Unfair… Read Full Bio ↴The Auteurs was a British alternative rock band of the 1990s.
Unfairly dismissed as the egotrip of acclaimed songwriter Luke Haines, The Auteurs were one of the unsung bands of the mid-nineties Britpop movement. Releasing their first record, New Wave, in 1993, the Auteurs were compared to Suede, and the resurgent glam-rock movement, and began to amass a reasonable cult following. 1994's second album, and commercial highlight, Now I'm A Cowboy, saw the band embracing at times a more contemporary sound, notably on the single Lenny Valentino, which probably remains Haines' best-known song. Now I'm A Cowboy was marked out by sprawling guitar lines as much as by Haines' inimitable lyrics, a kind of visceral social commentary. While touring this album in 1995, Haines jumped off a fifteen-foot wall, breaking both ankles, resulting in his being in a wheelchair for the rest of that year, recording the starker, angrier third album After Murder Park, most notable for the ballad-like lead single Unsolved Child Murder, released for Christmas at Haines own bidding. Following this, Haines took time out to work on other projects such as Black Box Recorder and Baader Meinhof, reforming the Auteurs in 1999 for the release of the mostly overlooked final album, How I Learned To Love The Bootboys.
While Haines remains widely respected for his lyrical eloquence and eye for the minutae of life, his eccentric, confrontational personality, and habit of styling himself as a louche ne'er-do-well, perhaps impeded the formation of a more affectionate bond with his fans. The Auteurs, similarly, tended to be respected rather more than they were loved.
Glad to Be Gone
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe you should check your pace
College boy has been and gone
Left back in another place
Maybe you should cut the strain
Maybe you could flip and win
My memory let me down
Maybe you could lose a limb
Before we lose another round
Maybe we should just step down
Thought of burning down your house
Maybe burn the whole town
Maybe you should cut the strain
Maybe you could flip and win
My memory let me down
Your memory let you down
Maybe you could lose a limb
Before you turn anther page
Maybe you should check your pace
College boy has been and gone
Left back in another place
Maybe you should cut the strain
Maybe you could flip and win
My memory let me down
Your memory let you down
Maybe you could lose a limb
The Auteurs’ “Glad to be Gone” is a song that speaks to the many disappointments that come in life, and the desire to simply walk away from it all. The first verse addresses the idea that perhaps, before moving on to the next chapter of one’s life, it may be wise to take a step back and evaluate one's current situation. The lyrics imply that a college boy has already left, perhaps struggling in his studies or looking for something more in life. The singer suggests that focusing on winning, rather than struggling with the stress, might prove helpful, before mentioning how both his and someone else's memory has failed them.
The chorus suggests that before more time is lost or more disappointments are experienced, it might be time to step down or simply walk away. The idea of burning down a house or a whole town might indicate a desire to start fresh, or to leave behind anything that has caused distress or pain. The second verse echoes the first, suggesting the need to reevaluate one's current situation and contemplate ways to succeed. The line "maybe you could lose a limb" is a somewhat cryptic message, but it could be interpreted as the idea that taking risks is sometimes necessary in order to succeed in life.
Overall, the song takes on a somewhat pessimistic tone, but it also suggests a desire to take control of one's life and make changes in order to achieve greater happiness and success.
Line by Line Meaning
Before you turn another page
Before you move on to the next chapter of your life
Maybe you should check your pace
Perhaps you need to slow down and reflect
College boy has been and gone
The days of youth and recklessness have passed
Left back in another place
Those times are now distant memories
Maybe you should cut the strain
It's possible that you need to reduce the stress in your life
Maybe you could flip and win
Perhaps a change in perspective could lead to success
My memory let me down
I have failed to remember something important
Your memory let you down
You have failed to remember something important
Maybe you could lose a limb
In extreme situations, sacrifices may need to be made
Before we lose another round
Before we suffer another defeat
Maybe we should just step down
Perhaps it's best to walk away from the situation
Thought of burning down your house
The thought of causing destruction and chaos
Maybe burn the whole town
Perhaps even more drastic measures should be taken
Before you turn another page
Before you move on to the next chapter of your life
Maybe you should check your pace
Perhaps you need to slow down and reflect
College boy has been and gone
The days of youth and recklessness have passed
Left back in another place
Those times are now distant memories
Maybe you should cut the strain
It's possible that you need to reduce the stress in your life
Maybe you could flip and win
Perhaps a change in perspective could lead to success
My memory let me down
I have failed to remember something important
Your memory let you down
You have failed to remember something important
Maybe you could lose a limb
In extreme situations, sacrifices may need to be made
Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rocky Vette
This is my new favorite song from Luke Haines! Fckn fell in love with showgirl but this shit here, this shit here!!!
space75gr
thats A side material
Rocky Vette
Dam rite! Love the heaviness of it