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.
The Matchbox
The Kooks Lyrics
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Walks alone her lonely beat
She trips, falls into it all
And I wish I bite my lip and
Call her away from you my little one
Oh from you my little one
Don't come too close
Your turn but I'm betrayed
By you my sweetheart
Don't you think that you went too far
Do you want to see my heart bleed?
For you, you and him
Him and you, you know my heart bleeds
All of us, we're going out tonight
We're gonna walk all over your cars
The Kooks are out in the streets
Oh were gonna steal your signs
All of us, we're going out tonight
We're gonna walk all over your cars
The Kooks are out in the streets
Oh we're gonna see your
I'm sorry that I let you go
I let you down, I let you down my dear
I always seem to play these games with you my, dear
I always, I always
All of us, we're going out tonight
We're gonna walk all over your cars
The Kooks are out in the streets
Oh were gonna steal your signs
All of us, we're going out tonight
We're gonna walk all over your cars
The Kooks are out in the streets
Oh we're gonna steal your signs
Oh my Juliet, I'll never betray you my love
Oh my Juliet, I'll never, I'll never betray you
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (All of us, we're going out tonight)
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (We're gonna walk all over your cars)
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (All of us, we're going out tonight)
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (The Kooks are out in the streets oh were gonna steal your signs)
Don't come too close
You don't wanna see my ghost
Your turn but I'm betrayed
By you my sweetheart
The lyrics to The Kooks' song "Matchbox" are a mix of dark and playful themes. The song seems to be about a girl who is in a self-destructive spiral, and the singer wants to save her from a toxic relationship. He mentions how she falls into it all, and he wishes he could call her away from the person who is causing her harm. He warns her not to come too close to him, as he has a "ghost" that she does not want to see. The chorus is about how The Kooks are going out to cause mischief by walking all over cars and stealing signs.
The singer seems to be in love with the girl, referred to as "my little one" and "my sweetheart." He feels betrayed by her and her new relationship, and he questions whether she went too far. He asks if she wants to see his heart bleed for her and the other person. He apologizes for letting her go and letting her down, but mentions that they always play these games together.
Overall, the song seems to be a mixture of playful rebellion and dark themes of love, betrayal, and self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
Viciously, she sleeps
She sleeps with intensity and energy.
Walks alone her lonely beat
She goes about her life with a sense of loneliness.
She trips, falls into it all
She stumbles and falls into situations uncontrollably.
And I wish I bite my lip and
I want to hold back and control myself.
Call her away from you my little one
I want to protect her and keep her away from you.
Oh from you my little one
From you, who I see as a threat to her.
Don't come too close
Stay away from me.
You don't wanna see my ghost
You don't want to see the dark and troubled parts of me.
Your turn but I'm betrayed
Although it is now your turn, I feel like I have been betrayed by you.
By you my sweetheart
By someone I loved and trusted deeply.
Don't you think that you went too far
Do you realize how much you hurt me and that you have crossed a line?
Do you want to see my heart bleed?
Are you trying to hurt me further and make me suffer emotionally?
For you, you and him
For the sake of you and him, I am in pain.
Him and you, you know my heart bleeds
You both know that my heart is hurting because of what has happened between us.
All of us, we're going out tonight
We, as a group, are going out tonight.
We're gonna walk all over your cars
We will disrespect you and your belongings.
The Kooks are out in the streets
The Kooks are causing trouble in the streets.
Oh were gonna steal your signs
We plan to commit a crime by stealing your belongings.
I'm sorry that I let you go
I regret that I let you leave.
I let you down, I let you down my dear
I disappointed you, my love.
I always seem to play these games with you my, dear
I have a habit of playing games and manipulating you.
All of us, we're going out tonight
We are going out together tonight.
We're gonna walk all over your cars
We will show a lack of respect for your property.
The Kooks are out in the streets
The Kooks are causing trouble and being disruptive.
Oh we're gonna steal your signs
We plan to commit theft by stealing your possessions.
Oh my Juliet, I'll never betray you my love
I will never betray you, my love, my Juliet.
Oh my Juliet, I'll never, I'll never betray you
I will always remain loyal and faithful to you.
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (All of us, we're going out tonight)
Making a vocalization expressing excitement about going out together.
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (We're gonna walk all over your cars)
Vocally expressing an intention to vandalize property.
Woah woaaaaaooooooaoaooo (The Kooks are out in the streets oh were gonna steal your signs)
Vocal excitement and anticipation about committing theft.
Don't come too close
Keep your distance.
You don't wanna see my ghost
You don't want to face the dark, shadowy sides of me.
Your turn but I'm betrayed
It is now your turn, but I feel I have been betrayed by you already.
By you my sweetheart
By someone I once loved deeply.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MAX RAFFERTY, LUKE PRITCHARD, PAUL GARRED, HUGH HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind