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)
Huck and Jim
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
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Sitting by the door, her
Nose upon the window is cold
Nails upon the window breaking
Nails upon the door
Looking through the window no more
No, no more
Some fun, look dumb
Put a stone in the musical window
She don't buy high time
Disco, won't you leave me alone
Down, she won't go
She can't fit through a typical door
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way
We're going to America
We're gonna tell them about the NHS
When we get there we'll all hang out
Sipping 40's with Huck and Jim
Everywhere sham Bohemians
Hello magazine bohemians
Terminal chancers who loathe
The privileged who loathe their privilege
The skin upon the custard is hard
Yes, it's hard
Flat scum, you got some
Hanging from a toe in a tenth-floor window
Pass out, no bar
There's no theoretical look down
There is no down
Something's gone and you're missing it now
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way-oh (no way-oh)
No way
We're going to America
We're gonna tell them about the DSS
When we get there we'll all hang out
Sipping 40's with Huck and Jim, yeah
We're going to America. yeah
We're gonna tell them about the NHS
When we get there we'll all hang out
Sipping buckie with the boys
The lyrics of "Huck And Jim" by Franz Ferdinand touch on themes of social class, privilege, and the desire for escape. The song paints a picture of a woman sitting by the window and the door, feeling isolated and detached from the outside world. The repetition of "nails upon the window" and "nails upon the door" suggests a sense of frustration and confinement, as if the woman is desperately trying to break free.
The lyrics also reference disco and a stone in a musical window, which could be interpreted as symbols of escapism and the desire to let loose. The line "She can't fit through a typical door" implies that the woman doesn't fit into society's expectations or norms. This could be a comment on the restrictive nature of social conventions and the longing for something different.
The chorus, with its repeated "no way-oh" refrain, conveys a sense of defiance and rebellion. It reflects a refusal to conform to societal expectations and a rejection of the status quo. The line "We're going to America" suggests a desire for a fresh start and the hope of finding a place where they can express themselves freely.
The mention of the NHS (National Health Service) and the DSS (Department of Social Services) in relation to talking to Americans about them highlights the band's political and social awareness. It implies a desire to share their experiences with a different health care system and to shed light on social welfare issues. In contrast, "sipping 40's with Huck and Jim" and "sipping buckie with the boys" seem to represent a desire for camaraderie and freedom, possibly through indulgence in alcohol.
Overall, "Huck And Jim" reflects a yearning for liberation, both from societal expectations and from the restrictions of one's current circumstances. It explores themes of alienation, social inequality, and the pursuit of a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting by the window, she's
She is sitting near the window, observing her surroundings
Sitting by the door, her
She is positioned near the door, possibly indicating restlessness or anticipation
Nose upon the window is cold
Her nose pressed against the cold glass of the window
Nails upon the window breaking
Her nails scraping against the window, causing it to break
Nails upon the door
Her nails scratching against the door
Looking through the window no more
She has stopped looking through the window
No, no more
No, she will not look anymore
Some fun, look dumb
Having some fun, appearing foolish or silly
Put a stone in the musical window
Placing a stone in a window that produces musical sounds
She don't buy high time
She does not believe in indulging in excessive pleasures or luxury
Disco, won't you leave me alone
Disco music, please stop bothering or pestering me
Down, she won't go
She refuses to feel down or depressed
She can't fit through a typical door
She is unable to fit through an ordinary door, possibly suggesting she is different or unconventional
No way-oh (no way-oh)
Absolutely no way
We're going to America
We are planning to travel to America
We're gonna tell them about the NHS
We intend to inform them about the National Health Service
When we get there we'll all hang out
Once we arrive, we will spend time together
Sipping 40's with Huck and Jim
Casually drinking 40-ounce alcoholic beverages with Huck and Jim
Everywhere sham Bohemians
Pretentious bohemian individuals are present everywhere
Hello magazine bohemians
Bohemians who are featured in popular magazines
Terminal chancers who loathe
People who have limited chances and resent their circumstances
The privileged who loathe their privilege
Wealthy individuals who despise their own privilege
The skin upon the custard is hard
The top layer of custard has hardened, suggesting a lack of tenderness or softness
Yes, it's hard
Indeed, it is difficult
Flat scum, you got some
Derogatory term for unpleasant individuals, indicating they possess some of those characteristics
Hanging from a toe in a tenth-floor window
Dangling from a toe outside a window on the tenth floor
Pass out, no bar
Lose consciousness, reaching a point where there is no longer a limit or boundary
There's no theoretical look down
There is no imagined or theoretical way to look downwards
There is no down
There is no lower direction or position
Something's gone and you're missing it now
Something has vanished and you are currently unaware or oblivious to it
No way-oh (no way-oh)
Absolutely no way
We're going to America
We are planning to travel to America
We're gonna tell them about the DSS
We intend to inform them about the Department of Social Security
Sipping 40's with Huck and Jim, yeah
Casually drinking 40-ounce alcoholic beverages with Huck and Jim, expressing agreement or affirmation
We're going to America. yeah
We are excitedly heading towards America
Sipping buckie with the boys
Casually drinking a Scottish alcoholic drink called 'buckie' with the boys
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley, Julian Victor Corrie, Paul Robert Thomson, Robert Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind