The Auteurs was a British alternative rock band of the 1990s.

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.

Valet Parking
The Auteurs Lyrics

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Never saw
your drivers eyes
Or me on parking street
We were planning
your demise
Your chauffeur's tired
But you're still on heat
Downtown,

you're burning down

CHORUS
I'm sick of parking cars...

There are only -
two people here
Who are worthy
Of your pool
and your palace
So stand down now
Stand down
You're standing down...

CHORUS

Never thought
I'd see the day
When your pale face
turned grey
Got no guts, got no fame
Your epitaph

Sorely missed
Your unfaithful slave

Overall Meaning

"Valet Parking" by The Auteurs is a song that can be interpreted in several ways. The lyrics can be viewed as a commentary on social class, power dynamics, and the fleeting nature of success. The song is about a protagonist who despises his profession as a valet parker. He is fed up with the shallow existence of the wealthy people he serves, who are indifferent to him and only care about their possessions. The singer is aware of how the wealthy view him as disposable labor and feels alienated despite being in a position of servitude.

The song's primary message is that the pursuit of material wealth and status is hollow and meaningless. It is a commentary on the power dynamics of society, where the wealthy exploit the poor for their own gain. The singer sees through this facade and becomes disillusioned with the world, leading him to contemplate the demise of the rich. With lines, 'Never saw your drivers' eyes, or me on parking street, We were planning your demise, Your chauffeur's tired, But you're still on heat, Downtown, you're burning down', the singer vents his frustration and disgust towards the rich. The chorus, 'I'm sick of parking cars...' is a recurring theme that depicts the singer's desire to escape from his mundane existence.

Line by Line Meaning

Never saw
I never caught a glimpse of you

your drivers eyes
I never even saw your driver's eyes

Or me on parking street
I was parked on the street so you didn't see me either

We were planning
I was plotting with my co-conspirator

your demise
We were planning your downfall

Your chauffeur's tired
Your driver is worn out

But you're still on heat
But you're still excitable

Downtown,
In the bustling city

you're burning down
You're destroying everything in your path

CHORUS
Expressing annoyance and frustration over parking cars

I'm sick of parking cars...
I'm so damn tired of parking cars