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
The Opener
The Courteeners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now I'm back I need to know if you're still there
And I need to know if you still care
Of course you do, of course you do
You were made for me, and I was made for you
Some things change, but the majority stands still
And I need to know if you want to
Of course you do, of course you do
But I was made for this place, and I was made for you
I don't know if you would welcome me back with
open arms through the door
I don't expect anything but please know that I love you for sure.
Please be sure
I miss your eyelashes and the streets where I grew tall
I miss getting piss wet through
Getting to yours and getting warm
I miss stopping over and borrowing someone else's clothes
It's so nice to be home, you'd never have known that
I'd even been away
I miss the city I love but I've been having an affair
With L.A and New York, Dundee
And Doncaster if I may dare
Of course I do, of course I do
But I was meant for this place, and I was meant for you
I miss the city I love but I've been having an affair
With L.A and New York, Dundee and Doncaster if you
should care. Of course you do, of course you do
But I was made for this place and I was made for you
My heart is here, here to stay
The Courteeners’ song The Opener speaks to the feeling of homesickness and the longing for connection with those one left behind. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that he has been away working, but now he is back and needs to find out if the person he left behind is still there and still cares for him. Though some things may have changed, the majority remains the same. He believes that they were made for each other and that the person still cares for him.
The singer acknowledges that he does not know if he will be welcomed back with open arms, but he does not expect anything. He just wants the person to know that he loves them for sure. He sings about how much he misses the person’s eyelashes and the streets where he grew tall. He misses getting wet and borrowing clothes. He also admits to having an affair with other cities such as L.A. and New York, but he was always meant to be in this place with the person he left behind.
In summary, The Opener is a ode to the feeling of homesickness and the longing for the person and place one left behind. The singer acknowledges that he had an affair with other cities, but he was always meant to be with the person he left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been away, I've been working
I have been absent from this place due to my work commitments
But now I'm back I need to know if you're still there
I have returned, and I am curious to know if you are still present here
And I need to know if you still care
I want to know if you still have feelings for me
Of course you do, of course you do
I am certain that you still have feelings for me
You were made for me, and I was made for you
We were meant to be together
Some things change, but the majority stands still
While some changes may have occurred, most things remain the same
And I need to know if you want to
I am interested in learning if you desire my return
And I need to know if you will
I want to know if you are willing to accept me back
But I was made for this place, and I was made for you
This is my home, and you are my soulmate
I don't know if you would welcome me back with open arms through the door
I am unsure if you would greet me with a warm embrace when I return
I don't expect anything but please know that I love you for sure.
I don't have any specific expectations, but I want you to know that I love you
Please be sure
I want you to be certain of my feelings
I miss your eyelashes and the streets where I grew tall
I long for the familiarity of places and people associated with my upbringing
I miss getting piss wet through
I miss the feeling of getting soaked in the rain
Getting to yours and getting warm
I miss coming to your place and feeling comforted by your presence
I miss stopping over and borrowing someone else's clothes
I miss the casual nature of our relationship, where borrowing clothes is a common occurrence
It's so nice to be home, you'd never have known that I'd even been away
Being back here feels so natural that it is as if I never left
I miss the city I love but I've been having an affair
With L.A and New York, Dundee
And Doncaster if I may dare
While I have missed this city, I have recently explored and enjoyed other places
Of course I do, of course I do
But ultimately, this place and you remain my true love
My heart is here, here to stay
This place and you hold my love forever
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LIAM JAMES FRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind