They are signed to the Wichita Recordings label, and have currently released 5 albums through this imprint - 'The Cribs' (2004), 'The New Fellas' (2005), 'Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever' (2007), 'Ignore The Ignorant' (2009), and 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull' (2012).
Despite starting off as an underground band, The Cribs have experienced commercial success with 'Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever' charting at #13 in the UK album charts, and 'Ignore The Ignorant' achieving the band their first Top Ten album, charting at #8. They also have 7 top 40 hit singles to their name, the most successful of which being 'Men's Needs' (#17). In 2008, Q magazine described The Cribs as "The biggest cult band in the UK".
The Chi-Town Songfacts says that The Cribs' fifth studio album, In the Belly of the Brazen Bull, was recorded at London's Abbey Road and Chicago's EAR studio with famed lo-fi rock engineer Steve Albini and Tarbox Road studio in New York with David Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips).
After some hard times during which they were (according to an interview in DIY Magazine) "nearly losing the rights to their entire back catalogue, and coming close to calling time on the group entirely," in 2020 they released the album "Night Network."
Shoot the Poets
The Cribs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breathing holes that will never end and
Speak all you want or just pretend
'Cos you think she is a different class
So, she sits all day by the looking glass, oh
It doesn't talk, it doesn't last
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby, don't feel down
I left my heart in a provincial town, yeah
You sold your souls for magic beans
Don't believe all you read on computer screens and
These things they mean nothing to me
Ripton stain came off the track
You go there once and you don't come back, oh
Good, that's what I say
But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
To find yourself in a provincial town, now
But it's not what I've heard you know
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby, don't feel down
I left my heart in the privacy of town, yeah
But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
Oh, to find yourself in a provincial town, yeah
The Cribs's song Shoot the Poets is often interpreted as a critique towards the music industry, and the pressures that come with being in the limelight. The opening line, "cut off your nose to spite your friends," can be interpreted as the idea of sacrificing oneself, or altering oneself, to fit into a certain image or to please others. This is followed by the line "breathing holes that will never end," which can be seen as the constant need to conform and breathe life into this image. The following line "speak all you want or just pretend" also reinforces the idea of fakeness and superficiality that comes with fame.
The lyrics then shift to focus on someone who the singer admires, believing that they are in a different class. However, the image of someone sitting by the looking glass all day, not talking and not lasting, appears to be a critique of the idea of image over substance. The line "But it's not what I've heard you know" suggests that there is more to this person than meets the eye, and that behind their carefully crafted image lies a truth that is not visible.
The song then goes on to address the idea of selling out, with the lyric "you sold your souls for magic beans." The song suggests that there is a lack of substance in the music industry, with "computer screens" being an image of the digital age of music and the ease of manipulation that comes with it. Despite this, the song maintains a sense of irony, with the line "Good, that's what I say" implying that there is a certain satisfaction in seeing the downfall of those who have sold out.
Overall, Shoot the Poets is a multifaceted commentary on the music industry, fame, and the idea of image over substance. It speaks to the pressure of conforming, the idea of selling out, and the lack of authenticity that can arise from fame.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut off your nose to spite your friends
Sacrificing yourself just to get back at your friends for hurting you
Breathing holes that will never end
Feeling like you will never be able to escape your problems
Speak all you want or just pretend
You can talk about your troubles or you can fake like everything is fine
'Cos you think she is a different class
Thinking someone is above you and unattainable
So, she sits all day by the looking glass, oh
Obsessing over the unattainable person
It doesn't talk, it doesn't last
The obsession won't lead to anything tangible or lasting
But it's not what I've heard you know
Things aren't always what they seem
A picture speaks a thousand words
A visual representation can convey a lot of information and emotion
But baby, don't feel down
Don't let it get you down
I left my heart in a provincial town, yeah
A feeling of nostalgia for a simpler time and place
You sold your souls for magic beans
Trading something valuable for something worthless
Don't believe all you read on computer screens and
Don't trust everything you see on the internet
These things they mean nothing to me
Material possessions and superficial things are not important
Ripton stain came off the track
Something has gone off the rails
You go there once and you don't come back, oh
Once you get caught up in something, it's hard to escape
Good, that's what I say
Being content with things falling apart
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
Give up on your dreams and aspirations
And one day you'll come down
Someday reality will catch up to you
To find yourself in a provincial town, yeah
Feeling trapped in a small town with limited opportunities
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GARY JOHN JARMAN, ROSS ANTHONY JARMAN, RYAN JAMES JARMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
steroalt
Cut off your nose to spite your friends
Breathing holes that will never end and
Speak all you want or just pretend
Because she think she is a different class
So she sits all day by the looking glass
It doesn't talk, it doesn't last
But it's not what I've heard you know
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby don't feel down
I left my heart in a provincial town
You sold your souls for magic beans
Don't believe all you read on computer screens
These things they mean nothing to me
Ripped and stained, came off the track
You go there once and you don't come back
"Good, that's what I say..."
But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
To find yourself in a provincial town
steroalt
Cut off your nose to spite your friends
Breathing holes that will never end and
Speak all you want or just pretend
Because she think she is a different class
So she sits all day by the looking glass
It doesn't talk, it doesn't last
But it's not what I've heard you know
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby don't feel down
I left my heart in a provincial town
You sold your souls for magic beans
Don't believe all you read on computer screens
These things they mean nothing to me
Ripped and stained, came off the track
You go there once and you don't come back
"Good, that's what I say..."
But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
To find yourself in a provincial town
Mark
love this x
Space Cowgirl
<3 i stiil listening
Gary G
Good, that's what I say
G LO
❤️❤️
bhagyajit das
Am I the only one listening this in 2018???
Jonathan Davis
2021 anyone? 😎
JiHyeon Yang
bhagyajit das still listening to this one in 2020
Em An
2019. :)
Macie Hewson
@bhagyajit das I like shoot the poets my life flashed before my eyes and be safe. Also I once went to see them live they were incredible!