Andy joined the band after the release of Midnight Organ Fight, allowing them to play many songs from the album they would previously have struggled to fill out instrumentally. Gordon joined the band in November 2009 and is a former member of Make Model. He left the band in 2014.
The origins of the band are rooted in 2003, when Scott began playing solo shows under the name Frightened Rabbit, mostly in support of fellow art-schoolers Shitdisco. Recordings were made on a tascam 4-track recorder, with Scott playing all the instruments (some more proficiently than others). Though looser, sparser, and certainly more lo-fi in terms of production values, their early demos still attest to a burgeoning talent with a defined personality and a now familiar penchant for being able to create widely appreciated pop songs.
In 2004 Scott’s brother Grant moved to Glasgow, Scotland, contributing drums to certain recorded tracks, and playing live. Frightened Rabbit became louder and better. They burnt 50 copies of their subsequent demo, and sent some out to labels, resulting in three tracks being hosted on the FatCat MP3/demo website, and marking the beginning of a wonderful relationship. In 2006, Billy joined the band playing primarily second guitar, making Frightened Rabbit in the band’s own words, a wee bit better and louder still. That February they went into The Diving Bell Lounge studio with Glasgow based producer Marcus Mackay to record some songs over the course of a week. The intention was to record a better quality demo, but the resultant recordings ended up as the bands debut LP Sing The Greys, of which 1000 copies were pressed and released that May on home grown label Hits The Fan.
An incredibly accomplished live outfit (seemingly without any effort whatsoever), further live dates followed into 2007, including a brief but successful US jaunt, culminating in a sold-out show at The Mercury Lounge in NYC, before the album was even available in the US. After an intense spate of writing, rehearsing, recording, and remixing, and of course playing more live shows, ‘Sing The Greys’ was remastered by Alan Douches, and re-released in significantly revamped form by FatCat Autumn 2007, along with debut single ‘Be Less Rude’. Rounding off the year with the incredible 'It's Christmas So We'll Stop' single.
In April 2008, the band released their second full length, "The Midnight Organ Fight", a progression in terms of songwriting, sonic depth, and as a fully realised entity. Recorded by Peter Katis (Mercury Rev, Interpol) over the space of two weeks, and mixed over the ensuing fortnight, ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ was conceived and realised in a much shorter time span than its predecessor, with the intention of creating a more coherent, ‘pop’ sounding album. Yet although musically more immediate, vitally, the band have not forsaken the personality or passion of any of their earlier recordings.
In July 2008, a live rendition of ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ was recorded in Glasgow, and mixed by Mice Parade’s Adam Pierce, entitled 'Liver! Lung! Fr!' The stripped-down instrumentation brings singer Scott Hutchison’s vocal delivery - now wrenching, now soaring - to the fore, showcasing the emotive lyrics and memorable melodies that have earned the band their passionate following. This album was released in the United States in late 2008, and a world release date to followed in March 2009.
The band's third album "The Winter of Mixed Drinks" was released in early 2010. The fourth album “Pedestrian Verse” was released in 2013, while their fifth and final album “Painting of a Panic Attack” was released in 2016.
Snake
Frightened Rabbit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every day
I can't wait to see your face
And he tells me he feels the same
We lie awake
We're tired but we can't get to sleep
I'm tired 'cause I've scraped through the day
And there he lies
Staring up with his big gay eyes
And whispers to me "Aren't you tired?"
"I'm tired of missing day."
I'll wait with Snake
He's soft inside but not as soft as you
I love that snake but I love you more
He's no substitute
I'll wake, I'll wake with you soon
Yesterday Snake told me about the time
When we came to meet you off the plane
We all drove home in ?
He was proud and awfully glad that I took him out
I said "How does New York sound?"
He said "It sounds quite loud"
So pack your pipes, pack your chapstick
And your tights
Won't you phone me out at night?
