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)
Truck Stop
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hear her, you can't hold her
You want her, you can't have her
You want to, but she won't let you
You see her, you can't touch her
You hear her, you can't hold her
You want her, you can't have her
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done
Now you wish she'd never, come back here again
Oh..ho, never, come back here again
You see her, you can't touch her
You hear her, you can't hold her
You want her, you can't have her
You want to, but she won't let you
You see her, you can't touch her
You hear her, you can't hold her
You want her, you can't have her
You want to, but she won't let you
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not so special so look what you've done
And now I'm nailed above you
Gushing from my side
Of your sins that you have killed me
Thinking of your sins I die
Thinking how you'd let them touch you
How you'd never realise
That I'm ripped and hang forsaken
Knowing never will I rise
Again
You still see her
Oh, you hear her
You want her
Oh, you want to
You see her
You still hear her
You want her
You still want to
The song "Auf Acshe" by Franz Ferdinand depicts the feeling of longing for someone who is unattainable. The lyrics repeat the same phrases over and over, emphasizing the frustration and agony of the singer who sees, hears and desires this person but is unable to touch or hold them. The repetition creates a sense of desperation and helplessness, while the lyric "she's not so special so look what you've done, boy" suggests that the singer may have messed up in some way, causing this person to become unattainable.
The second half of the song takes a dramatic turn, with the introduction of new lyrics that seem to come from a different perspective. It is unclear who the new voice is, but the lyrics suggest a sense of betrayal and death. The singer appears to be nailed above someone, possibly the person they were longing for, and is gushing from their side. The lyrics are cryptic and can be interpreted in different ways, but they seem to convey a sense of deep regret and a desire for redemption in the face of death. The repetition of the original phrases at the end of the song, despite the new lyrics, suggests that the singer's desire for the unattainable person remains unchanged even in the face of death.
Line by Line Meaning
You see her, you can't touch her
You catch a glimpse of her, but can't physically hold her or have any physical contact.
You hear her, you can't hold her
You listen to her voice, but you can't embrace or touch her.
You want her, you can't have her
You desire her deeply, but can't possess her or make her yours.
You want to, but she won't let you
You have the desire to have her, but she won't allow you to come near her.
She's not so special so look what you've done, boy
She's not that unique or extraordinary, yet you've done something foolish for her.
Now you wish she'd never, come back here again
You now regret her reappearance in your life and wish she had stayed away.
And now I'm nailed above you
The singer is now speaking from their own perspective, they feel trapped and powerless.
Gushing from my side
The singer is bleeding from the wound on their side.
Of your sins that you have killed me
The singer believes that the actions of the person they are addressing have led to their metaphorical death.
Thinking of your sins I die
The singer is consumed by thoughts of the wrong deeds of the person they are addressing, it's causing them mental anguish and suffering.
Thinking how you'd let them touch you
The singer is pondering how the person they are addressing allowed others to have physical contact with them while keeping the singer at bay.
How you'd never realise
The person they are addressing is not aware of the consequences of their actions, which may have severe outcomes for others.
That I'm ripped and hang forsaken
The singer is left alone and abandoned, as if they were hanging in the air.
Knowing never will I rise again
The singer acknowledges that their situation is one of finality, they will never recover from this.
You still see her
The repeated lines reinforce the main theme of the song, that no matter what happens, the singer or the listener cannot escape from the desire for the woman they can't have.
You still hear her
The repeated lines reinforce the main theme of the song, that no matter what happens, the singer or the listener cannot escape from the desire for the woman they can't have.
You want her
The repeated lines reinforce the main theme of the song, that no matter what happens, the singer or the listener cannot escape from the desire for the woman they can't have.
You still want to
The repeated lines reinforce the main theme of the song, that no matter what happens, the singer or the listener cannot escape from the desire for the woman they can't have.
Contributed by Taylor H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
L. Salazar
This is Auf Achse!