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.
show girl
The Auteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for my bride
Thought my life
would be right
Took her bowling
got her high
Got myself a showgirl bride
In a health shop
keeps me well
Got my mantra for life
Got my karma
And a showgirl bride
All my life
All her life
All our life
I married a showgirl
That's for life
She can't work
in the wintertime
I can't work anytime now
Go to libraries all the while
Looking for a notice
Biding my time
All my life
All her life
All our life
I married a showgirl
That's for life
I took a showgirl
For my bride
Sprinkled stardust
on my wife
Took her bowling
got her high
Got myself a showgirl bride
Don't you recognise us?
The Auteurs' song "Show Girl" is a poignant commentary on the struggles that come with living as an unconventional couple. The singer, who has taken a show girl for his bride, expresses his initial excitement at their relationship, believing that it will set his life right. They go bowling and get high together, and soon he has not only a wife but also a mantra for life and good karma. However, as time goes on, their financial difficulties become clear. The show girl is unable to work in the wintertime, and the singer is struggling to find work himself. He spends his days in libraries looking for job postings, waiting for his chance to improve their situation. The singer remains committed to his showgirl bride, steadfastly declaring that he has married her for life, despite their challenges.
The lyrics of "Show Girl" paint a vivid portrait of a couple who have rejected conventional paths in life but are now struggling to make ends meet. The show girl, whose livelihood depends on the approval of others, is unable to work during the winter months, leaving the couple in financial limbo. The singer, too, is struggling to find work and is relegated to spending his days in libraries, hoping for a break. All the while, they remain devoted to each other, determined to make their unconventional union work. The song is a poignant commentary on the challenges of love in the face of societal pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a show girl
I chose a woman who worked as a performer
for my bride
as my wife
Thought my life
Believed my life
would be right
would become better
Took her bowling
Took her to play bowling games
got her high
Made her feel happy and excited
Got myself a showgirl bride
Married a performer and now she's my wife
Took a job on the side
I also found another job
In a health shop
In a store that sells healthy products
keeps me well
Helps me maintain my health
Got my mantra for life
Found a phrase that I repeat to motivate myself
Got my karma
Believes in getting rewarded for doing good things
And a showgirl bride
Who works as a performer and is now my wife
All my life
For my entire life
All her life
For her entire life
All our life
For our entire life
I married a showgirl
I chose to wed a performer
That's for life
And that will be a permanent choice
She can't work
She can't find performing jobs
in the wintertime
during winter season
I can't work
I'm also struggling to find employment
anytime now
Not being able to find jobs anytime soon
Go to libraries all the while
I now spend most of my time in libraries due to the situation
Looking for a notice
Trying to find job notifications in the newspapers
Biding my time
Waiting patiently for things to improve
Sprinkled stardust
Inspired her with magic
on my wife
Spread it on my spouse
Don't you recognise us?
Can't you remember us?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LUKE MICHAEL HAINES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MusicLover-mx4kf
One of my favourite songs of all time
@marksherman1887
Pure gold! Impeccably written and produced.
@FLAVCO
Another highly underrated great band!!
@LrB-zs7hn
Masterpiece
@avantgardenmusick
Masterpiece.
@matteussaldanha4666
Minha música favorita
@waynejones284
Luke Haines is a national treasure.
@adelmoravaglia778
Capolavoro. Luke Haines, Balduin e Gordon Anderson (Aliens, Lone pigeon) sono i tre artisti psichedelici più geniali dai tempi di Syd Barrett e John Lennon
@mysticladytarot7777
What a beautiful thing to say and you've struck a chord with me mentioning syd barrett there. You're totally right! ❤🏹💕
@thomaseley8386
Love it