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're the erason i'm leaving
Franz Ferdinand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Numbs our bones, numbs our all
As we sit on skinny hands
Nothing to say, nothing at all
I don't know you and I don't want to
You're so awkward just like me
But I don't care
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'd no idea that in four years
I'd be hanging from a beam
Behind the door of number ten
Singing "well, fare thee well"
Fare thee well
Fare thee well
I am leaving
Yes, I leave it all to you
You're the reason I'm leaving
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'm the reason you're leaving
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
As we ride along under an optimistic sun
The radio sings that "Everybody" song by REM
And here I am fighting fighting
Yes I'm fighting not to cry
And that's another reason
Why I ought to hate you like I do
Like I do, oh like I do
You're the reason I'm leaving (leaving alone)
You're the reason I'm leaving (leaving alone)
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'm the reason you're leaving (leaving alone)
You are the reason you're leaving (leaving alone)
If we're leaving, we don't stop living you know
These lyrics describe a toxic and awkward relationship that the singer is trying to escape from. The first verse uses the imagery of a numbness creeping in, perhaps as a result of the emotional detachment that characterizes the relationship. The singer doesn't feel comfortable with the other person, but there seems to be a mutual awkwardness, as if they are both struggling to communicate. Nonetheless, the singer admits to being just like the other person in this regard, indicating a sort of self-awareness and understanding between them. The chorus, however, reveals that the singer is determined to leave this situation behind and start anew, with the other person being the reason for their departure.
The second verse furthers this idea of escape, as the singer muses that they never could have predicted how dire their situation would become. They feel as if they are at the end of their rope, pushed to the point where they are considering suicide, symbolized by the image of them hanging from a beam. The farewell song they sing seems to express a mixture of resignation, sorrow, and relief. The final verse, however, complicates the situation by adding a layer of conflicting emotions. As the singer listens to the radio and hears a song by R.E.M., they find themselves struggling not to cry, perhaps feeling a sense of nostalgia or sadness that makes them reluctant to leave the other person behind. At the same time, they acknowledge that this is yet another reason why they do need to escape, as their emotions are tied up with the other person in ways that are unhealthy.
Overall, the lyrics of "You're the Reason I'm Leaving" provide a snapshot of a complicated and fraught relationship, exploring the ways in which people can be drawn to one another while also pushing each other away. The song is marked by a sense of tension, ambiguity, and resignation, as the singer grapples with conflicting emotions and the need to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Some granite wall
There is a barrier between us that is difficult to overcome
Numbs our bones, numbs our all
This barrier is causing us to feel emotionally numb
As we sit on skinny hands
We feel helpless and unable to do anything about the situation
Nothing to say, nothing at all
Our lack of communication is adding to the tension in our relationship
I don't know you and I don't want to
I don't feel a connection to you and am not interested in getting to know you
You're so awkward just like me
We both feel uncomfortable and out of place in each other's company
But I don't care
Despite these negative feelings, I am still willing to leave and move on
You're the reason I'm leaving
I am leaving because of you and the problems in our relationship
I'd no idea that in four years
I never predicted that this relationship would get to this point in just four years
I'd be hanging from a beam
I never imagined that things would get so bad that I would contemplate suicide
Behind the door of number ten
The specific location is less important than the fact that I feel trapped and helpless
Singing fare thee well
I am saying goodbye and leaving for good
Yes I leave it all to you
I am giving up on this relationship and you can have whatever is left
As we ride along under an optimistic sun
We are trying to enjoy a nice day together despite our problems
The radio sings that everybody song by rem
The song on the radio is reminding me of happier times and making me feel more upset
And here I am fighting fighting
I am struggling to keep my emotions in check despite my desire to appear strong and unaffected
Yes I'm fighting not to cry
I am putting a lot of effort into keeping my emotions under control so I don't break down and cry
And that's another reason
This is one of several reasons why I need to leave
Why I ought to hate you like I do
I feel a great deal of negativity towards you and this is one of the reasons why
I'm the reason you're leaving
I understand that my negative feelings and desire to leave are contributing factors to the breakdown in our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER PAUL KAPRANOS HUNTLEY, NICHOLAS JOHN MCCARTHY, PAUL ROBERT THOMPSON, ROBERT HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A Garr
Some granite wall
Numbs our bones, numbs our all
As we sit on skinny hands
Nothing to say, nothing at all
I don't know you and I don't want to
You're so awkward just like me
But I don't care
You're the reason I'm leaving
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'd no idea that in four years
I'd be hanging from a beam
Behind the door of number ten
Singing "well, fare thee well"
Fare thee well
Fare thee well
I am leaving
Yes, I leave it all to you
You're the reason I'm leaving
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'm the reason you're leaving
You're the reason I'm leaving
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
As we ride along under an optimistic sun
The radio sings that "Everybody" song by REM
And here I am fighting fighting
Yes I'm fighting not to cry
And that's another reason
Why I ought to hate you like I do
Like I do, oh like I do
You're the reason I'm leaving (leaving alone)
You're the reason I'm leaving (leaving alone)
And by leaving, we don't stop living you know
I'm the reason you're leaving (leaving alone)
You are the reason you're leaving (leaving alone)
If we're leaving, we don't stop living you know
superads91
One of the best songs ever. Melodies, voices, song-struture, stylish lyrics... very stylish and modern in general. I honestly never heard anything like this. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to this song, but I agree 1000 times with gogolplex74.
LugarDePancho
Pasaron 12 años y sigue siendo una OBRA MAESTRA.
Maurice Lee
It's the guitars, man!
Sad_Eye
Great Song! The whole album is awesome as well.
Anthony G.
Franz Ferdinand is an awesome band! This song is one of my favorites
stephwart
I love this song. Great beats and lyrics.
gNarLy cEe
Within the first 15 seconds of hearing this track for the first I knew it was something special. Good stuff !
Fernando Almeida
sure !!
madeleine p.
“You’re awkward just like me, but I don’t care.” Relationship goals.
FD !
Everything in this song is fantastic!!!