Championed by NME, the band's first single What a Waster charted at number 37, despite being banned from Radio 1 and commercial radio due to an overabundance of foul language; this set the trend for steadily increasing returns, culminating in a #2 single and #1 album in the UK Charts. However, the band's music was often eclipsed by its internal conflicts, many of which stemmed from Doherty's considerable drug use, and it was mostly because of this that after a final show in Paris (without Pete) that the band was disbanded at the end of 2004.
The former members of The Libertines have gone on to form three splinter bands, with varying degrees of commercial and critical success. These bands include Peter Doherty in Babyshambles, Carl Barât and Gary Powell in Dirty Pretty Things and John Hassall in Yeti.
Pete and Carl recently came back to work on Babyshambles' charity cover of The Clash's 'Janie Jones' for Strummerville. Carl and Pete also performed 13 songs together in April 2007 as Carl appeared on stage at one of Pete's shows. On the 29th of March 2010 the Libertines announced they had reunited to play the Leeds and Reading festivals in August.
On 20 April 2014 an image of London's Hyde Park was released to the band's Facebook page. Around this time both Carl Barat and Peter Doherty indicated in interviews that they had accepted an offer to play the venue on July 5, 2014. On 25 April, it was confirmed that The Libertines will play on Saturday 5 July in London's Hyde Park, headlining the day, as part of the Barclaycard British Summer Time series of concerts. Support for the concert will be provided by a number of bands and artists, most notably The Pogues, Spiritualized, Maxïmo Park, Raglans and The Enemy
On 20 May, it was confirmed that The Libertines will play on Saturday 19 July in Benicassim FIB, Spain, as headliners.
They have also announced a European tour, their first tour in 10 years, consisting of 9 dates prior to the release of a new album in 2015, 11 years after their previous studio release.
The band's reunion album was followed by a series of festival appearances, including a surprise gig during the 2015 Glastonbury Festival, as they were secretly called to replace Florence + the Machine (who were earlier announced as unscheduled headliners after Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl's injury prevented the latters from headlining the day). The Libertines were filmed as they landed down off an helicopter outside the festival site, and stated their show with a hit from their 2nd album, Can't Stand Me Now.
On the 13th of October 2023 the band released their first single in eight years, as well as announcing that their new album All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade will be arriving on March 8, 2024.[40] To celebrate the announcement of the new album the band announced "The Albionay Tour". An intimate club tour that sold out in seconds. [41]
Shiver
The Libertines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I′ve seen you there
Flowers in your hair
The last dream of every dying lover
I've seen you there
With the flowers in your hair
It′s all too much today
Well, the giant courtesan
With the tiny hands
Her love makes
Me shiver
Shiver for the Albionay
Shiver
Shiver for the Albionay
The last dream of every dying soldier
I've seen you there
Flowers in your hair
The last king of every dying empire
Just let it die
Sit back, enjoy the ride
They all queued up to see
The old girl's gone away
As the tattered standard hits the ground
Another coronation day
(I shiver)
Shiver for the Albionay
I shiver
Shiver for the Albionay
There we were
Top and tail Arcadia
Reasons to stay alive
Not to die at 25
Shiver
(I shiver)
Shiver on the Esplanade
I shiver
Oh man, I shiver for the Albionay
I shiver
I shiver for the Albionay
(I shiver)
On the Esplanade, I shiver for the Albionay
(I shiver)
In the first two verses, the songwriter reflects on the idea that in their final moments, both soldiers and lovers have the same dream, where they see someone with flowers in their hair. This image represents a sense of beauty, purity, and hope amidst the chaos and desperation. It could also symbolize a longing for peace and love, even in the face of death.
The chorus expresses a feeling of overwhelming emotion and vulnerability. The singer mentions Liz, who has gone away, implying a sense of loss or abandonment. The mention of a "giant courtesan with tiny hands" could be a metaphor for someone who appears powerful and influential, but in reality, lacks the ability to offer true love or comfort. Despite this, their love has the power to evoke a shiver in the singer, suggesting a mixture of fear, excitement, and intensity.
