Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Mr Writer
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at your shoes
You hang names on your wall
Then you shoot them all
You fly around in planes
That bring you down
To meet me who loves you, like
Are you so lonely?
You don't even know me
But you'd like to stone me
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
I used to treat you right
Give you my time
But when I'd turn my back on you
Then you do what you do
You've just enough, in my own view
Education to perform
I'd like to shoot you all
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you really know?
Mr, Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you even know?
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
The lyrics of Stereophonics' "Mr. Writer" criticize the music industry and those who established and judge it. The lyrics describe an arrogant and superficial individual who has "just enough education to perform" and operates in the music industry. The lyrics sarcastically portray the individual's need for admiration and their constant need to hang names on their wall, only to later shoot them down. The lyrics also depict the individual's selfish and thoughtless behavior towards others, especially towards the singer who used to give him/her his/her time, only to be betrayed.
The chorus acts as a call to action, urging the "Mr. Writer" to speak the truth about how the industry functions and their distorted view of reality before they retreat back home. The repeated urges to "tell it like it is" highlight the importance of authenticity and honesty in music and how it is lacking in the industry.
Overall, "Mr. Writer" is a satirical and blunt critique of the music industry and how it functions at the cost of authenticity and earnestness.
Line by Line Meaning
You line them up
You arrange a group of people or things
Look at your shoes
You focus on insignificant details instead of the big picture
You hang names on your wall
You boast about your accomplishments and collect trophies to show off
Then you shoot them all
You create unrealistic expectations and tear them down when they are not met
You fly around in planes
You are privileged and live a luxurious life
That bring you down
Your wealth and status make you arrogant and disconnected from reality
To meet me who loves you, like
You encounter someone who genuinely cares for you
Me crashing to the ground
Your lack of consideration for others causes them pain and suffering
Are you so lonely?
Do you feel isolated and detached from others despite your success?
You don't even know me
You refuse to acknowledge or empathize with those around you
But you'd like to stone me
You are quick to judge and criticize others for their shortcomings
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
You, the artist, are challenging Mr. Writer to tell the truth
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
You ask Mr. Writer to be honest and not sugarcoat the reality
Before you go on home
You want Mr. Writer to consider his actions before returning to his comfortable life
I used to treat you right
You used to show Mr. Writer kindness and respect
Give you my time
You invested in your relationship with Mr. Writer
But when I'd turn my back on you
When you would let your guard down or show vulnerability
Then you do what you do
Mr. Writer would take advantage of your trust or exploit your weaknesses
You've just enough, in my own view
You possess a certain level of intelligence or talent
Education to perform
You have obtained the necessary skills to succeed
I'd like to shoot you all
You feel anger and frustration towards those who use their talents for selfish gain
And then you go home
After a long day of work or exploiting others
With you on your own
You are left to face the consequences of your actions alone
What do you really know?
You lack true understanding or empathy for others
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
You ask Mr. Writer to acknowledge the harsh realities of life and not live in denial
Mr. Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
You challenge Mr. Writer to be honest and transparent
Before you go on home
You urge Mr. Writer to consider his actions and impact on others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kelly Jones, Marshall Ross Bird, Stuart Cable, Richard Mark Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@me-pn5lu
You line them up
Look at your shoes
You hang names on your wall
Then you shoot them all
You fly around in planes
That bring you down
To meet me who loves you, like
Me crashing to the ground
Are you so lonely?
Don't even know me
But you'd like to stone me
Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
I used to treat you right
Give you my time
But when I'd turn my back on you
Then you do what you do
You've just enough, in my own view
Education to perform
I'd like to shoot you all
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you really know?
Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it is?
Why don't you tell it like it really is?
Before you go on home
And then you go home
With you on your own
What do you even know?
Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
Mr Writer, why don't you tell it like it really is?
Why don't you tell it like it always is?
Before you go on home
@bogdanbosoi1483
A real pleasure to revisit this amazing band in 2022!! Very, very underrated band. Great and unique voice!
@jillmcintyre2144
I’ll keep on revisiting this band until I die 👌
@silverwing4688
Well said .
It's a lost treasure , to be recovered .
Hiw do u know how many views Justin bevear baby has had , 😒 🤔 hmm. The plot thickens here .
@dombrandon3018
I'm not sure it's true to say they were underrated. They were one of the biggest and most celebrated bands in UK for about 10 years but you're right about it being a pleasure to listen to them and that Kelly has a great voice.
@petercurrie8047
These should damn well be the pride of Britain.
@fordism.01
One of the best tracks they ever wrote. Fantastic band
@ekaterinastoykova4077
I used to adore this song when I was 20. Then I haven't listened to it for a very long time. I've just turned 38 … Nothing has changed. I still adore it. I still get the lyrics. Time does not exist :)
@annastybeach9064
Im in my 40s and can remember seeing them at The Garage in Glasgow when I was a student..brilliant live!
@andygallacher5522
Brings back memories every time I listen to it as well we get older and wiser but our taste in music never changes music is not the same anymore I'm only 35 as well it makes me feel old saying music is not the same anymore but it is true apart from likes of ed sheeran john legend Calvin Harris but not too much that grabs my attention like this song did xx
@matthieucoquard9809
So do i in 2023