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)
Eyes Of Mars
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I needed you?
When I needed you
When I needed you
You were there
In your dark room
I see it all
in a dull reddish glow
I feel the tragedy fall
I feel perfection,
In my chaos
Why is this happening here?
in my dark room...
The eyes are perfect
Eyes are seeing it all
See the victim
Pass from prism to film
The Eyes Of Mars...
Eyes of a killer are ours
The Eyes Of Mars...
Whatever happened to beautiful?
Where is our story?
Where's our love story?
So now we're selling
our dreams
Oh yeah we're selling
our dreams to you all
The eyes are perfect
Eyes are seeing it all
See the victim
Pass from prism to film
The Eyes Of Mars...
Eyes of a killer are ours
The Eyes Of Mars...
The song 'Eyes of Mars' by Franz Ferdinand is a haunting and enigmatic track that speaks of unfulfilled desires and lost love. The lyrics convey a powerful sense of longing and pain, as the singer laments the absence of someone who was there for him in the past but is no longer present when he needs them the most. The imagery used is striking – from the dull reddish glow that suffuses his dark room to the perfection he feels in his chaos, the song is full of contrasting and contradictory emotions.
The reference to the "Eyes of Mars" adds to the sense of mystery surrounding the song. Mars is, of course, the Roman god of war, and his eyes are traditionally associated with aggression and violence. The fact that the singer sees the eyes as perfect suggests a dark fascination with these qualities, and the repeated chorus of "Eyes of a killer are ours" reinforces this sense of danger and menace.
Line by Line Meaning
Where were you
Asks where the other person was when he needed their help
When I needed you?
Asks why the other person was not there when he needed them
When I needed you
Repeats the same question to emphasize the impact of the other person's absence
You were there
Acknowledges that the other person was present, but not helpful in the way he needed
In your dark room
Implies that the other person was emotionally distant or withdrawn
I see it all
Realizes that the other person's emotional distance hid their true motives or feelings
in a dull reddish glow
Describes the perspective as distorted or obscured, like seeing things through a filtered lens
I see the beautiful
Recognizes that there were positive qualities in the other person's character
I feel the tragedy fall
Feels the pain of betrayal, disappointment or loss as a result of the other person's actions
I feel perfection,
Reflects on the idealized image he had of the other person, despite their flaws
In my chaos
Admits that he is struggling internally or emotionally
Why is this happening here?
Asks why he is experiencing these intense feelings
in my dark room...
Repeats the previous line, linking the question to his emotional state
The eyes are perfect
Highlights the other person's physical beauty or appeal
Eyes are seeing it all
Suggests that the other person may have been manipulating or deceitful
See the victim
Recognizes that he has been hurt or taken advantage of
Pass from prism to film
Describes the transition from seeing the other person as flawless to recognizing their true nature
The Eyes Of Mars...
Repeats the title of the song as a conclusion to this verse
Eyes of a killer are ours
Changes perspective to suggest that the singer and the other person share similar traits or are complicit in causing harm
Whatever happened to beautiful?
Reflects on the loss of innocence or beauty in the situation
Where is our story?
Asks what happened to their shared narrative or connection
Where's our love story?
Asks where the feelings or emotions they had for each other went
So now we're selling
Suggests that they are putting on a facade or trying to present themselves in a better light
our dreams
Refers to their shared vision or goals
Oh yeah we're selling
Emphasizes the artifice of the performance
our dreams to you all
Addresses the audience as part of the charade
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lf1234
I love the dark quality of her voice. Such expressiveness. Love it!!!!!!!!!!
@norahsz9477
such a haunting melody, I love this song! Franz Ferdinand are one my favourite bands ever :3
@CookieBear187
A wonderfully surprising collab between two seemingly different musicians. Very exciting~Franz sounds great with a girl singer
@LordOfTheObvious
oh AMV hell 5... we love you.
@Globoom
beautiful
@zoricabilbao
Franz Ferdinand are perfect!!!
@zaruxi
this is perfection!!!
@veronihika
It'll be soooo cool if she came to Colombia to perform this song in their concert! i think i'd faint... this song is so amazing!
@adamraczkowski5152
Great song. A real gem. Nice surprise. I wonder why I didn't hear it before. Epic.
@vickshizzle
This is a tune!! Touche!