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)
Dark of the Matinée
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 Dark of the Matinée" is a song by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand from their self-titled debut album. The song was released as the third single from the album in February 2004. The song features a catchy guitar riff and lead singer Alex Kapranos' distinct vocals.
The lyrics of the song depict a story of a young man trying to charm a girl by talking about the things he hates in life. He tries to convince her to leave her "academic factory" and follow him to the dark matinee, where he feels more at home. The line "you will find me in the matinee, the dark of the matinee, it's better in the matinee, the dark of the matinee is mine" suggests that he prefers the darkness and secrecy of the matinee over the bright daylight, which could symbolize his preference for a more underground or alternative lifestyle.
The song's theme of wanting to escape from the mundane, academic world is relatable to many young people, and the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a rebellious, edgy character. The catchy guitar riff and indie rock style of the song make it a popular choice for many alternative music fans.
Line by Line Meaning
You take your white finger
You use your white finger
Slide the nail under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Push your nail under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer to undo them
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties and I'm
Smooth out the worn wool and loosen my tie, and then I am
Not to look at you in the shoe
I must not look at you on the floor
But the eyes
Instead, I should focus on your eyes
Find the eyes
Look directly into your eyes
Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
Search for me and come after me through corridors, lunchrooms, and records
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You have to follow me and escape from this academic system
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
You will locate me in the daytime movie theater, during the dark part of the show
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
The daytime movie theater is superior, and the dark part belongs to me
I time every journey
I carefully plan every trip
To bump into you accidentally, I charm you and tell you
I try to run into you by chance, then I flatter you and confess
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate, all the words I hate
I talk about all the boys, girls, and words that I despise
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
Also, all the clothing that I dislike, and how I refuse to be anything I detest
You smile, mention something that you like
You smile and talk about something that you enjoy
Oh, how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like
You express how much happier you'd be if you focused on doing what you enjoy
So I'm on BBC Two now
Currently, I am being shown on BBC Two
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
I am telling Terry Wogan about my success and
What I made is unclear now
It isn't clear to me what exactly I have accomplished
But his deference is and his laughter is
However, I can tell that he is respectful and amused
My words and smile are so easy now
I find it effortless to speak and smile
Yes, it's easy now, yes, it's easy now
Indeed, it is simple now, it is simple now
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
The daytime movie theater is better, and the dark part belongs to me
You will find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You will locate me and pursue me through corridors, lunchrooms, and documents
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You need to follow me and break free from this academic establishment
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
You will locate me in the daytime movie theater, during the dark part of the show
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
It's superior in the daytime movie theater, during the dark part of the show
The dark of the matinée is mine
I have a strong attachment to the dark part of the daytime movie theater
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?