The Kooks formed at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, where they were all students. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Luke Pritchard, got bassist Max Rafferty involved in a college project, which formed the base of the band. After getting lead guitarist Hugh Harris and drummer Paul Garred involved, they took their name from the song Kooks on the 1971 David Bowie album Hunky Dory. When they tried to trademark the name, they found that in the late/mid 1990s a Swedish band by the same name released an album in Sweden called Too Much is Not Enough.
The Kooks released a debut EP and played gigs around Brighton, where they were based at the time. They were signed to Virgin Records.
2. Swedish indie rock/alternative band - It consisted of members Henrik Berglund, Leo Dahlin, Michael Lohse and Josef Zackrisson, and was active between 1998 and the early 2000's. Micke Lohse and Henrik Berglund are currently members of the band Atomic Swing.
Fa La La La La
The Kooks Lyrics
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I'm alone with this song about being empty
And the fear of missing out
It's hard to be alone,
Now eight miles I've walked up and down the hall
Long hall
Oh god, I miss my girl,
I miss the last time that we had a fight
Isn't it sad?
Won't you say it's bad?
I don't care and if I have to
I'll read yoru books because they'll remind me of you
And I'll learn your notes so that I have a clue
And I'll watch your films, so that I know them through and through
And I'll do the things that remind me of you
And I'll wash my hair in your shampoo
And I'll buy your perfume and spary it 'round my room
And I'll smoke your cigarettes so that I'm dying too
And I call you up
Fa la la la
Fa la la la
Fa la la la
Oh, am I sane?
Am I sane?
Am I sane?
The Kooks’s song “Fa La La La La” is about the struggles and feelings of loneliness after being separated from a loved one. The song presents the contrast between the singer's solitary situation and his/her partner's presumably fun time, as the first verse says: “you’re out there having fun, and I need you, I'm alone with this song about being empty, and the fear of missing out. [...] It’s hard to be alone”. These lyrics convey the theme of separation, where the person who left is enjoying life, while the one left behind is struggling to cope with their absence.
The chorus shows the frustration and longing of the singer for their significant other, which is particularly well-placed with those joyful “Fa la la la”s that close out each line. The lyrics are an expression of the singer’s love that just can't be contained or fulfilled as they miss their partner so much, with the line “I don’t care and if I have to [...] And I call you up” outlining how far one's love can drive them to do things to stay connected to their loved ones.
The song's lyrics present an unhealthy approach to separation, as the singer tries to hold onto their partner's life through objects such as books, films, shampoo, and cigarettes. This "stalking" behaviour indicates the singer is going through an emotional breakdown of sorts, reflected in the line “Am I sane?” repeated several times, perhaps reaching out for help in their time of distress.
Line by Line Meaning
You're out there having fun, and I need you
My partner is out enjoying while I'm feeling lonely and need their presence.
I'm alone with this song about being empty
I feel isolated and empty listening to this song, which relates to my current state of mind.
And the fear of missing out
The fear of missing out is causing me distress, as I'm not part of the fun happening outside.
It's hard to be alone,
Being alone is proving to be a difficult task, leading to negative emotions.
Now eight miles I've walked up and down the hall
I have walked back and forth for miles, but that hasn't helped my loneliness.
Oh god, I miss my girl,
I'm missing my partner terribly and wish they were here with me now.
It's only been a night
Despite it being only a night, I'm feeling their absence like it's been an eternity.
I miss the last time that we had a fight
I miss my partner even in times of conflict, which only reminds me of their absence even more.
Isn't it sad?
It's a melancholic and gloomy feeling, isn't it?
Won't you say it's bad?
Can't you agree that it's not something one should be going through alone, and it's a terrible feeling?
I don't care and if I have to
I'm so desperate to feel my partner's presence that I'm willing to do anything.
I'll read your books because they'll remind me of you
I'll read their favorite books and find comfort in them, as it reminds me of my partner.
And I'll learn your notes so that I have a clue
I'll memorize their writing and notes just so I can feel like I have a part of them with me.
And I'll watch your films, so that I know them through and through
I'll spend hours watching their favorite movies so that my mind is occupied with their memory.
And I'll do the things that remind me of you
I'll do anything that reminds me of my partner, just so that I can pretend they are still here by my side.
And I'll wash my hair in your shampoo
I'll use their shampoo just so I can smell their scent and feel a little less lonely.
And I'll buy your perfume and spray it 'round my room
I'll even buy their perfume and spray it in my room, just so I can feel like they are still close to me.
And I'll smoke your cigarettes so that I'm dying too
I'll even smoke their cigarettes just because it reminds me of them, and even the idea of harming myself becomes an option because of my loneliness.
And I call you up
I try to call my partner, even though I know they're not available and it's no use.
Fa la la la
A nonsensical, repetitive phrase that shows my lack of clarity in this situation.
Am I sane?
I'm plagued by the question of whether I'm still in touch with reality, after my desperate attempts at finding solace in my loneliness.
Am I sane?
The same question repeats, reflecting the gravity of the situation and how it's affecting my mental state.
Am I sane?
The final question emphasizes the unsettled emotions and doubt in one's mind after experiencing the toll of loneliness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LUKE PRITCHARD, HUGH HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind