Razorlight is a four-piece consisting of Borrell (vocals & guitar), Björn Ågren (guitar), Carl Dalemo (bass) and Andy Burrows (drums)
Their debut album, Up All Night, was released on June 28, 2004, reaching number 3 in the UK album charts on 4 July. The critical reception was generally good, receiving good reviews from NME, Q magazine and Billboard, although they were also accused of lack of imagination and unoriginality for allegedly borrowing ideas from other influential bands, notably The Strokes. They appear to polarize opinion. NME wrote that the album: "bristles with passion, energy and, most importantly, amazing songs", while they were described elsewhere as "nearly everything wrong with rock and roll today". Their fans, though, embrace the music for its simple melodies and multi-layered, easy-going compositions.
Frontman Johnny Borrell caused some controversy and surprise when he likened himself to musical legend Bob Dylan, quipping "If Dylan's making the chips then I'm drinking the champagne". This led to suggestions of self-promotion. This statement was taken out of context however as Borrell was comparing his and Dylan's first albums, not their overall career. The band became very popular on the London music scene when they arrived earlier in the year. Large demand caused the band to play extra shows, including a 7,000+ capacity gig at Alexandra Palace. The album was heavily marketed in the UK.
Doctor Doctor
Razorlight Lyrics
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Are there any signs of life?
I can hear her breathing
Can she hear my voice?
Can she make out the lights above us from the strip?
I said tell me the truth,
But he just licked his lips and smiled
That's just the price you pay
That's just the price you pay
Doctor I'm leaving
But don't turn out the lights
There'll be a cigarette burn victim
Who just like me has lost the strength to stand and fight
Above all it made me sick
I wanted the truth
But he just licked his lips and smiled
That's just the price you pay
That's just the price you pay
That's just the price you pay, you pay
Until you get out of here, you look to your side
You see the day fall away and the night open wide
You face to your fear but you keep it inside
Run away if you can
I really don't mind
Doctor I'm leaving
There's not much left to say
You break the news gently
But we both know
It's a dirty job anyway
Above all it should make you sick
They beg for the truth
But you just lick your lips and you smile
It's just the price you pay
It's just the price you pay
It's just the price you pay, you pay
So you get out of here and look to your side
You see the day fall away and the night open wide
You face to your fear but you keep it inside
Run away if you can
You really don't mind
You get out of here and look to your side
You see the day fall away and the night open wide
You go face to your fear that you keep by the side
Run away if you can
I really don't mind
The lyrics of Razorlight's song "Doctor Doctor" speaks of a patient's conversation with the doctor. The patient appears to be waiting to hear if the woman he loves will survive or not. The opening lines, "Doctor can you tell me, are there any signs of life? I can hear her breathing, can she hear my voice?" indicate his anxious state of mind. He seeks an honest answer from the doctor, but the doctor avoids giving a direct reply. Instead, the doctor merely "licked his lips and smiled", implying that he did not want to give bad news.
In the following verse, the patient has decided to leave but is warning the doctor not to turn out the lights, as another patient will come in who is a victim of cigarette burns, and has lost the strength to fight. The patient expresses his disappointment that he did not get the truth from the doctor. He states that "above all it made me sick", suggesting that he is disgusted with the way the medical system works.
The final verse contains the same sentiments as the previous one, but now directed towards the doctor. The patient acknowledges that breaking the news of a loved one's passing is a dirty job. The last lines of each verse are the same, with the patient urging the listener to run away from their problems if they can.
Overall, the song "Doctor Doctor" conveys a sense of helplessness and frustration towards the healthcare system. The lyrics suggest that medical professionals are more interested in avoiding unpleasant news than telling the truth, leaving the patient feeling helpless and disillusioned.
Line by Line Meaning
Doctor can you tell me
The singer is asking the doctor if there are any signs of life.
Are there any signs of life?
The singer inquires if there are any signs of life.
I can hear her breathing
The singer can hear the patient breathing.
Can she hear my voice?
The artist wonders if the patient can hear their voice.
Can she make out the lights above us from the strip?
The artist is curious if the patient can see the lights above them from the strip.
I said tell me the truth,
The singer requests the doctor to tell them the truth.
But he just licked his lips and smiled
The doctor doesn't give a straight answer and instead smiles.
That's just the price you pay
The artist accepts that this is just the cost of the situation.
Doctor I'm leaving
The artist informs the doctor that they are leaving.
But don't turn out the lights
The artist asks the doctor to leave the lights on.
There'll be a cigarette burn victim
The singer is implying that there will be another patient after them.
Who just like me has lost the strength to stand and fight
The artist relates to another patient who has also lost the will to fight.
Above all it made me sick
The situation is making the singer feel ill.
I wanted the truth
The singer wanted the doctor to tell them the truth.
That's just the price you pay, you pay
The singer is repeating that this is just the cost of the situation.
Until you get out of here, you look to your side
The artist suggests looking to the side until leaving the place.
You see the day fall away and the night open wide
The artist describes the transition from day to night.
You face to your fear but you keep it inside
The singer suggests keeping the fear inside while facing it.
Run away if you can
The singer suggests running away if possible.
I really don't mind
The artist doesn't care if the person runs away.
Doctor I'm leaving
The artist is telling the doctor that they are leaving.
There's not much left to say
The artist indicates that there is nothing more to discuss.
You break the news gently
The singer compliments the doctor for breaking the news gently.
But we both know
The artist and doctor both understand the gravity of the situation.
It's a dirty job anyway
The singer acknowledges that the job of a doctor is not easy.
Above all it should make you sick
The doctor's job should make them feel ill.
They beg for the truth
Patients ask doctors for the truth.
It's just the price you pay, you pay
The cost of being a doctor is just part of the job.
You get out of here and look to your side
The artist suggests looking to the side while leaving the place.
You see the day fall away and the night open wide
The singer once again describes the transition from day to night.
You go face to your fear that you keep by the side
The singer suggests facing the fear that is kept at bay.
Run away if you can
The artist once again suggests running away if possible.
You really don't mind
The artist doesn't care if the person runs away.
Contributed by Landon A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@VoxPopuli1235
it just made my day when i saw a razorlight song i didn't know! and it is so wonderfull
@lilinourful
Johnny - Je t'aime comme les autres.. MAIS AUTREMENT ..