Featuring vocalist Liam Fray, lead guitarist Daniel "Conan" Moores, and drummer Michael Campbell, Courteeners formed in Manchester in 2006, when the 22-year-old Fray -- already known around town for his acoustic singer/songwriter gigs -- brought three of his childhood friends (including ex-bassist Mark Cupello) together to form a proper band. After signing to Loog Records, a pseudo-indie label owned by Polydor, the Courteeners released their limited-edition debut single, "Cavorting," in August 2007. Three more singles, "Acrylic," "What Took You So Long?," and "Not Nineteen Forever," dotted the charts between October 2007 and March 2008, prior to the release of the group's debut album. Produced by Stephen Street (celebrated for his work with the Smiths, Blur, and the Cranberries) and featuring Fray's painting of Audrey Hepburn on the cover, St. Jude was released in April 2008. The album reached number four in the U.K., where it also achieved gold status.
While touring in support of the record, the Courteeners began playing new material at select shows, much of which found its way onto 2010's Falcon, a slower, more ambitious set of songs. The band's third album, Anna, reflected an '80s synth pop influence and arrived in early 2013. In 2014, the Courteeners returned with their fourth studio album, Concrete Love, which found them building upon Anna's anthemic '80s-influenced sound. The album fared well, reaching number three on the U.K. albums chart. A year after Concrete Love, the group parted ways with bassist Cupello, replacing him with longtime collaborator and producer Joe Cross. In 2016, they released their fifth studio album, Mapping the Rendezvous. Featuring singles "The 17th" and "No One Will Ever Replace Us," the set peaked at number four in the U.K.
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their debut in 2018, the Courteeners issued St. Jude Re:Wired, a reimagined vision of their 2008 breakthrough. They embarked on a celebratory concert run in England before returning to the studio for a proper follow-up to Rendezvous. Their sixth set, More. Again. Forever., arrived in early 2020 and came as a result of a dark period of uncertainty for Fray and the band. Featuring a distinctly dance-friendly sound influenced by LCD Soundsystem, the set focused on bass grooves and insightful lyrics that marked a late-era maturation for the crew.
Biography by Stewart Mason
Not Nineteen Forever
The Courteeners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tried to insinuate sometimes
I am in danger of going too far
Said, would I like to go for tea and toast
"Get your hand off my thigh"
In the car she turned to me and said
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
Older woman and a younger man
Both of them doing all they can
Tried to get your attention all night long
Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times
If you'd like to dance to that song
Front crawled the crowd down the stairs
And then I followed you out in the rain, nowhere to be found
Never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
I know it seems strange but things, they change
Older woman and an ever so slightly younger man
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
I know it seems strange but things, they change
Older woman and an ever so slightly younger man
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
It's not big, you're definitely not clever
The Courteeners' song, "Not Nineteen Forever", tells a story of a younger man who is with an older woman. The song's opening lines suggest that the woman tries to rescue him in a way from his hazardous behavior as he tries to insinuate that he is in danger of going too far. She suggested that they go for tea and toast, which he accepted. However, this did not go as planned as she tried to touch him in a way that made him uncomfortable. In the car, she then tells him that he is not nineteen forever, and he needs to get his act together.
As the song progresses, the man tries to get the woman's attention by asking her four times if she'd like to dance to a particular song. Eventually, they get on the dance floor, but while making their way back, the woman disappeared leaving him alone in the rain with nowhere to go. The song's outro repeats the title line, "you're not nineteen forever," emphasizing the idea that one cannot remain in youth and naivete forever.
The lyrics speak of the inevitability of change, and the young man is encouraged to "pull himself together" and mature. The song highlights the potential pitfalls of engaging in a romantic relationship with someone much older, as there may be a significant gap in experience and maturity between the two partners.
Line by Line Meaning
She tried to peel me off the pavement
She attempted to help me get up from the ground
Tried to insinuate sometimes
Attempted to suggest that on occasion
I am in danger of going too far
I may be at risk of overindulging
Said, would I like to go for tea and toast
Asked if I would like to have some food and drink
"Get your hand off my thigh"
Remove your hand from my leg
In the car she turned to me and said
Whilst in the car, she directed her attention towards me and spoke
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
You can't stay young forever, so get a grip on yourself
I know it seems strange but things, they change
Although it may seem odd, things don't stay the same
Older woman and a younger man
A female who is older than the male she's with
Both of them doing all they can
Both individuals are trying their best
Tried to get your attention all night long
Attempted to grab your focus during the entire night
Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times
Questioned you repeatedly
If you'd like to dance to that song
If you'd like to move to the rhythm of that tune
Front crawled the crowd down the stairs
The group of people got down the stairs while crawling forward
And then I followed you out in the rain, nowhere to be found
Afterwards I pursued you outside and in the rain, but you couldn't be located
Never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again
It's alright, it's unlikely that you'll appear that attractive in the future
It's not big, you're definitely not clever
It's not impressive, and you're certainly not intelligent
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
Bless the band, as they're working hard
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Liam James Fray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CarlosGonzalez-nf4qm
Lyrics
She tried to peel me off the pavement
Tried to insinuate sometimes
I am in danger of going too far
Asked me would I like to go for tea and toast
Get your hand off my thigh
In the car she turned to me and said
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourself together
I know it seems strange but things, they change
Older woman and a younger man
Both of them doing all they can
Tried to get your attention all night long
Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times
If you'd like to dance to that song
Front crawled the crowd down the stairs
And I followed you out in the rain, nowhere to be found
Never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourself together
I know it seems strange but things, they change
Older woman and an ever so slightly younger man
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
It's not big, it's definitely not clever
@bradleywhite97
She's had to peel me off the pavement
Trying to insinuate sometimes I'm in danger of going too far
Said would I like to go for tea and toast?
Get your hand off my thigh
In the car she turned to me and said
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
I know it seems strange but things they change
Older woman and a younger man
Both of them doing all they can
Trying to get your attention all night long
Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times
If you'd like to dance to that song front crawled the crowd
Down the stairs and then I followed you out in the rain
Nowhere to be found, never mind
You'll probably never look that pretty again
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
I know it seems strange but things they change
Older woman and ever so slightly younger man
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
You're not nineteen forever, pull yourselves together
I know it seems strange but things they change
Older woman and ever so slightly younger man
God bless the band, they're doing all they can
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
You're not nineteen forever
It's not me, you're definately not clever
@RossHamMil
I was born on the 5th of May 1996. Today is the 4th of May 2016 and tomorrow I turn 20. I made a promise to myself that I would return to this song on the last day of being a teenager. Here I am
@dougiet1999
this comments special, i wish you well on your journey through adulthood, ive still got three years left myself :)
@lmcleon8331
+dougietelfer1999 this comments as gay as Elton John's back pocket
@dougiet1999
+Kevin Mccarroll yer maw
@realjjumpdown
Enjoy yourself
@GTiR23
How's the 20's treating you pal?
@TheSuperx369
I'm not a teenager for the first time in seven years. The memories will forever be cherished. It just feels weird being 20. When I was 13 and younger it was amazing.
Thanks and a final goodbye.
Hopefully I might live to be a 113 so I might be a teenager again. Who knows?
@luvpeeep4633
owww that’s sad i’m 18 i wanna be this age forever but i can’t
@xerilaun
how is the adult life?
@Adam-vg4sq
@jungshook shit la