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.
Showgirl
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought my life
Would be right
Took her bowling
Got her high
Got myself a showgirl bride
Took a job on the side
In a health shop
Got my mantra for life
Got my karma
And a showgirl bride
All my life
All her life
All our life
I married a showgirl
That's for life
She can't work
In the wintertime
I can't work anytime now
Go to libraries all the while
Looking for a notice
Looking for a name
All my life
All her life
All our life
I married a showgirl
That's for life
I took a showgirl
For my bride
Sprinkled stardust
On my wife
Took her bowling
Got her high
Got myself a showgirl bride
Don't you recognize us?
The Auteurs's song "Showgirl" tells the story of a man who chooses a showgirl as his bride. He initially believes that his life will be complete and he will have everything he ever wanted by marrying her. The lyrics suggest that he may have been searching for something to fill a void in his life, and he thought that a showgirl would be the answer. He takes her bowling and gets her high, which seems to be a reference to their carefree lifestyle. However, as time goes on, they both face difficulties and it becomes apparent that life with a showgirl is not all glitz and glamour.
The man in the song takes a job in a health shop, perhaps as a way to maintain some stability in his life. He finds solace in mantra and karma, which suggests that he is searching for a deeper meaning in life. The man also mentions that his wife cannot work in the wintertime, and he is unable to work at any time. This may suggest that their lifestyle is unstable and they struggle financially. The lines "go to libraries all the while, looking for a notice, looking for a name" suggest that they are still trying to find their place in the world and establish themselves.
Overall, "Showgirl" is a commentary on the pursuit of happiness and how it is not always what it seems. The man in the song thought that marrying a showgirl would bring him everything he wanted in life, but he soon realizes that happiness is not found in material possessions or a carefree lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
For my bride
I got married to a woman whom I call my bride
Thought my life
I believed that my life would be perfect
Would be right
I expected my life to be flawless
Took her bowling
I took her to play bowling as an activity to spend time together
Got her high
I provided her with drugs to make her feel good
Got myself a showgirl bride
I got married to a woman who works as a showgirl
Took a job on the side
To earn some extra money, I started working in a health store
In a health shop
I worked in a shop that sells health products
Keeps me well
My job helps me stay healthy
Got my mantra for life
I have found my personal formula for leading my life
Got my karma
I believe in the concept of karma
And a showgirl bride
I have a wife who works as a showgirl
All my life
Throughout my life
All her life
Throughout her life
All our life
Throughout our lives
I married a showgirl
I am married to a woman who works as a showgirl
That's for life
This marriage is for life
She can't work
During winter, my wife cannot work as a showgirl
In the wintertime
During the winter season
I can't work anytime now
I am unable to work at any time now
Go to libraries all the while
I spend most of my time at the library
Looking for a notice
I am searching for an advertisement
Looking for a name
I am searching for a person's name
Don't you recognize us?
Can't you identify me and my wife?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MusicLover-mx4kf
One of my favourite songs of all time
@marksherman1887
Pure gold! Impeccably written and produced.
@FLAVCO
Another highly underrated great band!!
@LrB-zs7hn
Masterpiece
@avantgardenmusick
Masterpiece.
@matteussaldanha4666
Minha música favorita
@waynejones284
Luke Haines is a national treasure.
@adelmoravaglia778
Capolavoro. Luke Haines, Balduin e Gordon Anderson (Aliens, Lone pigeon) sono i tre artisti psichedelici più geniali dai tempi di Syd Barrett e John Lennon
@mysticladytarot7777
What a beautiful thing to say and you've struck a chord with me mentioning syd barrett there. You're totally right! ❤🏹💕
@thomaseley8386
Love it