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)
Fresh Strawberries
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fresh burst of red strawberries
Ripe, turning riper in the bowl
We will soon be rotten
We will all be forgotten
Half remembered rumours of the old
So wouldn't it be easy with
Give us more
Than here's my work
So where's my pay
To buy what I don't need?
Wouldn't it be easy to believe? (To believe?)
To believe? (To believe?)
Thieves believe
Everybody steals
I believe there's nothing to believe
But I'd love the manual
The instruction manual
Oh, liars
Swear that they never lie
Wouldn't it be easy with
Something to believe in that could
Give us more
Than here's my years
So now they're gone
It's time for me to leave
Wouldn't it be easy to believe? (To believe?)
To believe?
Wouldn't it be easy to believe?
Wouldn't it be easy to believe?
We are fresh strawberries
Fresh burst of red strawberries
Ripe, turning riper – so...
Wouldn't it be easy?
Something could give us more
But I don't know
No I don't know
I don't know what I need
Wouldn't it be easy
Oh couldn't it be easy
Shouldn't it be easy
To believe?
The lyrics of "Fresh Strawberries" by Franz Ferdinand explore the fleeting nature of life and how people search for meaning and purpose amidst the transience of existence. The song uses the imagery of fresh strawberries turning ripe in a bowl, symbolizing the ephemerality of youth and beauty, and ultimately, the inevitability of death. The song reflects on how people struggle to find purpose and meaning in their lives, and how they grasp on to various beliefs and ideologies to fill the void. The line "Thieves believe, everybody steals, I believe there's nothing to believe" portrays the disillusionment that individuals may feel towards certain beliefs or systems that they have once trusted in. The song closes with the repeated refrain "Wouldn't it be easy to believe?" suggesting that hope for something more is always present, but perhaps unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
We are fresh strawberries
We are young and vibrant, like fresh red strawberries
Fresh burst of red strawberries
We are full of life and energy, like a newly burst red strawberry
Ripe, turning riper in the bowl
We are maturing and growing old, like strawberries that ripen in a bowl
We will soon be rotten
Our time is limited, and soon we will decay and wither like overripe fruit
We will all be forgotten
Eventually, nobody will remember us or what we did
Half remembered rumours of the old
At best, we will be faintly remembered as unverified stories passed down through generations
Thieves believe
People who steal have faith in something, even if it's something negative
Everybody steals
People are inherently flawed and prone to taking what they want, despite the consequences
I believe there's nothing to believe
The artist is skeptical of the validity of any kind of belief system or code, as everything is subjective and open to interpretation
But I'd love the manual
Despite their skepticism, the artist wishes there was a guide or rulebook to follow
The instruction manual
An imaginary handbook for how to navigate life
Oh, liars
The artist is frustrated by people who are dishonest and untrustworthy
Swear that they never lie
Ironically, liars will swear on anything that they are telling the truth
Wouldn't it be easy with
Something to believe in that could
Give us more
Than here's my work
So where's my pay
To buy what I don't need?
The singer wishes for something greater than the mundane cycle of working and buying unimportant things
Wouldn't it be easy to believe? (To believe?)
To believe? (To believe?)
Repeating the phrase emphasizes the desire for a belief system that would make life easier to navigate
Wouldn't it be easy with
Something to believe in that could
Give us more
Than here's my years
So now they're gone
It's time for me to leave
The artist is reflecting on their own mortality and wishes for some kind of spiritual belief to give their life more meaning
We are fresh strawberries
Fresh burst of red strawberries
Ripe, turning riper – so…
Repeating the beginning of the song brings it full circle and emphasizes the fleeting nature of life
Wouldn't it be easy?
Something could give us more
But I don't know
No I don't know
I don't know what I need
The singer acknowledges their own confusion and indecision regarding what they want or need to believe in
Wouldn't it be easy
Oh couldn't it be easy
Shouldn't it be easy
To believe?
The repetition of 'easy' implies that the singer thinks that having faith in something should be a straightforward and natural process
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
matt
We are fresh strawberries
Fresh burst of red strawberries
Ripe, turning riper in the bowl
We will soon be rotten
We will all be forgotten
Half remembered rumours of the old
Wouldn’t it be easy with
Something to believe in that could
Give us more
Than here’s my work
So where’s my pay
To buy what I don’t need?
Wouldn’t it be easy to believe?
Thieves believe
Everybody steals
I believe there’s nothing to believe
But I’d love the manual
The instruction manual
Oh, liars
Swear that they never lie
Wouldn’t it be easy with
Something to believe in that could
Give us more
Than here’s my years
So now they’re gone
It’s time for me to leave
Wouldn’t it be easy to believe?
We are fresh strawberries
Fresh burst of red strawberries
Ripe, turning riper – so…
Wouldn’t it be easy?
Something could give us more
But I don’t know
No I don’t know
I don’t know what I need
Wouldn’t it be easy
Couldn’t it be easy
Shouldn’t it be easy
To believe
Gabriela Sélavy
The most underrated band in this crazy world.
Jean O'Boyle
Especially because of ageism.
johnnyboii
Right . Omg i discovered them so late . I love them . At the beginning i was like Lame . Butt then i loved it after the chorus . Bullet is m all time favorite tho
Jean O'Boyle
Never too late, Johnny. I Mean it.
Alisa Karter
True
GM ast
Nope, that would be tally hall or saint motel
Qwerty
The most underrated Franz song, yet one of their bests.
Inseut
+idknidk no, the most underrated franz songs are heisa-ho, swallow smile, l wells, jackie jackson, hallam foe dandelion blow, etc. but as an pretty-much-fan of franz, i cant even say what is their best song. maybe all of them, lol
D0ppi0
@Inseut I would argue this is more underrated since it's just there in the album. Everyone can just reach It but few aporeciate it.
Inseut
@D0ppi0 lmao, i was 15 or 16 when i wrote this reply (22 now), but still a huge franz fan