Teenage Fanclub are an indie rock / power pop band from Bellshill, Scotland… Read Full Bio ↴Teenage Fanclub are an indie rock / power pop band from Bellshill, Scotland near Glasgow, formed in 1989 and formerly known as the Boy Hairdressers. They have two generally known humorous nicknames: "The Fannies" and "The Bellshill Beach Boys". They're revered for their devotion to chiming, The Byrds-esque guitars and harmonic vocals. The band is perhaps best known for the 1991 masterpiece 'Bandwagonesque', which presaged the later Britpop and indie pop movements, and, in 2006, Teenage Fanclub held two special concerts in London and Glasgow playing said album in its entirety. Songwriting duties are shared between the three permanent members of the band: Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, and Gerard Love.

'A Catholic Education' was their debut album, released in 1990. The album received positive reviews from English music journalists and critics. In contrast to the group's later work, the album has a very dark, abrasive, and cynical tone and incorporated a grunge and heavy metal influenced sound. As well, the album's two title tracks are direct attacks on the Catholic Church, which are unique for an otherwise apolitical band. The opening track, "Everything Flows", is a mellow powerpop-influenced song (unlike the rest of the album) that provides a sort of blueprint for their later work.

"Everything Flows" was later included in the compilation albums 'Deep Fried Fanclub' and 'Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Seconds – A Short Cut to Teenage Fanclub'. Those were released in 1995 and 2003, respectively. Teenage Fanclub's second album, 1991's 'The King', went for a shambolic, alternative rock edge that left many fans and critics cold, though the release also had strong defenders. It took their third album to kick things into high gear.

'Bandwagonesque', released in November 1991 on Creation Records, became famous by beating Nirvana's landmark album 'Nevermind' to be voted "album of the year" by popular American music magazine Spin. It also gave the band substantial U.S. success when the single "Star Sign" reached #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming their biggest hit in that country. "What You Do to Me" and "The Concept" were also Top 20 hits on that chart. Fans greatly enjoyed the melodic yet melancholy feel of the album.

Although later works have led the group through various highs and lows throughout the 90s and 00s, they're still going strong as of 2014. Tours have been widely successful. Their latest album, 'Shadows', was their ninth studio release. They made it available on 31 May 2010 on the band's own PeMa label in Europe and on Merge Records in North America, the group promoting the single "Baby Lee". Said track shows the band still in touch with the chiming, emotional sounds of their 90s heyday.

There have been a succession of drummers, including:
- Francis MacDonald (a prime-mover in the C86 scene, later of the BMX Bandits), the drummer in the original lineup, and in a later period
- Brendan O’Hare (later of Telstar Ponies, Thrapple , Mogwai and Macrocosmica)

and

- Paul Quinn (later of The Primary 5), who was later replaced by the returning Francis MacDonald.

Keyboardist Finlay MacDonald (no relation to Francis MacDonald) has also been a member.

I Don't Know
Teenage Fanclub Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I fell down
Got back up when no one was around
I want you
I want you to tell me what you found
I been down
Lower than you think I've been
I don't know
I don't know if I know what I mean.

But I know
Who you are
And I know
Where you've been
Yeah I know
But I don't know, I don't know
I don't know if I want you.

I looked up I saw you looking down on me
I've been here
It isn't where I want to be.
You know exactly what you want to do
I don't know
What you wanted me to be
But I know
(What you know) And I know
(What I like) And I know
(What you want) And I know
(What I want) And I know
But I don't know

I don't know, I don't know
I don't know if I want you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Teenage Fanclub's song "I Don't Know" describes a feeling of uncertainty and ambivalence towards someone. The singer is struggling to understand their own emotions and desires towards this person. They have experienced some difficulties in their life, as evidenced in the lines "I fell down / Got back up when no one was around / I been down / Lower than you think I've been". Despite this, they want the other person to open up and tell them what they have found.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the contrast between what the singer knows and what they do not know. They know who the other person is and where they have been, but they do not know if they want them. The singer feels like they are being judged by the other person, as expressed in the line "I looked up I saw you looking down on me". They also feel like they are not in the right place, saying "I've been here / It isn't where I want to be".

Overall, "I Don't Know" portrays a sense of confusion and insecurity in the singer's feelings towards the other person. They are grappling with their own emotions while also feeling like they are being judged by the other person. The song leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity, as the singer does not come to a clear conclusion about their desires.

Line by Line Meaning

I fell down
I faced a setback

Got back up when no one was around
I managed to recover on my own

I want you
I need your help

I want you to tell me what you found
I need you to share your discoveries with me

I been down
I have felt really low

Lower than you think I've been
My suffering is worse than you imagine

I don't know
I am unsure

I don't know if I know what I mean.
I am not sure if I understand my own thoughts

But I know
However,

Who you are
I am aware of your identity

And I know
I also know

Where you've been
I am aware of your past experiences

Yeah I know
I am aware of some things

But I don't know, I don't know
But there is still a lot I am unsure of

I don't know if I want you.
I am unsure if I want to be associated with you

I looked up I saw you looking down on me
I noticed that you were observing me

I've been here
I have been stuck in this situation

It isn't where I want to be.
I don't like being in this position

You know exactly what you want to do
You have a clear idea of your intentions

I don't know
I am uncertain

What you wanted me to be
What your expectations of me were

But I know
However,

(What you know) And I know
I have some knowledge as well

(What I like) And I know
I am aware of my preferences

(What you want) And I know
I am aware of what you desire

(What I want) And I know
I know what I want

But I don't know
But there is still a lot I don't understand

I don't know, I don't know
I am still perplexed

I don't know if I want you.
I am uncertain if I want to be associated with you

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Brown, Charles Bobbitt, James Yancey, R.l. Altman, Titus P. Glover

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS