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)
Words So Leisured
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is the villain who sends a
Line of dark fantastic passion
She knows that you will surrender
Knows that you will surrender
You want this fantastic passion
We'll have fantastic passion
You can feel her lips undress your eyes
Why should ugly skin that never feels
Never feel your fingers tingle tense anticipation on it
This was an easy one, feel the word and melt upon it
Words of love, words so leisured
Words are poisoned darts of pleasure
Die
Yes, she's in her black mood tonight
Watch her dye your black hair right
Love you of you, all muscles slacken
All the skin that was so tight
So ask for a reason
Ask for any reason
Ask for the one reply
For the one reply
Try for reason
But passion never lives
It dies with reason
Try for reason
Then die?
The song "Words So Leisured" by Franz Ferdinand describes a powerful seduction and the surrendering of oneself to it. The lyrics describe the seductress as an "emotion avenger" and a "villain" that sends a "line of dark fantastic passion" and knows that the listener will surrender to it. The seductress is described as being in a "black mood" and dying the listener's "black hair right," which suggests a sense of domination and ownership over the listener. The lyrics also suggest that words of love can be both pleasurable and poisonous, and that passion can ultimately lead to death if it is not tempered by reason.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that the seductress is using her words and actions to control and overpower the listener, enticing them to surrender themselves to her completely. The repeated phrase "fantastic passion" reinforces the intense and almost overwhelming nature of the seduction, while the warning of poisonous words suggests that the listener should approach the situation with caution. The song ultimately suggests that while passion can be pleasurable, it can also lead to destruction if it is not tempered by reason and self-preservation.
Line by Line Meaning
She's an emotion avenger
She seeks revenge through emotional manipulation
She is the villain who sends a
She is the antagonist, sending negative energy
Line of dark fantastic passion
The passion she brings is dark and intense
She knows that you will surrender
She is confident that she can overpower you emotionally
Knows that you will surrender
She is certain of her ability to make you submit
You want this fantastic passion
You desire this intense, dark passion
We'll have fantastic passion
Together, we will experience this intense passion
You can feel her lips undress your eyes
She is so seductive that you can almost physically feel her kisses
Why should ugly skin that never feels
What is the point of having unfeeling, unresponsive skin?
Never feel your fingers tingle tense anticipation on it
Why deprive yourself of the thrill of anticipation and excitement?
This was an easy one, feel the word and melt upon it
The message is simple and enticing, just give in to the temptation
Words of love, words so leisured
Tranquil words of love
Words are poisoned darts of pleasure
Sweet words that also carry a sting
Die
The negative side of love
Yes, she's in her black mood tonight
She is in a negative mood
Watch her dye your black hair right
She is so powerful that she can change people's appearance
Love you of you, all muscles slacken
Being in love makes you weak and helpless
All the skin that was so tight
All the tension fades away when you are with the one you love
So ask for a reason
Question the validity of these intense feelings
Ask for any reason
Demand a logical explanation for this overwhelming passion
Ask for the one reply
The one answer to all of these questions
Try for reason
Attempt to rationalize these intense emotions
But passion never lives
Passion is short-lived and fleeting
It dies with reason
As soon as reason enters the equation, passion fades
Try for reason
Attempt to understand with logic
Then die?
But is it even possible to explain away passion?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind