The band's sound is generally a mix of staccato bass and rhythmic, harmonized guitar, with a snare heavy mix, drawing comparisons to post-punk bands such as Joy Division and The Chameleons.
The band formed in 1997 when Daniel Kessler met drummer Greg Drudy, previously a member of post-hardcore/screamo band Joshua Fit For Battle and Hot Cross, on the New York University campus. Kessler later added Carlos D. on the bass after meeting him in a history class. The line-up was complete after Kessler ran into Paul Banks, a friend whom he had met in Paris. In 2000, Sam Fogarino, whom the band knew through his job at a local record store, replaced Drudy. Carlos Dengler, who was responsible for bass and keyboards, left the band in 2010, and hasn't been replaced, but announced various names to help them perform live.
The band released Direction on the soundtrack of the television program 'Six Feet Under' on June 28, 2005. Shortly thereafter they left Matador for a major label.
Our Love to Admire was released on July 10, 2007 in the USA (July 9 in the UK) to generally favorable reviews. The Heinrich Maneuver was its first single.
Their self-titled LP was released on September 7th 2010 and the tracks Barricade , Summer Well , Lights , and Try It On have been issued as singles. After this album, the bassist Carlos Dengler has lefted the band.
El Pintor is the fifth Interpol's album and was released in September 8th 2014 with 5 singles, All the Rage Back Home, Ancient Ways. My Desire, Anywhere and Everything is Wrong. The album's name is an anagram for Interpol.
The last 2 Interpol's albums are Marauder (2018) and The Other Side of Make-Believe (2022) .
specialist
Interpol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't like my clothes anymore
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
I don't like my clothes anymore
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
I love how you wear it
Now we're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Now we're moving now we're taking control
Love will get you down
My love's a laboratory
I set all my pets free
So baby you should sleep with me
I make trips to the bathroom
Yeah my friends all have true grit
I am speckled like a leopard
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Yeah you make sleek kills
Yeah you travel you travel
You park me in your buick
You sing songs into my lips
Well I am speckled like a leopard
Just like a leopard
Trust will get you down
I love the way
You put me in the big house
I love the way
You put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep girl
When you wear that body glove
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
All I want is to be the very best for you
All I want is to be the very best for you
Oh this time
There'll be no life of crime
Don't rain on me tonight
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
Time away from me
Will get you down
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you put me in the big house
If I get there early will it be the right time
Our heaven is just waiting is just waiting
So put your hand into mine
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
Our boat is just there waiting
So put your little hand in mine
And speak when you're spoken of
Catch up on your sleep
When you wear that body clock
You're acting on initiative
And you're spelling out your love
You shouldn't be alone in there
You could be above ground
If you're frustrated then go
If you're frustrated then go
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
You could be young, but you're out of touch
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
Why don't you come into my barrio
We'll see if you can float
The song "Specialist" by Interpol is a reflection on the thrill and chaos of a passionate love affair that has gone off the rails. The use of vivid imagery and playful wordplay throughout the song suggests that the singer is caught up in the intensity of the relationship but can also see the dysfunction at the center of it. The hooks and choruses of the song are punctuated with chaotic interludes that suggest an underlying tension and instability.
The opening lines, "You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit / I don't like my clothes anymore," suggest that the singer's sense of self-control and stability are being eroded by the relationship. The reference to New Orleans adds a sense of danger and excitement, and the line "Love will get you down" suggests that the singer is aware that the volatile emotions at play may ultimately lead to a painful end.
The middle portion of the song includes a spoken-word section that reflects on the singer's own quirks and insecurities, while also hinting at a possible criminal past. The chorus repeated throughout the song, "I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote / Why don't you come into my barrio / We'll see if you can float," suggests that the singer sees himself as a kind of protector or savior, but also hints at a dark underside to his persona.
Overall, "Specialist" presents a complex portrait of a relationship that is both thrilling and destructive, with the singer caught in the middle of conflicting emotions and impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me lose my buttons oh yeah you make me spit
You drive me crazy and make me act out of control
I don't like my clothes anymore
I don't feel like myself and have lost my sense of style
We're spending time and money yeah you're colder than yourself
Our relationship is costing us a lot and you seem distant and closed off
Now we're moving now we?re taking control
We're finally making progress and taking charge of our lives
You take me to New Orleans where you put me to the test
You challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone
I know what my heart is for
I understand my feelings and what I want in a relationship
You reach out for blanket I say girl you've got something
You seek comfort and I admire your confidence
I love how you wear it
I appreciate your unique style and individuality
Love will get you down
Love can bring you pain and heartache
My love's a laboratory
My love is experimental and always changing
I set all my pets free
I let go of things that hold me back or cause me pain
So baby you should sleep with me
We should be intimate and form a deeper connection
I make trips to the bathroom
I have my own issues and insecurities to deal with
Yeah my friends all have true grit
My friends are tough and resilient
I am speckled like a leopard
I have flaws and imperfections
Put a lid on Shirley Temple
Stop acting childish or naive
Yeah you make sleek kills
You're good at what you do and make things happen
Yeah you travel you travel
You're always on the move and exploring new things
You park me in your buick
You control the relationship and decide what we do
You sing songs into my lips
You speak sweetly to me and make me feel loved
Trust will get you down
Being too trusting can lead to disappointment and betrayal
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you take care of me and make me feel safe
If I get there early will it be the right time
I'm not sure if the timing is right for us
Our heaven is just waiting so put your hand into mine
Our happiness is within reach if we work together
If I get too surly will you take that in stride
If I get grumpy or difficult, will you still support me?
Our boat is just there waiting so put your little hand in mine
We have an opportunity to move forward, so let's do it together
And speak when you're spoken of
Don't interrupt or speak out of turn
Catch up on your sleep girl
Take care of yourself and rest
When you wear that body glove
When you're confident and comfortable in your own skin
You're acting on initiative
You're taking charge and making things happen
And you're spelling out your love
You're expressing your feelings and showing your affection
You shouldn't be alone in there
You shouldn't be isolated or excluded
You could be above ground
You could be living life to the fullest and not just surviving
If you're frustrated then go
If you're unhappy, you should leave
Honey bee, we should be through with this,
We should break up
Your packaged eyes, your vicious lips
Your fake and cruel behavior
You could be young, but you're out of touch
You may be naive, but you don't understand what matters
If this loves been done, then what's your rush?
If our relationship is over, why are you in a hurry to move on?
I'm a specialist in hope and I'm registered to vote
I am optimistic and believe in change
Why don't you come into my barrio
Come into my world and see things from my perspective
We'll see if you can float
We'll test your resilience and abilities
Circle around me now baby it'll be ok
Come close to me and everything will be alright
Cause we all go downtown sometimes
We all have our down moments
Somehow baby we'll beat this mess
Together, we'll overcome our problems
It's the time fuck the surface to meet the specialist
It's time to dig deeper and find the true expert in life
Time away from me
Being apart from me
Will get you down
Will make you feel sad or depressed
I love the way you put me in the big house
I love the way you take care of me and make me feel safe
Oh this time
This time
There'll be no life of crime
We won't do anything illegal or harmful
Don't rain on me tonight
Don't spoil or ruin our plans
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, ALI WILLIAMS, DOUGLAS DAVIS, KEJUAN MUCHITA, M CURRY, MICHEL BERGER, MILO BERGER, ROBERT TEWLOW, WILL FINCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind