The video for the single is set in a supermarket and features UK TV presenter Dale Winton (then of Supermarket Sweep fame) in a cameo appearance. He peers over shelves and shakes pipes of Pringles as if they're musical shakers!
Inbetweener
Sleeper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keeping the rain off her Saturday hairdo
She stops for a coffee she smiles at the waiter
He winks at his friends and they laugh at her later.
He's cleaning his car on his pebble dash driveway
New chamois leather he got for his birthday
He reads Harold Robbins he flirts with his neighbor
Ignores her at breakfast he's reading the paper
He's not a prince he's not a king
She's not a work of art or anything
It makes no sense another year
What kind of A to Z would get you here
He's nothing special, she's not too smart
He studies fashion, she studies art
I though I told you right from the start
[Chorus:]
You were just my in between
Just my in between
You're such an in-betweener
She went to the dream boys got tickets from Keith Prowse
She canceled his lifelong subscription to Penthouse
She goes round the corner she sees Harry Conway
She says to herself that she'll leave him on Monday
He dreams of a roller she dreams of a fast getaway
[Chorus: Repeat 2X]
Now it's much too late to ask me where I've been
You were just my in-betweener
The song "Inbetweener" by Sleeper can be interpreted as a commentary on the monotony and unfulfillment of modern relationships. The first verse describes two characters, a woman and a man, going about their mundane weekend routines. The woman shops aimlessly, trying to fill the void of boredom, while the man spends time on trivial tasks such as cleaning his car and reading the newspaper. The chorus highlights how these two people are not exceptional in any way- they are just "in-betweeners" who are drifting through life without a clear direction or purpose. The woman even admits that the man was just a temporary distraction- an "in-between" guy- before she moves on to a new love interest.
The second verse continues this theme of emptiness, with the woman going to see male strippers and canceling her partner's subscription to a pornographic magazine. It is possible that she is trying to spice up her life and relationship, but it seems that she remains unfulfilled. The man, on the other hand, continues to dream of owning a fancy car and having a thrilling escape, suggesting that he too is unsatisfied with his current situation. The final line of the chorus, "You were just my in-betweener," highlights the fleeting nature of their relationship and the lack of depth or meaning behind it.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the disillusionment and dissatisfaction that can arise in relationships that lack a deeper connection or purpose. The characters in the song are searching for something more, but are unable to find it in each other.
Line by Line Meaning
She's shopping for kicks, got the weekend to get through
She's aimlessly wandering around and spending money just to pass the time until the weekend is over.
Keeping the rain off her Saturday hairdo
She's trying to protect her styled hair from getting ruined by the rain.
She stops for a coffee she smiles at the waiter
She takes a break to enjoy a cup of coffee and briefly interacts with the waiter.
He winks at his friends and they laugh at her later.
The waiter makes fun of her behind her back with his friends, after giving her false hope with his flirtatious behavior.
He's cleaning his car on his pebble dash driveway
He's going through the mundane task of washing his car in his home's driveway made of pebble stones.
New chamois leather he got for his birthday
He's excited about having received a new chamois leather piece as a gift on his birthday.
He reads Harold Robbins he flirts with his neighbor
He reads trashy novels and tries to seduce his neighbor from across the street.
Ignores her at breakfast he's reading the paper
He pays more attention to the newspaper than to his partner during breakfast.
He dreams of a roller she dreams of a fast getaway.
He dreams of owning a fancy car while she dreams of escaping from her mundane life.
He's not a prince he's not a king
He's not a great catch or a very important person.
She's not a work of art or anything
She's not perfect or extraordinary in any way.
It makes no sense another year
Another year has passed and they're still stuck in their unfulfilling lives.
What kind of A to Z would get you here
What path or circumstances led to you ending up in such an unsatisfying situation?
He's nothing special, she's not too smart
Neither of them stands out or is particularly noteworthy.
He studies fashion, she studies art
They both pursue creative fields of study, but it hasn't led them to success or happiness.
I thought I told you right from the start
The artist may have warned their partner that they were just a temporary fling from the beginning.
You were just my in between
The partner was just someone to pass the time until something better came along.
Just my in between
Reasserting that the partner was never intended to be a long-term prospect.
You're such an in-betweener
The partner was indecisive and not fully committed to anything, just like the singer.
She went to the dream boys got tickets from Keith Prowse
She went to see a male strip show and got tickets from a popular ticket vendor.
She canceled his lifelong subscription to Penthouse
She cancelled his magazine subscription to 'Penthouse,' possibly as a way of controlling his behavior or as a sign of their separation.
She goes round the corner she sees Harry Conway
She runs into someone named Harry Conway and thinks about leaving her partner for him.
She says to herself that she'll leave him on Monday
She decides to end things with her partner next week.
Now it's much too late to ask me where I've been
It's too late for the partner to try and rekindle things.
You were just my in-betweener
Reiterating that the partner was just a temporary fling and nothing more.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUISE WENER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@francorubuano2820
She's shopping for kicks, got the weekend to get through
She's keeping the rain off her Saturday hairdo
She stops for a coffee, she smiles at the waiter
He winks at his friends and they laugh at her later
He's cleaning his car on his pebbledash driveway
New chamois leather he got for his birthday
He reads Harold Robbins, flirts with his neighbour
Ignores her at breakfast, he's reading the paper
He dreams of a roller, she dreams of a fast getaway.
He's not a prince, he's not a king
She's not a work of art or anything
It makes no sense another year
What kind of A to Z would get you here
He's nothing special, she's not too smart
He studies fashion, she studies art
I think I told you right from the start
You were just my inbetween
Just my inbetween
You're such an inbetweener.
She went to the dream boys, got tickets from Keith Prowse
She cancelled his lifelong subscription to Penthouse
She goes round the corner she sees Harry Conway
She says to herself that she'll leave him on Monday
He dreams of a roller she dreams of a fast getaway.
He's not a prince, he's not a king
She's not a work of art or anything
It makes no sense another year
What kind of A to Z would get you here
He's nothing special, she's not too smart
He studies fashion, she studies art
I think I told you right from the start
You were just my inbetween
Just my inbetween
You're such an inbetweener.
Now it's much too late to ask me where I've been
You were just my inbetweener
@Mary-rr1jm
Louise's blinking find so cute.Just wanna hug her.xx
@davidjones8902
I was just about to post about the blinking but you'd got there first. Never noticed it before.
@sherman17011
RIP Dale Winton. Legend!!
@thursoberwick1948
0:20
@Mary-rr1jm
This is an absolute classic indie tune!Met Louise 1st time saw them when I was a teenager.Saw them few years ago in London.Blew me away.I forgot how amazing they are and love them more as I'm older.Louise is still stunning!
@dellafenton2417
I'm a totally straight mum of 3 and nana to 8 grandchildren but am quite happy to admit I've had a girl crush on Louise since 1996!!!
@benedettobruno1669
17 January 2020, Palermo, Sicily.
Always and forever, thank you to Great Britain and the British people whose creativity, since the 1960s, has given the rest of the World hundreds of unique bands such as the Sleeper and music of unparalleled beauty, quirkiness and atmosphere. What would our lives have been without British bands? Thank you. And love, admiration and adoration.
@kellyfellows1563
couldnt love this enough - British music is there best!
@OllieTastersall
Top comment, thank you very much.
@JOSHINBETWEENER
you're welcome