There are two artists with this name:

1. The Book Club is a musical … Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists with this name:

1. The Book Club is a musical project of British writer and singer Quentin Scobie who runs a YouTube channel of the same name which reviews literature in comedic way. He has made music since he was 13, he plays several instruments. He formerly contributed to the music project called Le Servo de Spock

2. Sheffield based band featuring Joe Carnall, ex Milburn, as lead singer and songwriter. Ex Arctic Monkeys bassist Andy Nicholson was originally involved, later leaving to work with The Reverend. The Book Club, originally a project of Joe’s where drafting in friends to help out with the recordings was enough it had previously featured ex-milburn members Joe Green and Louis Carnall. Now with four ‘ever-present’ members, Anthony Allen, Patrick Conwill & Thomas Colclough, making up The Book Club and with a nationwide tour under their belts the band is really coming into it’s own. Joe’s usual witty lyrics, often with clever reference to historical people and events, are still there but the music is a progression from Milburn, drawing from much wider and often more melodic influences.

India
The Book Club Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you recognise the boy in the photograph?
Do you recognise the girl on the wall?
Walking down sauchiehalll with plans to get out of town,
Now he cannot remember just how he had got here at all.

Don't you ever say his name in vain,
He was many things but never vain.

Looking now oh you would never realise,
He could be a bastard in his time,
Don't you be deceived by those two empty eyes,
That masquerade the fullness of his mind.

Don't you ever say his name in vain,
He was many things but rarely vain.

Don't you ever think they don't know how,
Seen it all before and more and how.

Overall Meaning

The Book Club's song "India" is a hauntingly nostalgic track that tells the story of a boy and a girl and their desire to escape their mundane lives. The song displays a sense of longing for something greater than their reality and a desire to pursue their dreams. The opening lines of the song, "Do you recognise the boy in the photograph? Do you recognise the girl on the wall?" create a sense of mystery and intrigue, prompting the listener to imagine who these people might be.

The lyrics describe the boy and girl walking down Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, planning their escape. However, the boy cannot remember how he got there, highlighting the sense of disorientation and confusion that can come with pursuing one's dreams. Despite this, the song suggests that it is worth taking the risk and attempting to chase your dreams, even if the journey is uncertain.

The chorus of the song, "Don't you ever say his name in vain, he was many things but never vain," suggests that the boy in the photograph was a remarkable and memorable character, who should be respected and admired. The bridge of the song, "Looking now oh you would never realize, he could be a bastard in his time," implies that the boy was not perfect, but still deserving of admiration for his unique qualities and the courage to pursue his dreams.

Overall, "India" is a poetic and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to pursue their dreams, even when they seem out of reach. The lyrics create a vivid and emotional narrative that invites the listener to join the characters on their journey of self-discovery.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you recognise the boy in the photograph?
Can you identify the male subject in the picture?

Do you recognise the girl on the wall?
Can you identify the female subject in the mural?

Walking down sauchiehalll with plans to get out of town, Now he cannot remember just how he had got here at all.
He was originally trying to leave Sauchiehall, but he can't recall how he ended up there at this moment.

Don't you ever say his name in vain, He was many things but never vain.
Don't disrespect the subject and use his name meaninglessly; he was many things but not conceited.

Looking now oh you would never realise, He could be a bastard in his time, Don't you be deceived by those two empty eyes, That masquerade the fullness of his mind.
He may seem harmless now, but he was ruthless before. Don't be fooled by his seemingly vacant expression which conceals the vastness of his intellect.

Don't you ever say his name in vain, He was many things but rarely vain.
Again, don't misuse his name. He had various traits, but he wasn't often self-absorbed.

Don't you ever think they don't know how, Seen it all before and more and how.
Don't assume they lack knowledge or experience. They've witnessed and dealt with situations plentifully.

Contributed by Jordyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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