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
Please Don't
The Courteeners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is all that separated us,
Why couldn't we have carried on?
We could have got married,
You could have carried some of my sons.
you let me change the radio station in your car,
Do you remember that time I raised my voice
you continued to get intimidated,
But then your finger tips wrapped round those knuckles of mine,
The fear walked home and your smile returned,
And all of a sudden everything was fine.
but those days have passed
And these types of relationship never last.
so please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
Because you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens,
Well no that just never happens.
how come I always see you out
With those boys that we used to argue about?
You walk over all flustered and stuff
Telling everyone inside that you've had enough.
you spend eighty five per cent of your night
Trying to make me understand
Why you were standing so close while you're kissing him.
And why you left that place holding his hand,
Oh darling can't you see that it's got fuck all to do with me?
please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
'cause you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens
The Courteeners' song Please Don't talks about the pain and uncertainty that comes with a recently ended relationship. The song is a reflection on the past and the what-could-have-beens, with the lead singer hoping that they could have "carried on" and "got married," and perhaps even start a family. However, the reality is that they've drifted apart, and the relationship has ended. The repetitive plea of "please don't pretend that we'll stay friends" underscores that what was lost can't be regained and that the feelings and emotions that were once shared can't be easily erased.
The lyrics also touch on nostalgia and the memories of the relationship, both good and bad. The reference to the La's and changing the radio station in the car evoke memories of their shared experiences, while the reference to arguing over other boys and jealousy shows that not everything was perfect. However, the desire to hold on to something that has ended is a powerful theme in the song.
The song's melody is melancholic and introspective, with a slow tempo and a lingering chord progression. The band's raw and emotional delivery complements the lyrics and brings out the bittersweet memories that the song conveys.
Line by Line Meaning
Four years and twenty two shades of blonde
We were together for a long time, but there were many changes
Is all that separated us,
Our separation was caused by very little
Why couldn't we have carried on?
It's a pity that we couldn't continue our relationship
We could have got married,
We were a good match, and marriage could have been possible
You could have carried some of my sons.
I could have seen a future with you and starting a family together
you let me change the radio station in your car,
You were accommodating and let me have control over small things
Do you remember that time I raised my voice
I sometimes got frustrated, but you didn't hold it against me
Because you said you'd never ever heard of the La's?
We had little arguments, but they were insignificant in the grand scheme of things
you continued to get intimidated,
You were sometimes afraid, but I was there to protect you
But then your finger tips wrapped round those knuckles of mine,
You found comfort in holding my hand and feeling safe
The fear walked home and your smile returned,
Your fear dissipated, and you felt happy and content
And all of a sudden everything was fine.
Our problems were minor, and we were able to overcome them
but those days have passed
Our relationship is over, and we can't go back
And these types of relationship never last.
Our kind of relationship is doomed to fail
so please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
We can't just be friends after everything we've been through
Because you know as well as I do that that,
We both understand the reality of the situation
Well that just, it never happens,
Staying friends after a relationship is unlikely to work out
how come I always see you out
I still see you around, and it's difficult to avoid
With those boys that we used to argue about?
You're with the guys that we used to fight over
You walk over all flustered and stuff
You seem nervous and uncomfortable
Telling everyone inside that you've had enough.
You're trying to move on and don't want to deal with the past
you spend eighty five per cent of your night
You're preoccupied with thoughts of me and our past relationship
Trying to make me understand
You want me to know how you feel and why you're doing what you're doing
Why you were standing so close while you're kissing him.
You're trying to justify your actions to me
And why you left that place holding his hand,
You're moving on, and it's difficult for both of us
Oh darling can't you see that it's got fuck all to do with me?
Your actions are not my concern anymore
please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
We can't just be friends after everything we've been through
'cause you know as well as I do that that,
We both understand the reality of the situation
Well that just, it never happens
Staying friends after a relationship is unlikely to work out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LIAM JAMES FRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@calhawksworth2579
Four years and twenty two shades of blonde
Is all that separated us,
Why couldn't we have carried on?
We could have got married,
You could have carried some of my sons.
you let me change the radio station in your car,
Do you remember that time I raised my voice
Because you said you'd never ever heard of the La's?
you continued to get intimidated,
But then your finger tips wrapped round those knuckles of mine,
The fear walked home and your smile returned,
And all of a sudden everything was fine.
but those days have passed
And these types of relationship never last.
so please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
Because you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens,
Well no that just never happens.
how come I always see you out
With those boys that we used to argue about?
You walk over all flustered and stuff
Telling everyone inside that you've had enough.
you spend eighty five per cent of your night
Trying to make me understand
Why you were standing so close while you're kissing him.
And why you left that place holding his hand,
Oh darling can't you see that it's got fuck all to do with me?
please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
'cause you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens
@caltheblade1889
Four years and twenty two shades of blonde
Is all that separated us,
Why couldn't we have carried on?
We could have got married,
You could have carried some of my sons.
you let me change the radio station in your car,
Do you remember that time I raised my voice
Because you said you'd never ever heard of the La's?
you continued to get intimidated,
But then your finger tips wrapped round those knuckles of mine,
The fear walked home and your smile returned,
And all of a sudden everything was fine.
but those days have passed
And these types of relationship never last.
so please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
Because you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens,
Well no that just never happens.
how come I always see you out
With those boys that we used to argue about?
You walk over all flustered and stuff
Telling everyone inside that you've had enough.
you spend eighty five per cent of your night
Trying to make me understand
Why you were standing so close while you're kissing him.
And why you left that place holding his hand,
Oh darling can't you see that it's got fuck all to do with me?
please don't pretend that we'll stay friends,
'cause you know as well as I do that that,
Well that just, it never happens
@frommetoyou1981
Because you said youd never ever heard of The La's! Great tune, great lyrics.
@carolbirch9211
How is this the first time I've heard this!!!! LOVE IT ❤️
@charliethomas4261
2:37 always puts a smile on my face
@RealKevM
I know right!
@SiggySon91
what an awesome song! this band will never be over played!
@kayleighf4813
My brother started to dance to these, but he has pick his parts to dance at and he sings them too, teach em young people, he’s only young as well, he’s class my bro
@jakeboromfc4375
@@kayleighf4813 sounds like a legend your brother
@kayleighf4813
Jake Boro MFC aww thanks mate
@sylviahalo
I saw them at the Morrissey concert...they are AMAZING live!!! Wowza....
@nevdoel7008
These lads kick ass live