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.
Sick of Hari Krisna
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sing a song for the east wing
Give you all my money
Turn the lights out in our house
Watch your horror movies
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
I remember gold for favour
From a missionary
Turn the lights out in you house
Watch you horror movie
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
The Auteurs' song Sick of Hari Krishna seems to be a scathing critique of the Hare Krishna movement that gained popularity in the 70s and became synonymous with chants of Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna. The lyrics of the song repeat the phrase "sick of Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna" as if mocking the mindless chanting that the movement was known for. The singer then goes on to talk about giving all his money to the east wing, which possibly refers to the Hare Krishnas' monastery or temple that was on the outskirts of many cities. The reference to turning the lights out and watching horror movies possibly signifies a rebellion against the strict regimented lifestyle that the Hare Krishnas were supposed to follow.
The second verse seems to be a third-person recollection of someone who was given gold in return for favors by a missionary. This is possibly a reference to the Hare Krishnas' practice of soliciting donations from people in return for spiritual favors or books. The line "watch your horror movie" could be interpreted as the singer giving the Hare Krishnas a taste of their own disapproval by engaging in an activity that they would find reprehensible.
Overall, the song seems to be a satirical takedown of the Hare Krishna movement, its practices, and its method of acquiring followers. The repetition of the phrase "sick of Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna" provides a powerful refrain that sticks in the mind long after the song has ended, and the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a rebellious attitude towards the Hare Krishnas and their way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
I am tired of constantly hearing about and being involved with Hari Krisna
Sing a song for the east wing
Do something else that is enjoyable
Give you all my money
I am willing to give away all my possessions
Turn the lights out in our house
I want to create a dark, gloomy atmosphere
Watch your horror movies
I enjoy indulging in things that are frightening and sinister
I remember gold for favour
I recall being given rewards for supporting a religious cause
From a missionary
By someone spreading their religious beliefs
Turn the lights out in you house
I want to create a dark, gloomy atmosphere in someone else's home
Watch you horror movie
I want to scare someone else with a frightening movie
Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
Repetition of the phrase 'Hari Krisna'
Sick of Hari Krisna, Krisna, Krisna
I am tired of constantly hearing and being involved with Hari Krisna
Contributed by Nolan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.