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)
Ulysses
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then a voice say,"Hi, so
So whatcha got, whatcha got this time?
C'mon, let's get high
C'mon Lexo, whatcha got next-o?
Walk 25 miles, oh
Well I'm bored, I'm bored
C'mon, let's get high
C'mon, let's get high, high"
Well, I found a new way
I found a new way
C'mon, don't amuse me
I don't need your sympathy
La, la-la-la-la
Ulysses
I found a new way
I found a new way, baby
Am I Ulysses? Am I Ulysses?
"No, but you are now, boy
So sinister, so sinister
But last night was wild
What's the matter, there?
Feelin' kind of anxious
That hot blood grew cold
Yeah, everyone, everybody knows it
Yeah, everyone, everybody knows it
Everybody knows ah"
La, la-la-la-la
Ulysses
I found a new way
I found a new way, baby
La, la-la-la-la
Ulysses
I found a new way
I found a new way, baby
Oh... Oh, then suddenly you know
You're never goin' home
You're never, you're never
You're never, you're never
You're never, you're never
You're never goin' home
You're not Ulysses, oh baby, no
La-la-la-la
You're not Ulysses
La-la-la-la
The lyrics to Franz Ferdinand's song, Ulysses, is a story of a night out and the buzz and excitement that comes with it. The singer starts off listening to the sentimental footsteps and then hears a voice that prompts him to get high. The voice belongs to a friend, Lexo, who suggests they walk 25 miles, but the singer finds it boring and wants to get high instead. He then declares that he has found a new way and does not need anyone's sympathy, before asking if he is Ulysses.
The friend denies it but claims that the singer is now Ulysses, a character from Homer's Odyssey who was known for his cleverness and resourcefulness. There seems to be some underlying anxiety and tension felt by the singer, evident in the lines "feelin' kind of anxious, that hot blood grew cold," but everyone knows it. Meanwhile, the chorus repeats "Ulysses, I found a new way" and suggests that the singer may not be going home that night.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of excitement, spontaneity, and rebellion that typically accompany a night out. The singer is seeking an escape from the mundane, and the use of references to Ulysses and the Odyssey adds a layer of depth that may suggest a search for meaning and adventure in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I sit and hear sentimental footsteps
I'm sitting and listening to someone's footsteps in a sentimental manner
Then a voice say,"Hi, so
Then a voice greets me
So whatcha got, whatcha got this time?
What do you have to offer now?
C'mon, let's get high
Let's do drugs
C'mon Lexo, whatcha got next-o?
What else do you have?
Walk 25 miles, oh
I'm willing to walk a long distance for drugs
Well I'm bored, I'm bored
I'm bored and need something to do
C'mon, let's get high
Let's do drugs
C'mon, let's get high
Let's do drugs
C'mon, let's get high, high"
Let's get really high
Well, I found a new way
I found a new method
I found a new way
I found a new method
C'mon, don't amuse me
Don't try to entertain me
I don't need your sympathy
I don't require your pity
La, la-la-la-la
Nonsense syllables
Ulysses
The artist is comparing himself to Ulysses, the Greek legend who traveled extensively and experienced great adventures
I found a new way
I found a new method
I found a new way, baby
I found a new method
Am I Ulysses? Am I Ulysses?
The singer again questions himself whether he is like Ulysses
"No, but you are now, boy
"No, but you are like him now, young man
So sinister, so sinister
So strange and mysterious
But last night was wild
But the previous night was crazy
What's the matter, there?
What's wrong?
Feelin' kind of anxious
Feeling worried or nervous
That hot blood grew cold
I became afraid and lost my courage
Yeah, everyone, everybody knows it
Everyone knows
Yeah, everyone, everybody knows it
Everyone knows
Everybody knows ah"
Everyone knows, yeah
Oh... Oh, then suddenly you know
Suddenly, you become aware
You're never goin' home
You'll never return home
You're never, you're never
You are never
You're never, you're never
You are never
You're never, you're never
You are never
You're never goin' home
You'll never return home
You're not Ulysses, oh baby, no
You are not Ulysses, oh baby, no
La-la-la-la
Nonsense syllables
You're not Ulysses
You are not like Ulysses
La-la-la-la
Nonsense syllables
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley, Nicholas John McCarthy, Paul Robert Thompson, Robert Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dominorecordco
Franz Ferdinand’s latest album ‘Always Ascending’ is out now on Domino Record Co.
Listen & Buy here: http://smarturl.it/AlwaysAscending
More from Franz Ferdinand on YouTube: http://smarturl.it/BestOfFranzFerdinand
@averykamden2340
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I was stupid forgot the password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me
@princequinton6770
@Avery Kamden instablaster :)
@truelazerlight
It's impressive that he's still making music, considering his assassination over 100 years ago ...
@alexfrmwtlnds6299
and good music too!
@manueltrinidad9970
+truelazerlight after this WWI was in vain I think...
@pepebotella971
truly amazing
@aaronrodriges8786
Fucking startling man
@irynamakaruk8329
Aaron Rodriges .
@chuuubiii
I fucking die with the: "But last night was WHHIIIILD!"