The Cribs are an English 3-piece indie band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire,… Read Full Bio ↴The Cribs are an English 3-piece indie band from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England which formed in 2001 and consists of twins Gary and Ryan Jarman and their younger brother Ross. In August 2008 Johnny Marr, former guitarist for The Smiths and Modest Mouse, became the official fourth member of the band. On April 11th 2011, Marr's departure from the group was announced on their website, and The Cribs now continue as a 3-piece again.

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."

Women
The Cribs Lyrics

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In the radius of a thousand miles
I find it strange no one makes me smile
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

You should understand
You still have to try
When we're all the same
I was almost right

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

And evening comes and I feel no different
Sorry, my friend I just can't do nothing
Evening comes and I feel no different
Sorry, my friend I just can't do nothing

In the radius of a thousand miles
You find it strange no one makes me smile
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

You should understand
You still have to try
We're not all the same
I was almost right
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

And see those guys
I guess they're quite clever
Get you on side
Women's needs, whatever

See those guys
They think they're so clever
Spot them on site
Women's needs, whatever

And evening comes
And I feel no better
It's closing time
Women's needs, whatever

Evening comes
And I feel no better
It's closing time
Women's needs, whatever

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

The Cribs's song Women's Needs is a track that touches on themes of loneliness, miscommunication, and the search for genuine human connections. The opening lines "In the radius of a thousand miles, I find it strange no one makes me smile" sets the melancholy tone of the song where the singer expresses their dissatisfaction with their current situation. The chorus "You should understand, you still have to try, when we're all the same, I was almost right" seems to suggest a feeling of discontentment with the idea that everyone is the same, and that life is predictable and mundane.

The song also includes a repetition of the phrase "Women's needs, whatever", which contrasts with the feelings of disconnectedness and loneliness described earlier in the track. The lines "See those guys, they think they're so clever, spot them on site, Women's needs, whatever" seems to touch on societal gender norms and the idea that women's needs are often trivialized or dismissed. The repetition of this phrase underscores the importance of listening to, and understanding, the needs and wants of others.

In conclusion, Women's Needs is a multi-dimensional song that touches on themes of loneliness, miscommunication, and the importance of human connections. The repetition of the phrase "Women's needs, whatever" serves as a call to action to recognize and take seriously the needs of others, particularly those who may be marginalized or overlooked.

Line by Line Meaning

In the radius of a thousand miles
Despite travelling far and wide, nobody brings happiness

I find it strange no one makes me smile
It's concerning that nothing brings joy

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
An expression of frustration and dissatisfaction

You should understand
There's an expectation you know what's happening

You still have to try
Don't give up yet

When we're all the same
We're similar to one another

I was almost right
My assumptions were almost correct

And evening comes and I feel no different
As time passes, there's no improvement

Sorry, my friend I just can't do nothing
I wish I could help, but I'm helpless

And see those guys
Take a look at those men

I guess they're quite clever
They seem to be intelligent