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)
Missing you
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Newcastle is grey, as grey as the river
But your eyes are bright with life
And life is bright with you
[Chorus:]
I'm missing you
I'm missing you
I'm missing you
You're laughing again, I'm so glad that she met you
As you start to explain something, I'm proud of you
But I forget all that, relax
And just enjoy the fact that life is good
[Chorus]
I'm missing you
I'm missing you
So I'm trying to pretend you're out in the garden
That you're about to walk in
To wash your hands in the kitchen
But she said your face changed
And your breath got slower and slower
Until there was breath no more
The song "Missing You" by Franz Ferdinand tells a story of a moment from the past that the singer is reminiscing about. The first verse sets the scene in Newcastle, which is typically grey and dull, yet the singer's partner's eyes are bright, and they bring life to the situation. This person seems to make everything better, and the singer is missing this feeling that they once had. The chorus reinforces that the singer indeed misses this person and repeats the line several times for emphasis.
In the second verse, the singer mentions that their partner is happy and laughs a lot, which makes them proud. Yet, they forget about all that and just enjoy the moment. But, the feeling of longing for this person persists, and the singer tries to visualize them in the garden or walking in to wash their hands in the kitchen. The last line, "Until there was breath no more," suggests that this person has passed away and cannot be with the singer physically. The song is poignant yet simultaneously up-tempo, touching on the theme of loss and missing someone.
*Note: The interpretation of these lyrics is subjective and may differ among listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Some miserable day, back in November
One day in November was particularly sorrowful
Newcastle is grey, as grey as the river
The city of Newcastle is dull and colorless, much like the river that runs through it
But your eyes are bright with life
Despite the bleak surroundings, the person being addressed has a seemingly joyful spirit
And life is bright with you
Their aura brings vitality to those around them
I'm missing you
The artist is feeling their absence
I'm missing you
The absence is ongoing
I'm missing you
The separation is affecting the singer significantly
I'm missing you
The sense of longing remains strong
You're laughing again, I'm so glad that she met you
The addressed individual's laughter is a source of happiness for the artist, who is grateful to have them in their life
As you start to explain something, I'm proud of you
The artist is admiring the address's way of communicating and is filled with pride
But I forget all that, relax
Despite these positive feelings, there is a sense of worry or stress that the singer is trying to let go of
And just enjoy the fact that life is good
The artist is focusing on the positive aspects of life and trying to live in the moment
So I'm trying to pretend you're out in the garden
The singer is attempting to make themselves feel better by pretending that the addressed individual is nearby
That you're about to walk in
It is as though they expect the address to appear any moment
To wash your hands in the kitchen
The singer is imaging their everyday actions, which they miss
But she said your face changed
Another female, possibly the artist's love interest, saw a negative transformation in the addressed individual
And your breath got slower and slower
The person's physical state began to worsen gradually
Until there was breath no more
The person passed away soon after
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind