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)
Goodbye Lovers and Friends
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
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You know I hate pop music
Just sing amazing godless grace
I don't wear bright colours, oh
You know I hate bright colours
I never liked you for the way you dressed
Anyway
Goodbye lovers and friends
So sad to leave you
When they lie and say
"This is not the end"
You can laugh as if
We're still together
You can laugh about it all
Anyway
I hope you didn't bring flowers
Hope you didn't write a poem
Hope you remember every fight
I know I could be noxious
Or occasionally cruel
But only to the ones
I loved
So goodbye lovers and friends
So sad to leave you
When they lie and say
"This is not the end"
You can laugh as if
We're still together
You can laugh about it all
Don't get inventory
Don't fake your memory
Don't give me virtues that I never had
Don't get sychophantal
We never were sentimental
I know that I took more than I ever gave
I don't need to be forgiven
But a moment from the living
Yeah that's the only thing I ask
So don't play pop music, no
You know I hate pop music
Just sing amazing godless grace
So goodbye lovers and friends
It's so sad to leave you
When they lie and say
"This is not the end"
You can laugh as if
We're still together
But this really is the end
The lyrics of Franz Ferdinand's song "Goodbye Lovers and Friends" delve into the nuances of a breakup, with a bittersweet tone. The opening lines are dismissive of pop music, as the singer declares his disdain for it to his ex-lover. The line "Just sing amazing godless grace" is a plea for something deeper and more meaningful, hinting at a desire for emotional substance rather than just commercialized entertainment.
The following lines reveal the singer's feelings towards his ex's sense of style. He dislikes bright colors and did not appreciate her for the way she dressed. The use of the word "anyway" at the end of this stanza suggests that these details are no longer relevant, as the relationship has ended.
The chorus of the song, "Goodbye lovers and friends," is a poignant farewell. Even though the singer is sad to leave, he clarifies that this is truly the end. The line "You can laugh as if we're still together" is bitter-sweet, with the singer acknowledging that he may be the butt of jokes, but at least the memory of the relationship still exists. The verse that follows is a plea for his ex-lover not to bring flowers, write a poem, or falsify their memories of their relationship.
The final verse of the song is the most straightforward. The singer acknowledges the negative impact he may have had on their relationship, but asks only for a moment from the living, indicating that he is okay with death. The song ends on a similar sentiment from the chorus, with a final goodbye indication that the relationship is truly over.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't play pop music, no
I don't like pop music, so don't bother playing it for me
You know I hate pop music
Just a reminder that I really, really hate pop music
Just sing amazing godless grace
Instead of pop music, how about singing something with more depth? Like a song about living without the need for gods
I don't wear bright colours, oh
I never dress in bright colors, in case you didn't notice
You know I hate bright colours
Bright colors aren't my thing, it's just a personal preference
I never liked you for the way you dressed
Your clothes didn't influence my opinion of you one way or the other
Anyway
Moving on to the next topic
Goodbye lovers and friends
It's time for me to say farewell to all the people I've cared about
So sad to leave you
Leaving behind the people I care about is difficult and emotional
When they lie and say 'This is not the end'
People may try to reassure me that our paths will cross again, but deep down I know that's not true
You can laugh as if we're still together
I want you to remember the happy times we shared and not be sad about our separation
You can laugh about it all anyway
Laughing and smiling about the past is better than crying and being sad about the present
I hope you didn't bring flowers
Please don't bring flowers as a sign of mourning or regret
Hope you didn't write a poem
A written tribute or poetic gesture isn't necessary, just remember the good times we shared
Hope you remember every fight
Even our disagreements and arguments are part of our history and can be remembered fondly
I know I could be noxious
I'm aware that I had distasteful qualities
Or occasionally cruel
I wasn't always the nicest person to be around
But only to the ones I loved
My unpleasantness was reserved only for the people I cared about most
Don't get inventory
Please don't take inventory of all the things we did wrong as a couple or friends
Don't fake your memory
It's okay if your recollections of our time together isn't perfect
Don't give me virtues that I never had
Don't try to idealize me or paint me as a better person than I really am
Don't get sycophantal
Don't act like a sycophant or flatter me insincerely
We never were sentimental
We didn't express our emotions in overly sentimental ways, even if we cared for each other deeply
I know that I took more than I ever gave
I may have been selfish or self-centered in our relationship, and I recognize that now
I don't need to be forgiven
I don't expect or need anyone to forgive me for my mistakes or shortcomings
But a moment from the living
All I ask for is one last moment of connection from the people I'm leaving behind
Yeah that's the only thing I ask
It's a small and simple request, but it means a lot to me
But this really is the end
Reiterating that our relationship is ending and we won't be seeing each other again anytime soon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, BRYAN CHARLES HOLLON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind