As with many other tracks on the album, string arrangements were made by Owen Pallett, and the track followed up with the album’s theme of a young romance wrecking havoc upon both of their lives'.
Calm Like You
The Last Shadow Puppets Lyrics
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When your city smelt exciting
I still get a whiff
Of that aroma now and then
Burglary and fireworks
The skies they were alighting
Accidents and toffee drops
And thinking on the train
Oh, he was young, in the frost
No regard for the cost
Of saying his feelings
In the moment they were felt
And if he was calm like you
Locked up inside of your loops
Then he'd know for well
That all he had to say was
All he had to say was goodbye
Summertime made promises
It knew it couldn't keep
The fairytale was climbing up
A mountain far too steep
Coloring the pictures
With your royal hand
Now I am craving heartbreak
While you're making your demands
Oh, he was young, in the frost
No regard for the cost
Of saying his feelings
In the moment they were felt
And if he was calm like you
Locked up inside of your loops
Then he'd know for well
That all he had to say was
All he had to say was goodbye
If he was calm like you
Locked up inside of your loops
Then he'd know for well
That all he had to say was
All he had to say was goodbye
The song "Calm Like You" by The Last Shadow Puppets opens with an intriguing memory. The singer reminisces about a time when the city smelled exciting, and he can still catch a whiff of that aroma now and then. The lyrics describe some of the elements that made the city thrilling, such as burglary, fireworks, accidents, and toffee drops. The scene is set, and the song becomes more poignant as the singer admits that he wishes he could go back to that time. He then turns his attention to his own feelings and compares them to someone else's. He sings about a young man who had no regard for the cost of saying his emotions. The singer suggests that this person might have been better off hindering his feelings like the singer does.
The second verse begins with further use of metaphor and romanticizing. Summertime is portrayed as a liar that makes promises that it cannot keep. The rest of the verse again turns to the singer's feelings and mood. The singer admits that he's craving heartbreak while his partner is making demands. The repetition of the chorus seems almost like a mantra, reminding listeners of the singer's desire to be like someone else. The final phrase of the repeating chorus, "all he had to say was goodbye," is a sad note that reinforces the theme of the song, that sometimes letting go is the hardest thing to do.
Line by Line Meaning
I can still remember
The singer recalls a time when the city was exciting
When your city smelt exciting
The city had an alluring fragrance
I still get a whiff
The smell periodically returns to him
Of that aroma now and then
The fragrance is only fleeting
Burglary and fireworks
Memories of illegal activity and vibrant displays
The skies they were alighting
The skies were beautifully illuminated
Accidents and toffee drops
Recollections of mishaps and sweet treats
And thinking on the train
The singer reflects on these memories while on a train
Oh, he was young, in the frost
The singer describes a youthful person in a cold setting
No regard for the cost
The person didn't care about what they might lose
Of saying his feelings
They were honest and open about their emotions
In the moment they were felt
They expressed themselves in the heat of the moment
And if he was calm like you
If he had your composure
Locked up inside of your loops
Trapped in your cyclic thought patterns
Then he'd know for well
He would understand fully
That all he had to say was
He could've just said
All he had to say was goodbye
A simple farewell would have sufficed
Summertime made promises
The season raised hopes
It knew it couldn't keep
But ultimately failed to deliver
The fairytale was climbing up
The romantic fantasy was ascending
A mountain far too steep
But it proved too difficult to maintain
Coloring the pictures
Adding a rosy tint to reality
With your royal hand
With the touch of elegance and superiority
Now I am craving heartbreak
The singer desires the emotional intensity of heartbreak
While you're making your demands
While you're expecting your fairytale to come true
If he was calm like you
If he had your composure
Then he'd know for well
He would understand fully
That all he had to say was
He could've just said
All he had to say was goodbye
A simple farewell would have sufficed
If he was calm like you
If he had your composure
Locked up inside of your loops
Trapped in your cyclic thought patterns
Then he'd know for well
He would understand fully
That all he had to say was
He could've just said
All he had to say was goodbye
A simple farewell would have sufficed
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX TURNER, MILES KANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind