The Auteurs was a British alternative rock band of the 1990s.

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.

Junk Shop Clothes
The Auteurs Lyrics

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Junk shop clothes
Will get you nowhere
They're out of season
It's betrayal with no treason

Junk shop clothes
Will get you...
There is one reason why

Your mother was a seamstress
Chaim Soutine never spent
A thrift shop dime
In his life
Lenny Bruce never walked
In a dead man's shoes
Even for one night

Junk shop shoes
Will get you nowhere
No summer pavilion
No shooting season
Junk shop clothes
Will get you...
For the rest of your life
You'll be dunk for the rest of your life

And the sun never shone
On your frame pale and wan

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Junk Shop Clothes" by The Auteurs speaks about the futility of relying on cheap thrift store clothes to make a statement or stand out in society. It suggests that such garments are out of season and ultimately betray the wearer by providing no value or benefit. The words themselves are cutting and direct, and are a critique on those who try to pass off low quality, second-hand clothing as something unique and trendy.

The song further explores how society values material possessions and how the clothes we wear can often be a reflection of our social standing. The line "Your mother was a seamstress" is an indication that the singer of the song is from a working-class background and has inherited a strong work ethic. This is contrasted with the reference to Chaim Soutine, a famous painter who is known for his luxurious lifestyle and expensive taste, and Lenny Bruce, a comedian who is famous for his cutting wit and insightful commentary.

The lyrics suggest that true distinction and uniqueness come from within, rather than from the clothes we wear. It is a song that celebrates individuality and encourages the listener to find value in the things that truly matter. It is a powerful message that reminds us to look beyond the surface and find true depth in our relationships and in ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Junk shop clothes
Wearing clothes bought from a thrift store

Will get you nowhere
Won't help you achieve anything

They're out of season
The clothes are not fashionable

It's betrayal with no treason
Betraying oneself without any reason

There is one reason why
There is a reason

Your mother was a seamstress
Your mother was a tailor

Chaim Soutine never spent
Artist Chaim Soutine never bought

A thrift shop dime
Anything from a second-hand store

In his life
Throughout his lifetime

Lenny Bruce never walked
Comedian Lenny Bruce never wore

In a dead man's shoes
Shoes previously worn by someone who's now deceased