The band's music is a mixture of 1960s-style psychedelia and folk-rock with old-fashioned country and modern alternative rock influences. The Coral have released nine albums (The Coral, Magic and Medicine, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker, The Invisible Invasion, Roots & Echoes, The Singles Collection/Magic & Mysteries, Butterfly House, The Curse of Love, and Distance Inbetween). Their self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize and later voted the fourth best album of the year by NME Magazine. It was announced on 9 January 2008 that Bill Ryder-Jones would be leaving, but the band would continue as a 5-piece.
A Warning to the Curious
The Coral Lyrics
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A message for the meek
It's better not to be in love
Than to be in between
You, If I never had you
Then I wouldn't feel the way I do now
If I never had you
It was just a joke you said
But now I'm warning you
On whose grounds do you dare to tread?
When all your plans fall through
You, If I never had you
Then I wouldn't feel the way I do now
If I never had you
A warning to the curious
A message for the meek
It's better not to be in love
Than to be in between
You, If I never had you
Then I wouldn't feel the way I do now
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
The song A Warning to the Curious by The Coral is a warning to those who are curious and for the meek. The lyrics suggest that it is better not to be in love than to be in between. The singer seems to be addressing someone who they had feelings for but now warns them, possibly about the danger of playing with their emotions. The refrain, "You if I never had you, then I wouldn't feel the way I do now," suggests a bittersweet regret, as if the singer is conflicted between the pain of heartbreak and the joy of having loved at all.
The lyrics seem to be inspired by the horror novel "A Warning to the Curious" by M.R. James, which tells the story of a man who seeks treasure but is ultimately destroyed by his greed. The song's refrain echoes the novel's cautionary message that "nothing good comes of digging up the dead."
Overall, the song is a warning to the curious and to those who play with love. It suggests that it is better not to venture into the dangerous territory of love if you are not committed to it, and that the pain of heartbreak is not worth the fleeting joy of a temporary fling.
Line by Line Meaning
A warning to the curious
Be cautious and beware of what you might discover by being too curious
A message for the meek
This message is for those who are timid and may be easily influenced
It's better not to be in love
It might be best not to be romantic because it can cause pain and hurt
Than to be in between
Indecision can lead to inner turmoil and difficult choices
You, If I never had you
I blame you for how I feel right now and my current predicament
Then I wouldn't feel the way I do now
You are the cause of my current state of mind
It was just a joke you said
You made a remark that was meant to be harmless but it had serious consequences
But now I'm warning you
I am telling you to be careful and to think before you speak
On whose grounds do you dare to tread?
Do you have the right to make that joke or comment?
When all your plans fall through
When everything you've worked for doesn't work out as planned
If I never had you
Once again, I blame you for how I feel
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
If I never had you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SKELLY, NICHOLAS POWER, WILLIAM RYDER-JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind