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]
Tomblands
The Libertines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the land of the gauching skiving sun
Their bodies are in the room, lad
Never an honest day's work is done
They call it the Tomblands
They got to me
Never gonna get me no
Never gonna get me no
Fifteen holes in the dealer's chest
Yo ho ho he was a mini martial man
Serve the girls and shovel up the rest
Pieces of eight in the jukebox
Oh you know
Didn't want to be the one to tell you
She was only fourteen
Sussed out your dirty sordid little scene
No, never gonna get me no
Never gonna get me no
Never gonna get me no
Yeah, they're never gonna get me, no
The lyrics to The Libertines's song "Tomblands" describe the gritty reality of a seedy underworld known as the Tomblands. It's a place where the sun is always shining, but no real work is getting done. The gauching skiving sun is a sly reference to the people who are lazing around in the street. The Tomblands is a dangerous place, a place where fifteen holes can end up in someone's chest. Despite the danger, the singer refuses to be caught or influenced by the Tomblands. Even as he sees the sordid scene of people selling girls and collecting pieces of silver from the jukebox, he refuses to be a part of it. It's a tough world, but the singer is too strong to succumb to it.
Line by Line Meaning
High register operational
This line does not have a coherent meaning, but it is likely an introduction to the song that sets the mood for what is to come.
In the land of the gauching skiving sun
This line describes a place where people are lazy and unproductive, often soaking up the sun instead of doing their work.
Their bodies are in the room, lad
The people in the Tomblands are often dead or dying, and their remains are left to rot in rooms.
Never an honest day's work is done
The people in the Tomblands are known for being lazy and dishonest, avoiding real work and often resorting to criminal activity.
They call it the Tomblands
The area being described is known as the Tomblands, possibly due to the high mortality rate and decay that occurs there.
They got to me
The singer has been affected by the darkness and despair that surrounds the Tomblands and its inhabitants.
No, they're never gonna get me no
The singer is determined to avoid becoming like the people in the Tomblands and succumbing to their fate.
Fifteen holes in the dealer's chest
Someone has shot the dealer, leaving fifteen bullet holes in his chest.
Yo ho ho he was a mini martial man
This line acknowledges the dealer's toughness and bravery, even if he ultimately met a violent end.
Serve the girls and shovel up the rest
The dealer may have been involved in prostitution or other unsavory activities, and those responsible for his death are simply cleaning up the mess he left behind.
Pieces of eight in the jukebox
This may be a reference to the pirates of years past, who would use pieces of eight as currency. The jukebox in the Tomblands may be filled with music that glorifies this type of lifestyle.
Oh you know
The artist is addressing someone else, perhaps a friend or someone who is familiar with the Tomblands.
Didn't want to be the one to tell you
The singer has information that they are hesitant to share with the other person, possibly because it is unpleasant or potentially dangerous.
She was only fourteen
This line reveals that someone in the Tomblands was involved in sexual relations with someone who is underage and therefore cannot legally give consent.
Sussed out your dirty sordid little scene
The singer has discovered something unsavory or unpleasant about the other person, possibly involving their involvement in criminal activity or morally questionable behavior.
Yeah, they're never gonna get me, no
The artist reiterates their determination to not become like the people in the Tomblands and to avoid being sucked into the dark, depressing world that surrounds them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL BARAT, PETER DOHERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind