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)
What You Hear
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into the close of your tenement
You cast your darkened eyes so low
Said we're cold as the step cement
But I just don't know what you meant
What you meant
So Alec you may want a pill
Without the red stuff being spilled
We must MDMA our sentiment
But I just don't know what you meant
What you meant
What you meant
If we were feckless we'd be fine
Sucking hard on our innocence
But we've been bright in our decline
Been left as blackened filament
But I just don't
Oh, oh I don't know know
No, I don't know
No, I don't know (what did you mean?)
No, I don't know (what did you mean?)
No, I don't know (what did you mean?)
No, I don't know (what did you mean?)
I've got to get away from
I've got to get away from you
'Cause I feel blood inside the vein
I feel life inside the ligament
I feel alive yeah just the same
Same vigor and the same intent
Oh but I just don't know
Oh, if that's what you meant
The song begins with the singer taking a fourth step into the close of someone's tenement. However, this person, who's most likely the lover or an acquaintance, casts their darkened eyes low and tells the singer that they are cold as the step cement. The singer is uncertain about what this person meant by that statement. The second verse seems to be a conversation between two people, Alec and the singer. Alec suggests taking a pill to communicate better without spilling any red stuff, which could be blood. The singer still doesn't know what Alec means.
The chorus talks about how it would have been fine if they were feckless, which means irresponsible, but they haven't been. Despite being bright in their decline, they have been left as blackened filament meaning they are weakened and degraded. The singer still doesn't know what the other person means. In the third verse, the singer wants to get away from this person because they feel the blood inside the vein and feel alive but, yet again, doesn't know if that's what the person meant.
The song seems to be about communication struggles between two people. The two people communicate differently, and it creates confusion and uncertainty. The use of metaphors in the lyrics paints a picture of a dark and confusing situation. The song makes the listener feel the frustration and confusion the singer is experiencing, despite the upbeat tempo of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
As I took a step number four
I walked towards you
Into the close of your tenement
Into the vicinity of your residence
You cast your darkened eyes so low
You looked down with gloomy eyes
Said we're cold as the step cement
You pointed out how cold and distant we are
But I just don't know what you meant
I'm confused about your intentions
So Alec you may want a pill
Using drugs (like MDMA) to communicate may be easier for you, Alec
We are so cruel to communicate
We are unkind in our communication
Without the red stuff being spilled
Without becoming violent or aggressive
We must MDMA our sentiment
We must rely on MDMA to express our emotions
If we were feckless we'd be fine
If we were careless, everything would be okay
Sucking hard on our innocence
Trying very hard to preserve our innocence
But we've been bright in our decline
Although we are declining, we are still brilliant
Been left as blackened filament
We have been burnt out and left as dark remnants
Oh, oh I don't know know
I am still confused
No, I don't know
I'm still unsure of your intentions
No, I don't know (what did you mean?)
I still don't understand what you meant
I've got to get away from
I need to distance myself from you
Cause I feel blood inside the vein
I feel alive and full of energy
I feel life inside the ligament
I feel vitality in my body
I feel alive yeah just the same
I feel alive like always
Same vigor and the same intent
I still have my energy and eagerness
Oh but I just don't know
Yet, I am still unsure
Oh, if that's what you meant
If that's what you were trying to say
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thewhatness
Such meaningful lyrics! This is definitely one of the best albums....EVER!
@SteampunkTigerlily18
I love this song so much
@worldismyashtray
SteampunkTigerlily18 I was trying to find a way to express my feelings about this song and then I read your comment and what’s even the point now.
@ArtureMax
Me too, i from Brasil the movie Bruna Surfistinha has This song.
@Malle1508
It's actually: I typed your number into my calculator Where it spelled a dirty word when I turned it upside down You can turn my dirty world the right way around -Love love love the song!
@bellamonroe8080
I could listen to this over and over right now!
@lipson97
why is this music so underrated
@moniquezambelli6467
Iconic!
@jaygold33
Favorite song on the album! I love the sound =)
@jhoch5
i love that little break at 1:34