Jacqueline
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics


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Jacqueline was seventeen, working on a desk
When Ivor peered above a spectacle
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know that face as I do
And how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face that you are staring from

It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money

Gregor was down again, said, "Come on, kick me again"
Said, "I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
Come on, you gutless
Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die"

It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money

It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money

It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we, we need the money

Overall Meaning

The song "Jacqueline" by Franz Ferdinand tells a story of a young woman named Jacqueline who is working at a desk at the age of seventeen. Ivor, a man who has previously caused harm to Jacqueline, looks above his glasses and forgets about the damage he has caused. His memory fades and he forgets Jacqueline's face. The song emphasizes how often people forget the faces of those they have hurt, or how hurtful things they have done can damage relationships.


The song mentions the line "It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday. That's why we only work when we need the money" repeatedly. This line seems to suggest that life is better when people are on holiday or taking a break from their daily routine. When people are on vacation, they can forget their obligations or responsibilities and enjoy life more fully.


Line by Line Meaning

Jacqueline was seventeen, working on a desk
Jacqueline was a young girl working at a desk job


When Ivor peered above a spectacle
When Ivor looked up from his glasses


Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Ivor had forgotten that he had hurt someone


Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
Sometimes we don't recognize our own face when we look in the mirror


When the face they peer upon
When we look at someone else's face


Well, you know that face as I do
We both know that face well


And how in the return of the gaze
And how when that person looks back at us


She can return you the face that you are staring from
They can mirror our own expression back to us


It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
Going on vacation is always better, much more enjoyable


That's why we only work when we need the money
We only work when we have to, to pay for things like vacations


Gregor was down again, said, Come on, kick me again
Gregor was feeling down and asked to be kicked again


Said, I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
He was so drunk he didn't care if he died


Come on, you gutless
He dared someone to harm him


Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
He was still alive despite everything


Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
He was acutely aware of his own existence


Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die
He could die for something as small as a serving of chips and the feeling of freedom


It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
Going on vacation is always better, much more enjoyable


That's why we only work when we need the money
We only work when we have to, to pay for things like vacations


It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
Going on vacation is always better, much more enjoyable


That's why we only work when we need the money
We only work when we have to, to pay for things like vacations


It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
Going on vacation is always better, much more enjoyable


That's why we only work when we need the money
We only work when we have to, to pay for things like vacations


It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
Going on vacation is always better, much more enjoyable


That's why we only work when we, we need the money
We only work when we have to, to pay for things like vacations




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley, Nicholas John Mccarthy, Paul Robert Thompson, Robert Hardy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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