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)
Better on Holiday
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Iver peered above a spectacle
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes
Forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know
That face as I do
She can return you the face
That you are staring from
It's always better on holiday
So much better on holiday
That's why we only work when
We need the money
Gregor was down again
Said come on, kick me again
Said I'm so drunk
I don't mind if you kill me
Come on you gutless
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
And how i know it
But for chips and for freedom
I could die
It's always better on holiday
So much better on holiday
That's why we only work when
We need the money
The song Better on Holiday by Franz Ferdinand talks about the concept of escapism and the idea that life is so much better when you are on vacation. The song tells the stories of two people, Jacqueline and Gregor, who both seem unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives, and are looking for an escape. The first verse describes Jacqueline as a 17-year-old girl who works at a desk and feels forgotten, while the chorus suggests that everything is better when you're on holiday. The lyrics suggest that the return of the gaze can be both freeing and exhilarating, making you feel alive and in touch with who you really are.
The second verse of the song starts by talking about Gregor, who is down again and doesn't mind if someone kills him as he feels he has nothing left to live for. He's only alive because he wants chips and freedom. The overall message of this song is that people only work when they need money, and life is much more enjoyable when you're on vacation. It's a song about the human desire to escape the monotony of everyday life and explore new places.
Line by Line Meaning
Jacqueline was seventeen and working on a desk when
The song starts with a young girl named Jacqueline, who is working at her desk while Iver peeks over his spectacles.
Iver peered above a spectacle
Iver raises his glasses to sneak a look at Jacqueline.
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
He forgets that he hurt a girl before while admiring Jacqueline.
Sometimes these eyes
Occasionally, people's eyes...
Forget the face they're peering from
...forget the person whose face they are looking out from.
When the face they peer upon
When they look at someone else's face...
Well, you know
...you know that feeling.
That face as I do
I know that feeling because it's happened to me.
And how in the return of the gaze
When the other person looks back at you...
She can return you the face
...they give you the same feeling in return.
That you are staring from
That you are looking at them with.
It's always better on holiday
The chorus repeats that holidays are always better than working, implying that we work to be able to afford vacations, which are a reprieve from our lives.
So much better on holiday
The excitement of the singer is apparent as he emphasizes again how much fun it is to be on vacation.
That's why we only work when
Therefore, it's the reason why some people work only when they need to.
We need the money
It is essential to work if you need funds to go on vacation.
Gregor was down again
The second part of the song is another story about a man named Gregor, who is feeling down.
Said come on, kick me again
He tells people to beat him up and try to hurt him again because he feels impervious to pain due to being intoxicated.
Said I'm so drunk
He admits to being drunk.
I don't mind if you kill me
He's so drunk that he's willing to die and encourages people to hurt him.
Come on you gutless
He's challenging people to hit him harder.
I'm alive
He's telling everyone he's still alive, so they can't hurt him.
And how I know it
He knows he's alive because he can still feel the pain.
But for chips and for freedom
He doesn't want to die; he's just bored and wants to feel alive and free for once.
I could die
It could kill him, but he would still rather feel alive for a moment than feel nothing at all.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʟɪʙʀᴏꜱ ᴘɪʀᴀᴛᴇᴀᴅᴏꜱ ꜱ.ᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴄᴠ
Jacqueline was seventeen, working on a desk
When Ivor peered above a spectacle
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know that face as I do
And how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face that you are staring from
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
Gregor was down again, said, "Come on, kick me again"
Said, "I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
Come on, you gutless
Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die"
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we, we need the money.
Limits98
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Jacqueline was seventeen, working on a desk
When Ivor peered above a spectacle, forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know that face as I do, and how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face that you are staring from
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
[Verse 2]
Gregor was down again, said, "Come on, kick me again"
Said, "I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
Come on, you gutless
Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die"
[Chorus]
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
Sarah L
Their first 2 albums were just everything. I was in my early teens during their debut and their sound, amidst some other bands of that time, remind me of that time in my life.
Hauke Haien
Their sound has been unique, but it stayed the same when found(ed). There should have been a 120 minute disc ;)
Nikola Vizec
One of those bands that are seriously underrated.
Ilija Milosevic
You stole my words, man. These guys are extremely good and they are really talented (I still haven't found a single bad song from them). Also, this is one of the best songs ever!!!
George Lally
They are very underrated. It's a shame music isn't like this anyone.
Sabeza
Each to their own taste, to be honest I do feel like alot of their songs have the same vibe, I still like them and ended up here looking back on them. I personally myself wouldn't call them talented, you have to have a special sense for those type of things. I rate ole Ferdinand 4/10
Chris Morfas
@Sabeza Yes, after the first two wonderful albums, they couldn't quite keep it going. There was no real evolution. The quality dropped off. But if I make a list of my ten favorite FF songs (including this one) they rate as among my favorite songs of this century. Flew high but burned out :-)
Federico Edelstein
@Ilija Milosevic thats why they get a little bit boring, they dont have bad songs but their style stays very similar and it gets repetitive
HeyItsRin
Me, 17, sitting at my desk doing hw, searching for a song with my name as the title, listening to the first line of this song: 👁👄👁
Tin Rex
Lmao