The band's following grew fairly rapidly, with many fans sporting the "glamorous punk" image popularised by frontwoman Kate Jackson. Kate was featured in The Guardian's style section and the NME Cool Lists 2005 and 2006. When questioned about her place in the first list by The Guardian, Jackson remarked: "Probably because they didn't have enough girls. It was so overrun with boring boys, they needed someone to bring a touch of glamour."
The band originally formed through a series of chance encounters: when Kate, guitarist and songwriter Dorian, bassist Reenie, drummer Screech and guitarist / keyboardist Emma bumped into each other at public library counters, charity shop sale rails and the dancefloors of DIY club nights. The following quote appeared on their website and for many served as an introduction to the Long Blondes; "Our shared influences include the Mael Brothers, the Marx Brothers and the Bewlay Brothers. We do not listen to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors or Bob Dylan. We chose an instrument each and learnt to play it. Approximately three months after we formed, we played a victorious 25 minute set at Leeds Hi-Fi club. A success! We inherit the aesthetics of early Roxy Music. We have a lot of influences, sometimes we sound a bit like them, sometimes we sound a lot like them. Sometimes we sound nothing like them at all."
Their second album "Couples" (the quotations are apart of the title, an allusion to the David Bowie album "Heroes") was released in April 2008 featuring the singles "Century" and "Guilt". An album of early "Singles" was rush-released by former label Angular Record Corporation.
Giddy Stratospheres
The Long Blondes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're pretty, oh so pretty
Why waste your time just sitting
Here listening to that dead-eye bitch?
Do nothing, eat your chocolate
Drink your wine, she won't let you
Make your way across her empire line!
(Bridge)
What's eating you is a mystery
But go home with her one more time
And you know you'll be history
(Verse Two)
Watch movies with the lights on
Sit still, keep her tights on
Did you see this one the same time week?
Go on, say something clever
Just act so she will never
Take you higher than her attic room
(Bridge)
What's eating you is a mystery
But go home with her one more time
And you know you'll be history
(Chorus)
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
(Is she a femme fatale?)
That's what she wants you to think
(She'll never lead him astray)
But it's the best she can do
(But is she going away?)
No, she'll always be here,
Waiting for you
Back here on earth
(Verse Two)
Your mother, call your mother
Even she's surprised that this is
How you want to spend your nights indoors
You never call too often
What's up? Have you forgotten
What it's like to have her on all fours?
(Bridge)
What's eating you is a mystery
But go home with her one more time
And you know you'll be history
(Chorus)
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
(Is she a femme fatale?)
That's what she wants you to think
(She'll never lead him astray)
But it's the best she can do
(But is she going away?)
No, she'll always be here,
Waiting for you
Back here on earth
(Middle-Eight)
There's a train at
The station
It's leaving
This morning
It'll take you
Away from
This girl that's
So boring
Don't turn around, just walk away
Don't turn around, just walk away
Don't turn around, JUST WALK AWAY
(Chorus)
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
I'll comfort your fears
(Is she a femme fatale?)
That's what she wants you to think
(She'll never lead him astray)
But it's the best she can do
(But is she going away?)
No, she'll always be here,
Waiting for you
Back here on earth
The Long Blondes' song "Giddy Stratospheres" depicts a woman who is a typical femme fatale, charming and alluring to men, but ultimately disappointing them. In the first verse, the singer addresses a man and encourages him to move on from a woman who is toxic and stagnant. She advises him to indulge in simple pleasures like chocolate and wine, rather than wasting his time with the unfulfilling woman for whom he harbours unrequited emotions.
The second verse references the mother of the man in question. The singer suggests that his mother would be shocked to learn that he was spending his nights unproductively indoors with a woman who would never truly satisfy him or take him to the heights of joy, love and passion he longs for. The chorus reiterates the singer's promise to comfort the man's fears and disappointment and to be the refuge he needs from the unfulfilling femme fatale.
