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.
Starstruck
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and a showbiz son
Always hide
where you come from
Mother got out rehab
And I was born
I was starstruck
When I was young
To tread the boards
I was in Vaudeville
At age five
My career took
Its first nosedive
I've been starstruck
all my life
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm struck dumb by you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always starstruck
Can't get an agent
For a child star
My act effete and failing
So I moved
To the old backlot
Where I exercise daily
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm struck dumb by you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always starstruck
Now you're between
A peak time show
I hear you're now married
She was born to be seen
Not to be carried
Starstruck,
starstruck over you
Starstruck,
I'm stuck here with you
Starstruck,
I struck out my luck
I was always...
The Auteurs song "Starstruck" depicts the life story of a child actor who has always been captivated by the glamour and glitz of Hollywood. The song talks about how the singer's life began with his mother coming out of rehab, leading to his birth and subsequently growing up in the entertainment industry. The lyrics discuss the struggles of being a child star and not being able to land an agent due to a failing act. The singer then moves to the backlot to try and improve himself, still chasing the dream of being a star. The song ends with the singer being struck by someone he is starstruck over, possibly leading to a feeling that his life in the entertainment industry was leading to this moment.
The lyrics of "Starstruck" by The Auteurs comment on the dark side of the entertainment industry, where child stars are expected to perform with utmost precision and are exploited for fame and fortune. The singer, who is a child actor, is exposed to the ugly side of show business at an early age. This forces them into a life of constant struggle and desperation, always trying to ensure that they remain in the limelight. The song also comments on how talent and skill don't always guarantee success and how luck plays a big role in the entertainment industry.
Line by Line Meaning
First child
The first child in the family
and a showbiz son
A son whose parents are in showbiz
Always hide
To keep a low profile and not reveal one's background or identity
where you come from
The place or family one originates from
Mother got out rehab
The mother completed a stay in a rehabilitation center, likely for drug or alcohol addiction
And I was born
The singer was born after their mother's stay in rehab
I was starstruck
The singer became enamored with fame and the entertainment industry
When I was young
During the artist's childhood
It's never too soon
One can start pursuing a career in showbiz at any age
To tread the boards
To perform on stage, specifically in theater
I was in Vaudeville
The singer participated in Vaudeville, a type of live entertainment popular in the early 20th century
At age five
The artist was only five years old at this time
My career took
One's professional path
Its first nosedive
A significant setback or dip in one's career trajectory
I've been starstruck
The singer's fascination with fame and the entertainment industry never waned
all my life
Throughout the artist's entire existence
Can't get an agent
The artist is having trouble finding representation in the entertainment industry
For a child star
Because the singer was a child performer
My act effete and failing
The singer's performance is weak and unsuccessful
So I moved
The artist relocated in order to find better opportunities in the industry
To the old backlot
A filming studio lot from an earlier era of Hollywood
Where I exercise daily
The artist works out on a regular basis in order to maintain their appearance and physical abilities
Now you're between
The person the singer is addressing is currently in a transitional period
A peak time show
A highly popular and lucrative program
I hear you're now married
The person the singer is addressing has recently gotten married
She was born to be seen
The person the singer is addressing was destined for the limelight, to be a part of the entertainment industry
Not to be carried
The person the singer is addressing should not be supported entirely by their spouse or partner, but should be independent
I'm stuck here with you
The artist is currently stuck in a situation with the person they are addressing
I struck out my luck
Despite the artist's constant fascination with fame and the entertainment industry, they have had no luck in achieving it
I was always starstruck
The singer has been in awe of celebrities and the entertainment industry for their entire life
Starstruck, starstruck over you
The singer is now transfixed on the person they are addressing, like they have been with celebrities in the past
Starstruck, I'm struck dumb by you
The artist is enamored to the point where they are speechless around the person they are addressing
Starstruck, I struck out my luck
Despite their desire for fame and success, the artist has not achieved it and is stuck in their current situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Jones
One of the very best English bands of the nineties and chronically overlooked.
Francis Innes
Great song from a great band. Haines is still pushing the envelope
borreguitosdenube
Amazingly Beautiful
Deathcrush
Really beautiful
Paco de Ranaldo
My face song on this lp. Many thanks.
miserytake2
I have to say, this music is hard to enjoy with my bad laptop speakers. I think that's maybe why I've listened to so much punk rock lately. >.>
tom noakes
thanks so much ThePharaoh75 for the video post
geckowithcamo
Fashionably 11 months late?
Mentor
Blza