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)
Tell Her Tonight
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I only heard her talk but she saw it
I only touched her hips but she saw it
I only kissed her lips but she saw it
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
She only flicked her eyes but I saw it
She only swung her hair but I saw it
She only shook her hips but I saw it
She only licked her lips but I saw it
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, oh yeah
I only watched her walk but she saw it
I only heard her talk but she saw it
I only touched her hips but she saw it
I only kissed her lips but she saw it
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Gonna have to tell her tonight
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, oh yeah
The lyrics to "Tell Her Tonight" by Franz Ferdinand are about a man who has been silently admiring a woman from afar. Although he has only interacted with her in small ways, such as by watching her walk or touching her hips, he feels like there is a connection between them. He is now at the point where he feels like he needs to tell her how he feels, but he is hesitant to do so. The repetition of the phrase "gonna have to tell her tonight" suggests that he has been putting off this conversation for some time but has finally come to realize that he cannot delay any longer.
The song captures the feeling of being infatuated with someone and not knowing how to express those feelings. The lyrics are simple yet effective, conveying the urgency and anxiety that comes with being in love. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the sense of urgency and hints at the singer's fear of not being able to express his feelings before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
I only watched her walk but she saw it
I was just observing her movement, but she was aware of my attention.
I only heard her talk but she saw it
I was just listening to her words, but she could sense my presence and interest.
I only touched her hips but she saw it
I only grazed her hips with my touch, but she knew what I was trying to do.
I only kissed her lips but she saw it
I only gave her a kiss, but she could tell that it was more than just a friendly gesture.
Gonna have to tell her tonight
I need to be honest with her and confess my feelings tonight.
She only flicked her eyes but I saw it
She gave me a quick glance, but I noticed it and interpreted it as a sign.
She only swung her hair but I saw it
She moved her hair and I caught it, seeing it as a flirtatious gesture.
She only shook her hips but I saw it
She made a subtle movement with her hips and I picked up on it as a sexual signal.
She only licked her lips but I saw it
She licked her lips and I interpreted it as her being interested in me.
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, yeah
I need to finally express my feelings to her, and the singer is encouraging me to do so.
Have to tell her, you tell her tonight, oh yeah
The singer is urging me to take action and tell her how I feel tonight.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind