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)
You_Could_Have_It_So_Much_Better
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said I looked truly down
That I ought to come over
And talk about it
Well I wasn't down
I just wasn't smiling at you, yeah
As I look at us now it seems
As if it's alright
But it's not
I'm trying to get up
But you're pushing me down
Yeah, you're pushing me down
So I'll get up on my own
I'll get up on my own
Get up on my own
I'll get up on my own
Yeah, I'll get up on my own
I'll get up on my own
I'll get up on my own
I'll get up on my own, yeah
Now there's some grinning goon on my TV screen
Telling us all that
It's alright because
She wears this and
He said that and
If you get some of these
It'll all be alright
Yeah, if you get some of these
It'll all be alright
Well I refuse
To be a cynical goon
Passing the masses
An easy answer
'Cause it won't be alright
Oh no, it won't be alright
Oh no, it won't be alright
It won't be alright
Unless you get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
Why don't you get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
So come on get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
Unless you get up, get up
So come on get up, get up, yeah
Well I'm just a voice in your earpieces
Telling you no
It's not alright
You know you could have it so much better
You could have it so much better
If you tried, if you tried, if you tried, if you tried
So I'll get up on my own
If you get up on my own
Get up on my own
Baby, get up on my own, yeah
Get up on my own
So come on up on my own
Get up on my own
So get up on my own, yeah
Get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
That's right get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
Get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up
Come on and get up, get up, yeah
The song "You Could Have It So Much Better" by Franz Ferdinand is about the struggle between two people who seem to have grown apart. The opening lyrics suggest that one person is trying to reach out to the other, offering comfort and support, but is met with coldness and rejection. The second verse paints a picture of a larger societal issue -- the idea that people are constantly bombarded with messages that there is a quick, easy fix to any problem. The singer of the song refuses to buy into this notion, insisting that things will only be better if both parties take action and try to make a change. The repetition of the phrase "get up" at the end of the song can be interpreted as a call to action, urging the other person to rise to the challenge and work to improve their situation.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and resignation. The singer seems to have given up on the idea of things going back to the way they were, and instead is focused on moving forward and taking control of their own life. The song is a plea for the other person to do the same, to recognize that they could have a better relationship if they were willing to put in the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
The last message you sent
You told me I looked sad in your message
Said I looked truly down
That I was genuinely unhappy
That I ought to come over
Suggesting I should visit or talk to you
And talk about it
Discussing my feelings with you
Well I wasn't down
I wasn't sad like you thought
I just wasn't smiling at you, yeah
I just didn't feel like smiling around you
As I look at us now it seems
Observing us currently
That your slapping my back
Falsely congratulating me
As if it's alright
As if everything is okay
But it's not
But things aren't good
I'm trying to get up
I'm trying to improve my situation
But you're pushing me down
But you're preventing me from doing so
So I'll get up on my own
I'll do it without your help
Now there's some grinning goon on my TV screen
I see someone on TV who is presenting a false sense of happiness
Telling us all that
Convincing everyone
It's alright because
Everything is okay because
She wears this and
She has a particular item of clothing
He said that and
He made a specific comment
If you get some of these
If you also have these things
It'll all be alright
Then everything will be fine
Well I refuse
However, I disagree
To be a cynical goon
I won't be a negative person like them
Passing the masses
Spreading this message to everyone
An easy answer
An oversimplified solution to the problem
'Cause it won't be alright
Because it won't solve the problem
Unless you get up, get up
Only by taking action
Come on and get up, get up
Can we make things better
Why don't you get up, get up
Why don't you take action
So come on get up, get up
Let's get up and do something
Well I'm just a voice in your earpieces
I am just a voice you're listening to
Telling you no
Saying that it's not alright
It's not alright
Things are not good
You know you could have it so much better
You can improve your situation
If you tried, if you tried, if you tried, if you tried
If you put in some effort
So I'll get up on my own
I will take action independently
If you get up on my own
You should also take action independently
Baby, get up on my own, yeah
Come on and get up on your own too
Get up, get up
Take action
Come on and get up, get up
Let's take action together
That's right get up, get up
Exactly, let's take action
Come on and get up, get up
Let's take action together
Come on and get up, get up
Let's take action together
Get up, get up
Take action
Come on and get up, get up
Let's take action together
Come on and get up, get up, yeah
Let's get up and do something
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind