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.
Staying Power
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, your fan base must have got stuck in the mud
When it comes to popularity, you win hands down
More power, staying power
I'm around, I'm around
Well, your house guest has woke up
Well, your likeness has been all broken up
More power, staying power
I'm around, I'm around
Well, your sand dunes won't stand up
Fingered circles have all turned into mud
When it comes to sand sculpture, you win hands down
More power, staying power
I'm around, I'm around
The Auteurs' song "Staying Power" seems to be a poetic commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and popularity. The lyrics suggest that the subject of the song, whoever they may be, was once a rising star with armies of fans and house guests, but has since fallen from grace. Though they may have once had power and influence, all of their accomplishments seem to have been nullified by time and circumstance.
The repetition of the phrase "more power, staying power" emphasizes the theme of power dynamics and the key to achieving long-lasting success. It's almost as if the singer is taunting the subject, implying that their power was always destined to dissipate while the singer remains steadfast and unwavering. The imagery of sand dunes and fingered circles turning to mud reinforces the idea that everything is ultimately transient and subject to change.
Overall, the song is a poignant meditation on the allure and emptiness of fame, and a reminder that true staying power comes from something deeper and more substantial than adoration and celebrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, your armies never showed up
Your support system failed you, no one came to your aid
Well, your fan base must have got stuck in the mud
Your fans are not showing their support because of certain difficulties
When it comes to popularity, you win hands down
You are more popular than anyone else
More power, staying power
You have the power and ability to last long
I'm around, I'm around
I'll always be here for you
Well, your house guest has woke up
Your visitor is now up and about
Well, your likeness has been all broken up
Your image has been tarnished or destroyed
Your sand dunes won't stand up
Your creations or endeavors are not holding up
Fingered circles have all turned into mud
Your attempts at success have all ended up in failure
When it comes to sand sculpture, you win hands down
Despite other failures, you excel in this one area
Contributed by Evelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.