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)
Brief Encounters
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are married
We are young
On the edge of the city
The edge of Ambrosia
Rolls upon rolls upon
Rolls upon the tongue
A certain cul-de-sac
A certain outcome
A certain piece of me
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Outside alone
Crossing a perfect lawn
Could it be you
Could it be you
Could it be you
Or could it be
This is what freedom is?
We are brief encounters
We all lose our keys
We all choose our partners
We all choose our keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Pull back
Pull back
Into the drive
Rigid in the matrimonial superking bed
Pretend to sleep
Pretend to sleep
Come on pretend
Yeah, let's pretend
Yeah, let's pretend
Yeah, let's
We are brief encounters
We all lose our keys
We all choose our partners
We all choose our keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
Car keys, choose your keys
The song “Brief Encounters” by Franz Ferdinand is a commentary on the monotonous and unfulfilling lives that people lead. The chorus, "We are brief encounters, we all lose our keys, we all choose our partners, we all choose our keys," suggests that life is a series of random and fleeting moments, and we all have some level of control over the choices we make. The line "This is what freedom is?" suggests that as human beings, we are constantly seeking a sense of freedom, and yet we often feel trapped by societal norms and expectations.
The song’s verses describe a seemingly pleasant suburban life, but one that is ultimately unfulfilling. The repetition of “car keys, choose your keys” highlights the mundane nature of daily life, and the repetition of "pretend to sleep" in the bridge suggests that people are not truly happy or satisfied with their lives. The song has a melancholic feel that reflects the sense of longing and unfulfillment that the lyrics describe.
Line by Line Meaning
We are bored
We are lacking excitement or interest in our lives.
We are married
We are in a committed relationship with someone else.
We are young
Despite being married, we are still in the early stages of our lives.
On the edge of the city
Living on the outskirts of urban civilization.
The edge of Ambrosia
Metaphorical reference to the idea of promise or paradise, yet still out of reach.
Rolls upon rolls upon
Heavy repetition of an idea or thought pattern.
Rolls upon the tongue
Describing the way one's thoughts roll around in their mind.
A certain party
A specific person or group of people we associate with.
A certain cul-de-sac
A specific place or situation we find ourselves in, with no clear way out.
A certain outcome
A specific result or consequence that we expect or fear.
A certain piece of me
A part of myself that I'm hesitant to reveal or share.
Car keys, choose your keys
A reminder that we have control over the direction our lives take.
Outside alone
Isolated and lonely, in need of connection with someone else.
Crossing a perfect lawn
Illustrating the idea of an unattainable ideal, a false representation of happiness.
Could it be you
Questioning the possibility of finding true love and connection.
Or could it be
Considering the alternative of living a life without love or passion.
This is what freedom is?
Rhetorical question, questioning the true definition of freedom and its correlation with love.
We are brief encounters
Acknowledging the fleeting and temporary nature of human connection in modern times.
We all lose our keys
Reference to lost opportunities and lost chances for connection in life.
We all choose our partners
Acknowledgement of our agency in selecting the people with whom we romantically connect.
Pull back
Intentionally disengage or retreat from emotional experiences.
Into the drive
Returning to the routine and often monotonous patterns of daily life.
Rigid in the matrimonial superking bed
Symbolizing the physical and emotional confinement of the singer's relationship.
Pretend to sleep
Avoiding confrontation or intimacy in one's relationship.
Come on pretend
Pushing oneself to continue the façade of a perfect relationship.
We are brief encounters
Reiteration of the temporary nature of human connection in the modern age.
Car keys, choose your keys
Final reminder to take control of one's life and make deliberate, decisive choices in love and relationships.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind