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.
The Rubettes
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tune in for the top ten
Monday morning's hours away
Say goodbye to the weekend
Slip between the sheets
With my brand new friend
Doo wah - sugar baby love (Sugar baby love)
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Doo wah - where did the sad songs go? (Sugar baby love)
They've faded far too low inside my radio
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Hells angels on TV
And youy biker '73
Sew on patch - cycle chains,
Iron cross on your C&A's
Can't get in the disco
Can't dance anyway
Doo wah - sugar baby love (Sugar baby love)
Another night alone, a manic episode
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Doo wah - where did the sad songs go? (Sugar baby love)
The future's made of coal, the past is made of gold
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na no no no no-ah
Come on baby do the jukebox jive
Rock and roll will never die
Can't dance, you look like a freak
But at least you're still alive
You developed late
Weren't the nineties great?
Doo wah - sugar baby love (Sugar baby love)
Another night alone, a manic episode
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Doo wah - where did the sad songs go? (Sugar baby love)
They've faded far too low inside my radio
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Underneath the covers with the lights out
Doo wah
The Auteurs' "The Rubettes" is a melancholic reflection on the passing of time and changing musical trends. The first verse sets the scene of a typical weekend ending: putting away the clothes from fun time, tuning in to the radio for a last chance to hear the latest hits before the workweek starts again. The second verse describes a lonely night spent in bed with a new lover, accompanied only by the radio playing oldies but goodies. The chorus repeats twice, wondering where the sad songs have gone and ending with a doo-wah reminiscent of the 60s girl groups.
The third verse introduces biker fashion and culture, proclaiming it's too late to get into the disco scene and dancing is not even an option. The bridge repeats the chorus with a change in lyrics: the future is bleak (made of coal) and the past is romanticized (made of gold). The song ends with a playful na-na-na section and a final repetition of the chorus.
"The Rubettes" is not necessarily a direct tribute to the British band of the same name, but a musical journey through the decades where the teenage angst and romanticism never truly disappear. The lyrics are full of pop culture references such as Top Ten, Hells Angels, biker gangs, C&A's or disco, which contribute to creating a nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, "The Rubettes" is a song about longing for simpler times when music was more straightforward and life seemed easier to handle.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang up your jeans, put out your school clothes
It's time to end the weekend and start a new week, by putting away our casual clothes and getting ready for work or school.
Tune in for the top ten
We eagerly listen to the most popular songs on the radio station, in order to keep up with the latest trends.
Monday morning's hours away
Although the weekend is over and we have to return to our regular routine, the next working day is still a few hours away
Say goodbye to the weekend
We bid farewell to the past two days of fun and relaxation, knowing we will have to wait until the next weekend to experience this again.
Slip between the sheets
We get into bed to rest and recharge, where we can spend some quiet time with ourselves or with our partner.
With my brand new friend
We have a new playlist or album that we can't wait to listen to all night, as if we've made a new friend with our music.
Doo wah - sugar baby love (Sugar baby love)
A reference to The Rubettes' song, which brings back memories of a different time and reminds us of the power of music to transcend time.
Another night alone, a manic episode
The loneliness of another night spent by ourselves, where we have to deal with our own thoughts and emotions without any distractions.
Underneath the covers with the lights out
We are hidden from the world and its problems, wrapped in our own cocoon of comfort and safety.
Doo wah - where did the sad songs go? (Sugar baby love)
We wonder why there aren't more songs nowadays that express deep emotions and feelings of sadness, like the old tunes we used to listen to.
They've faded far too low inside my radio
The radio stations have moved on from playing the songs that we used to love, and now focus on more upbeat and trendy music instead.
Hells angels on TV
We watch TV shows or movies that feature edgy or rebellious characters, which allow us to escape from our own mundane lives and experience something different.
And youy biker '73
A reference to a specific year in the past, which brings back memories of a time where things were different and perhaps more exciting.
Sew on patch - cycle chains,
We identify with the counterculture or alternative movements by wearing patches or accessories that represent our values or beliefs.
Iron cross on your C&A's
An iron cross is often associated with biker or punk culture, representing a rebellious attitude and a nonconformist lifestyle.
Can't get in the disco
We may not be able to keep up with the latest dance moves or fashion styles that are popular at the moment, making us feel left out or not cool enough.
Can't dance anyway
Even if we wanted to dance or show off our moves, we may not be skilled enough or coordinated enough to do so.
The future's made of coal, the past is made of gold
The future may not be as bright or as promising as the past, where we have fond memories of our youth and the good times we used to have.
Na na na na na na na na na
A nonsensical or meaningless phrase, used to fill in the melody and create a catchy tune.
Na na na na no no no no-ah
A variation of the previous phrase, with a different rhythm or emphasis on the syllables.
Come on baby do the jukebox jive
We encourage ourselves or others to let loose and dance to the music, following the beat and having a good time.
Rock and roll will never die
A statement of faith and loyalty to a genre that has inspired generations and defined a cultural movement that still resonates today.
Can't dance, you look like a freak
Others may judge us harshly or unfairly for our appearance or our lack of social skills, making us feel self-conscious or inadequate.
But at least you're still alive
Despite our flaws or imperfections, we are still alive and able to experience life, which is something to be grateful for.
You developed late
We may have grown up in a different time or culture that shaped our tastes and preferences, making us seem out of touch or old-fashioned.
Weren't the nineties great?
A nostalgic reference to a decade that was marked by cultural events and trends, which we fondly remember and cherish.
Contributed by Emily E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheShelterOfficial
THIS SHOULD BE SUPER FAMOUS. BRILLIANT!
@benjaminrawson3386
Thanks for the upload with improved quality - gone is the MTV 90's logo. I saw Black Box Recorder play Dingwalls, London, and I'll forever treasure the moment Luke Haines looked at ME! outside the venue.
@jonathansteadman7935
Now I'm gonna have to listen to Sugar Baby Love by The Rubettes.
@alessandrosantos3137
One of my favourite songs
@immaterialimmaterial5195
Absolutely brilliant! Spot on! Very funny and very clever!
@paulmacca
Genius
@theobserver2309
Wow. Just love this song, a fabulous statement and piss take. Also the best video version ever, great quality, many thanks for this.
@dominiquedubois2767
❤💥
@user-pe1fb5uz6o
А группа то Интересная… не попадалась раньше …
@adelecovus7482
Absolutely incredible song.