Relentlessly highbrow, Haines's dark-but-mischievous lyrics typically fall into three groups: musings on obscure Anglicana (The Mitford Sisters, Freddie Mills is Dead), bitter attacks on modern society, particularly the arts (The Death of Sarah Lucas, Christ) and twisted 1970s anti-nostalgia (Leeds United, Here's to Old England) - with the odd dash of self-aggrandisement thrown in for good measure.
Despite cultivating an image as a sinister misanthrope over the past fifteen years, Haines's live sets are notable for his self-deprecating humour and between-songs banter - and for their surprising brevity. But considering that most of his songs are well under three minutes, this doesn't necessarily mean a short set list.
Starstruck
Luke Haines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and a showbiz son
Always hide
where you come from
Mother got out rehab
And I was born
I was starstruck
When I was young
To tread the boards
I was in Vaudeville
At age five
My career took
Its first nosedive
I've been starstruck
all my life
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm struck dumb by you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always starstruck
Can't get an agent
For a child star
My act effete and failing
So I moved
To the old backlot
Where I exercise daily
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm struck dumb by you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always starstruck
Now you're between
A peak time show
I hear you're now married
She was born to be seen
Not to be carried
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm stuck here with you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always...
Luke Haines's "Starstruck" tells the story of a child performer who was born to a mother who just got out of rehab. The first child in the family was already a "showbiz son" whose identity was always kept hidden. The child was starstruck from a very young age and started performing in Vaudeville shows at the age of five. However, their career took a nosedive, and they struggled to get an agent as a child star. So, they moved to the old backlot to exercise daily.
The child was always starstruck and continued to be starstruck even when they were between a peak time show. The child has heard that the person they are singing about is now married and is born to be seen, not carried. The song shows the fate of a child star whose childhood was lost, and they were left with nothing but their love for showbiz.
Line by Line Meaning
First child
I was the first child born to my mother
and a showbiz son
My mother was a part of the show business industry
Always hide
I was always kept hidden from the public eye
where you come from
My background and origins were kept hidden
Mother got out rehab
My mother had just finished rehab
And I was born
I was born around the same time my mother finished rehab
I was starstruck
I was fascinated by the world of show business from a young age
When I was young
This fascination began when I was very young
It's never too soon
I believed that it's never too early to start a career in showbiz
To tread the boards
To start performing on stage
I was in Vaudeville
I started my career in Vaudeville, a type of variety show popular in the early 20th century
At age five
I was only five years old at the time
My career took
My career began and continued
Its first nosedive
My career wasn't always successful, it had its ups and downs
I've been starstruck
My fascination with showbiz never faded
all my life
It continued throughout my entire life
Can't get an agent
I was struggling to find representation
For a child star
Since I was a child, I needed representation in order to continue my career
My act effete and failing
My performances were seen as weak and unsuccessful
So I moved
I decided to move
To the old backlot
I moved to an old and abandoned set or studio lot
Where I exercise daily
I work out every day to improve my skills
Now you're between
Currently, you are in a place in your career
A peak time show
You are a part of a very successful show
I hear you're now married
I have heard that you are now married
She was born to be seen
Your spouse was destined to be in the public eye
Not to be carried
Your spouse is self-sufficient and doesn't need anyone to carry them
I'm stuck here with you
I am currently stuck with you and can't leave
I struck out my luck
I have had bad luck in my career
I was always...
Throughout my entire life, I have always been fascinated with showbiz
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind