be anything I hate
You smile, mention something that you like
Or how you'd have a happy life
If you did the things you like
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
So I'm on BBC2 now
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
What I made is unclear now
But his deference is
And his laughter is
My words and smile are so easy now
Yes, it's easy now
Yes, it's easy now
Find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
Well, find me and follow me
Through corridors, refectories
And files you must follow
Leave this academic factory
Will find me in the matinee
The dark of the matinee
It's better in the matinee
The dark of the matinee is mine
Yes, it's mine
A Escuridão Da Matinê
Você pega o seu dedo branco
Desliza a unha debaixo
Do primeiro e do último botões do meu blazer
Para ajeitar a lã puída
Afrouxa a gravata e eu
Não devo olhar para você no sapato
Mas os olhos encontram os olhos
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
Eu cronometro todos os turnos
Para topar com você acidentalmente
Eu a enfeitiço e lhe conto
Sobre os caras que odeio, as garotas que odeio
As palavras que odeio, as roupas que odeio
Sobre como nunca serei nada do que odeio
Você sorri e menciona algo de que gosta
Ou como seria feliz
Se fizesse as coisas de que gosta
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
E agora eu estou na BBC 2
Contando a Terry Wogan como cheguei lá e
Onde cheguei não está claro
Mas o respeito dele está
E a gargalhada dele também
Minhas palavras e meu sorriso são tão fáceis agora
Sim, é fácil agora
Sim, é fácil agora
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê
Encontre-me e me siga
Por corredores, refeitórios e arquivos
Você deve seguir
Se livrar desta fábrica acadêmica
Encontre-me na matinê
Na escuridão da matinê
É melhor na matinê
A escuridão da matinê é minha
Sim, é minha
Dimitris Sakaridis
Damn... That first Franz Ferdinand album is such a flawless masterpiece...
Samuel Powell
for real, timeless classic, btw if you like franz ferdinand you should check out Lonely Gimmick - Grumpy Days, it gives me FF vibes and is a great new indie track
Dimitris Sakaridis
@Samuel Powell Very nice! Thanks!
FlamingBanana
@Samuel Powell paramores this is why also gives me FF vibes
Will
Obviously
Blue M. Hart
This is just an absolutely perfect song. Everything about it, I can’t imagine it getting better.
Cowboy Dan
Nice PFP
Blue M. Hart
@Cowboy Dan Thanks! Looks a bit like yours I think haha
Shanjan Usman
@Blue M. Hart The Line about Wogan is Legendary
Kiana S
Better than Take Me Out?