We're going to visit you
We'll take a camera
And go to the zoo
And take pictures of other snakes
With you
and hope one turns out to be gay
I'll wait with Snake
He's soft inside but not as soft as you
I love that snake but I love you more
He's no substitute
I'll wake, I'll wake with you soon
The lyrics to Frightened Rabbit's song "Snake" describe a conversation between the singer and his pet snake. The singer talks with the snake every day and discusses his eagerness to see the person referred to as "you" in the song, whom he loves more than the snake. Both the singer and the snake are having trouble sleeping, with the former tired from a difficult day and the latter having stayed out late. The snake, with his "big gay eyes," reminds the singer that he is tired of missing the day.
The singer continues to talk about his love for "you" and how the snake is no substitute for that love. The singer recounts a memory of meeting "you" off a plane with the snake, and the two of them driving home together. The snake expresses an interest in going to New York, and the singer suggests they will visit "you" and take pictures of other snakes at the zoo, hoping to find one that is gay. The singer concludes by saying that he will wait with the snake, who is "soft inside but not as soft as you," and that he will wake up with "you" soon.
The song seems to be about the singer's longing for someone he loves, with the snake serving as a sort of confidant and companion in his absence. The comparison between the snake and the person he loves suggests that the singer recognizes the inadequacy of the snake as a substitute for human connection. The use of the phrase "big gay eyes" adds an interesting layer of complexity, as it could be interpreted as either a reference to the snake's actual eyes or a term of endearment for the person the singer loves. Overall, the lyrics to "Snake" capture the bittersweet feelings of missing someone and the ways in which we seek out companionship in their absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Me and Snake talk about you
I often talk to Snake about you.
Every day
This is a regular occurrence.
I can't wait to see your face
I am excited to see you.
And he tells me he feels the same
Snake is looking forward to seeing you too.
We lie awake
We can't sleep.
We're tired but we can't get to sleep
We are exhausted but can't seem to fall asleep.
I'm tired 'cause I've scraped through the day
I am tired from barely making it through the day.
He's tired because he's been out late, again
Snake is tired because he was out late again.
And there he lies
Snake is laying next to me.
Staring up with his big gay eyes
Snake is looking at me with his big, curious, friendly eyes.
And whispers to me "Aren't you tired?"
Snake asks me if I am tired, in a whisper.
"I'm tired of missing day."
I am tired of not being able to spend the day with you.
I'll wait with Snake
I'll stay with Snake.
He's soft inside but not as soft as you
Snake is kind-hearted, but you are even more compassionate.
I love that snake but I love you more
I care about Snake, but I love you more intensely.
He's no substitute
No one can replace you in my heart.
I'll wake, I'll wake with you soon
I'll wake up next to you soon.
Yesterday Snake told me about the time
Yesterday, Snake shared a memory with me.
When we came to meet you off the plane
The time when we met you at the airport.
We all drove home in ?
The mode of transportation is unclear.
He was proud and awfully glad that I took him out
Snake felt proud and happy that I took him out with me.
I said "How does New York sound?"
I asked Snake what he thinks of going to New York.
He said "It sounds quite loud"
Snake answered saying that New York is quite noisy.
So pack your pipes, pack your chapstick
Please get ready for a trip.
And your tights
Don't forget to pack tights.
Won't you phone me out at night?
Please call me when you are free at night.
We're going to visit you
We are coming to visit you.
We'll take a camera
We will bring a camera.
And go to the zoo
We will visit the zoo.
And take pictures of other snakes
We will take pictures of other snakes while we are there.
With you
We want you to be in the pictures too.
and hope one turns out to be gay
We hope that one of the snakes we photograph is gay.
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@guitarbballfreak
CHUCK! It's not only a show, it's a music sanctuary!
@louishazelwood
When I'm sad I listen to this song, and afterwards I feel a little better. Cheers, Scott ❤️
@itworks92
The best song ever written about a draught excluder.
@conspiracythesis
dear god, chuck is awesome. 3/4 of my music is from this show..thanks nbc for getting me hooked..
@elapseeqx3631
R.I.P. Scott Hutchinson
@jaredhancock9803
CHUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK PLEASE COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@alexaoberry6292
YEEEEEEESSSSS!!!!
@suzanneharrison1463
Please, Please. Please!!!!
@tomislavlovrencic771
just finished watching it for the 3rd time im so sad this show is over:/
@mmmmommy
A good friend of mine used to bring his guitar to school and play this song sometimes.