Consisting of Edward Larrikin (vocals), Micko Larkin (guitar), Alfie Ambrose (bass) and Coz Kerrigan (drums), and also occasionally including violinist Rob Skipper from The Holloways or roving violinist Jonnie Fielding, the band were one of the cornerstone outfits of what NME named the 'Thamesbeat' scene. They experimented with many different styles of music including punk, reggae, calypso, and bluegrass, and tend to add something of an Irish folk flavour to the typical indie sound. While often compared musically to bands such as The Clash, The Pogues and The Libertines, the band draw many of their lyrical influences from literature, including writers such as Rimbaud, Wilde and Orwell.
After releasing their first two singles on the independent labels Young and Lost Club and Transgressive Records respectively, the band signed to Warner as part of a 'consultancy deal' between Warner and Transgressive. The band released their debut album, The Freedom Spark on 25 September 2006.
It was reported on 4th May 2007 that Larrikin Love had split up amicably.
"Further details of ongoing projects from all members will be announced in the fullness of time."
Downing Street Kindling
Larrikin Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who says there has to be a beach to wear a bathing suit?
Well I would lie on pebbles lavishly but London's pebbles are dirt.
And I will paint with knives and guns to insure sure my art is incorrect and I will sleep on sheets of satin and eat my cigarrettes.
(chorus)
But England has nothing more to offer me, well everything that I adore came well before 1984.
We are on a single island I hope you see and beyond our lonely country there is only the Atlantic Sea.
So I will burn a fire in Westminster using the door of Downing Street. And when Tony rushes out complaining of a draft I'll let him warm his feet.
(chorus)
But England has nothing more to offer me, well everything that I adore came well before 1984.
(middle 8)
So goodbye, yeah I wish you all well but I can no longer thrive in England for I think that it is Hell x2
(chorus)
This country has nothing more to offer me, well everything that I adore came well before 1984.
Oh everything that I adore came well before 1984
The lyrics to Larrikin Love's "Downing Street Kindling" is a satirical commentary on England and its decline. The opening verse begins with a rhetorical question, mocking the notion of needing a beach to wear a bathing suit. The following lines emphasize the dreary reality of London's landscape, comparing pebbles to dirt. The artist then declares their intention to make incorrect art, using knives and guns as their tools of choice. The final line is a contradiction, painting the image of luxury with sleeping on satin sheets and eating cigarettes.
The chorus is where the true message of the song lies. England has nothing else to offer the artist, and everything they adore came before the year 1984. This is a reference to George Orwell's novel of the same name and the dystopian society it portrays. The chorus is a rejection of England's current state and a longing for a time when the artist's interests were present in the cultural landscape.
The second verse addresses England's isolation as an island nation. The artist threatens to burn a fire using the door of Downing Street and allow the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to warm his feet. This line is a nod to the government's ineffective response to societal issues. The chorus is repeated once more, emphasizing the artist's frustration with the current state of England.
Line by Line Meaning
Who says there has to be a beach to wear a bathing suit?
Why restrict yourself to traditional notions of what is appropriate? You can wear a bathing suit anywhere you like, even on pebbles in London.
Well I would lie on pebbles lavishly but London's pebbles are dirt.
Although I would love to sunbathe on pebbles, the reality is that they are not very comfortable in London.
And I will paint with knives and guns to insure sure my art is incorrect and I will sleep on sheets of satin and eat my cigarettes.
I will create art in a way that challenges convention and sleep in luxury while indulging in my vices.
We are on a single island I hope you see and beyond our lonely country there is only the Atlantic Sea.
It's important to remember that we are an isolated island nation and beyond our shores lies nothing but the vast Atlantic Ocean.
So I will burn a fire in Westminster using the door of Downing Street. And when Tony rushes out complaining of a draft I'll let him warm his feet.
In an act of defiance, I will create a fire using the door of Downing Street and offer the Prime Minister warmth when he complains about the cold.
So goodbye, yeah I wish you all well but I can no longer thrive in England for I think that it is Hell x2
I bid farewell to England and wish everyone the best, but I personally cannot flourish here anymore as it feels like a living Hell.
But England has nothing more to offer me, well everything that I adore came well before 1984.
Despite my love for certain aspects of English culture, I feel that there is nothing more of value for me here as everything I love predates the year 1984.
Oh everything that I adore came well before 1984
I reiterate that all the things I treasure about England existed prior to 1984 and nothing of significance has been added since then.
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
George Bellamy-Adams
Banger
miss zoel
And when borris comes out complaining, I'll let him warm his feet
Matthew Tibbit
Nice
James Briscoe
tune
Christian Smith
Just leave then