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."
Uptight
The Cribs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I'd made it up but then
We got nine hours or more
It makes no difference
'Cause that thought drifts right in
On a foehn wind
And tries to take me back
So I might have to go
No-one has to tell me
I know I have to let it go
But it's so nice
Being uptight
So sorry that I never will be
The kind of guy you'd like
But it's so nice
Being uptight
Been treated like a sister
But here's something she don't know
In her basement hangs a picture
That fucked my heart up
A memory takes my hand
A real gentleman
In every way but one
That I don't wanna know
Oh no
No-one has to tell me
I know I have to let it go
But it's so nice
Being uptight
So sorry that I never will be
The kind of guy you'd like
But it's all right
Being uptight
Got a name, all that remains
Some day you know this back will break
We're not a million miles away
Some day you know this back will break
In The Cribs' song Uptight, the singer is grappling with his emotions and the memories of a past relationship. He recounts feeling unsure and possibly delusional, but ultimately acknowledging his feelings and the potential longing for his former lover. The lyrics convey the complexity of emotions in the aftermath of a break-up, as the singer struggles to let go while feeling a sense of comfort in his uptightness.
The opening lines establish uncertainty and confusion, with the singer questioning the reality of his thoughts. However, as the song progresses, he acknowledges the strength of his emotions and the possibility of acting on them - "So I might have to go". The singer reflects on the past and the ways it has affected him, such as being treated like a sister and a picture that "fucked [his] heart up". Despite this pain, he holds onto the "nice" feeling of being uptight, conveying the paradoxical nature of coping with heartbreak.
Throughout the song, there is an undercurrent of self-awareness and self-deprecation. The singer recognizes that he is not the "kind of guy you'd like", but still finds value in his uptightness. The chorus is a repetition of this sentiment, highlighting the struggle between accepting oneself and striving for others' approval.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight it seems unsure
Tonight feels uncertain
If I'd made it up but then
If my thoughts were imaginary, but they're not
We got nine hours or more
We have plenty of time
It makes no difference
It's irrelevant
'Cause that thought drifts right in
Despite everything else, that thought comes back
On a foehn wind
On a warm wind
And tries to take me back
And tries to bring me back to the past
So I might have to go
So I may have to leave
Oh no
In frustration or disappointment
No-one has to tell me
I don't need anyone to point it out
I know I have to let it go
I'm aware that I need to move on
But it's so nice
But the feeling is too good
Being uptight
Being anxious
So sorry that I never will be
I apologize for not being able to change
The kind of guy you'd like
The kind of person you want me to be
But it's so nice
But the feeling is too good
Being uptight
Being anxious
Been treated like a sister
I've been treated platonicly
But here's something she don't know
But there's a secret she doesn't know
In her basement hangs a picture
A picture in her basement reminds me of something painful
That fucked my heart up
That hurt me badly
A memory takes my hand
An emotional memory comes back to me
A real gentleman
A truly good man
In every way but one
In all aspects except for one
That I don't wanna know
An aspect that I don't want to acknowledge
But it's so nice
But the feeling is too good
Being uptight
Being anxious
So sorry that I never will be
I apologize for not being able to change
The kind of guy you'd like
The kind of person you want me to be
But it's all right
But it's fine
Being uptight
Being anxious
Got a name, all that remains
I only have a name left
Some day you know this back will break
One day my strength will give out
We're not a million miles away
We are close in proximity
Some day you know this back will break
One day my strength will give out
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ess89
Thanks for uploading. This song deserves much more appreciation.
John John
My fav song in this album
Simonka xd
why the cribs are so brilliant in this simple songs ?