Continuing in the same vein, the next verse refers to the last dream of a dying soldier and a dying empire. The soldier sees the same figure with flowers in their hair, while the dying empire reaches its final moments. The overall sentiment seems to be an acceptance of the inevitable and a suggestion to let go instead of clinging to fading glory. The mention of the "tattered standard hitting the ground" and "coronation day" further reinforces the idea of decline and the end of an era.
The final verse brings the focus back to the present moment. The mention of "Arcadia" suggests a paradise or idealized state, while the phrase "Reasons to stay alive, not to die at 25" highlights the struggles and temptations that can lead some to despair or self-destruction. Despite this, the singer continues to shiver, possibly symbolizing a mix of anxiety, anticipation, and a longing for a better future. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the emotional intensity and the singer's connection to a sense of national identity represented by "Albionay" (a play on "Albion," a poetic name for Britain) and the longing for something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
The last dream of every dying soldier
The final vision that every dying soldier experiences
I′ve seen you there
I have witnessed you in that dream
Flowers in your hair
You have adorned your hair with flowers
The last dream of every dying lover
The ultimate dream that every dying lover has
I've seen you there
I have observed you in that dream
With the flowers in your hair
With floral embellishments in your hair
It's all too much today
The current situation feels overwhelming
Liz has gone away
Liz has departed or left
Well, the giant courtesan
A metaphorical representation of a significant figure
With the tiny hands
Despite their significant stature, possessing small hands
Her love makes
Her affection induces
Me shiver
Causes me to tremble
Shiver for the Albionay
Shivering in reverence or anticipation for Albionay
Shiver
Experiencing intense shivering
Shiver for the Albionay
Trembling in respect or excitement for Albionay
The last king of every dying empire
The final ruler of each collapsing empire
Just let it die
Allow it to fade away or come to an end
Sit back, enjoy the ride
Relax and take pleasure in the journey
They all queued up to see
Everyone lined up to witness
The old girl's gone away
The elderly woman has departed or vanished
As the tattered standard hits the ground
When the worn-out symbol touches the earth
Another coronation day
Another day dedicated to crowning a new ruler
(I shiver)
(I experience tremors)
Shiver for the Albionay
Shivering in reverence or anticipation for Albionay
I shiver
I tremble
Shiver for the Albionay
Shivering in respect or excitement for Albionay
There we were
In that moment, we were
Top and tail Arcadia
Fully experiencing Arcadia from beginning to end
Reasons to stay alive
Motivations to continue living
Not to die at 25
Choosing not to perish at the age of 25
Shiver
Experiencing intense shivering
(I shiver)
(I experience tremors)
Shiver on the Esplanade
Trembling on the Esplanade
I shiver
I tremble
Oh man, I shiver for the Albionay
Oh man, I tremble in anticipation for Albionay
I shiver
I tremble
I shiver for the Albionay
I tremble in reverence or excitement for Albionay
(I shiver)
(I experience tremors)
On the Esplanade, I shiver for the Albionay
On the Esplanade, I tremble in respect or excitement for Albionay
(I shiver)
(I experience tremors)
Writer(s): Non Applicable
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rizzledizzle9801
Pete doherty isnt fat, hes just full of lyrics and riffs
@samanthavipond6284
Brilliant 😂
@NS-kk5gr
I went from worry to anticipation in a second 😁
@shaunscullion98
He’s not been the same since he smashed that breakfast the legend aha
@KeevYuilll13
N Normandy butter n cheese 🧀 on toast ,says best he's ever tasted
@danmanson3
LIBERTINES FOREVER! ❤️
@kind1989
I'm loving that there's a continuous story going on through the songs and videos.
@tmwtheo
Good spot tbf
@dontudare
I love how this new stuff is like an evolution of their sound. Still sounds like them, but with age and experience.
@aidanlyons5708
Love from Ireland 🇮🇪 The Albion is still a sailing 💚