The middle-eight introduces the theme of leaving or taking a train, with lyrics such as "there's a train at the station, it's leaving this morning, it'll take you away from this girl that's so boring". The repetition of "don't turn around, just walk away" signifies the singer's urgency in wanting the man to leave the femme fatale behind and move on to someone who appreciates him.
Line by Line Meaning
You're pretty, oh so pretty
You are attractive and alluring
Why waste your time just sitting
Don't waste your time doing nothing
Here listening to that dead-eye bitch?
Why listen to someone who is uninteresting and dull?
Do nothing, eat your chocolate
Just consume your chocolate and do nothing else
Drink your wine, she won't let you
Indulge in wine, but the other person won't allow you to do more
Make your way across her empire line!
Cross over the line and take control
What's eating you is a mystery
Your problem is unclear
But go home with her one more time
Give her another chance
And you know you'll be history
You will soon be forgotten
Watch movies with the lights on
Watch films with the lights still on
Sit still, keep her tights on
Stay in one place and keep her clothing on
Did you see this one the same time week?
Did you watch this film last week at the same time?
Go on, say something clever
Try to be witty or smart
Just act so she will never
Behave in a way that she won't be able to control you
Take you higher than her attic room
Don't let her hold you back
Your mother, call your mother
Contact your mother
Even she's surprised that this is
Even your mother is shocked about your behavior
How you want to spend your nights indoors
How you choose to spend your evenings inside
You never call too often
You don't call too frequently
What's up? Have you forgotten
What's wrong? Have you forgotten something?
What it's like to have her on all fours?
What it feels like to be in control of her?
There's a train at
There is a train waiting at the station
The station
The train station
It's leaving
It's about to depart
This morning
Early in the day
It'll take you
You can take it
Away from
Away from the current situation
This girl that's
The boring girl you're with now
So boring
Extremely tedious and uninteresting
Don't turn around, just walk away
Don't look back, just leave
She'll never take you to giddy stratospheres
She won't take you to new heights
I'll comfort your fears
I'll soothe your worries
Is she a femme fatale?
Is she a seductive and dangerous woman?
That's what she wants you to think
That's how she wants to appear
She'll never lead him astray
She won't misguide you
But it's the best she can do
But that's all she can offer
No, she'll always be here,
No, she'll never go away
Waiting for you
Waiting for you to come back
Back here on earth
Back in the mundane world
Contributed by Micah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alejandro Gonzalez
you're pretty, oh so pretty
why waste your time just sitting
here a-listening to this dead-eye bitch?
do nothing, eat your chocolate,
drink your wine, she won't let you
make your way across her empire line!
what's eating you is a mystery
but go home with her one more time
and you know you'll be history
watch movies with the lights on
sit still; keep her tights on
do you see this once and timeless week?
go on, say something clever
just act(s) it, she will never
take you higher than her attic room
what's eating you is a mystery
but go home with her one more time
and you know you'll be history
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
is she a femme fatale?
that's what she wants you to think
she'll never lead him astray
but it's the best she can do
but is she going away?
no, she'll always be here,
waiting for you
back here on earth
your mother call your mother
even she's surprised that this is how you want to spend your nights indoors
you never call too often. what's up?
have forgotten what it's like to have her on all fours?
what's eating you is a mystery,
but go home with her one more time
and you know you'll be history..
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
is she a femme fatale?
that's what she wants you to think
she'll never lead him astray!
but it's the best she can do
but is she going away?
no, she'll always be here,
waiting for you
back here on earth
there's a train at
the station
it's leaving
this morning
it'll take you
away from
this girl that's
so boring
don't turn around just walk away
don't turn around just walk away
don't turn around JUST WALK AWAY
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
she'll never take you to giddy stratospheres that come from your fears!
is she a femme fatale?
that's what she wants you to think
she'll never lead him astray!
but it's the best she can do
but is she going away?
no, she'll always be here,
waiting for you
back here on earth
Sam Green
I haven't thought about this song in nearly 15 years, wow time capsule moment. I can remember my emotional state when I was listening to this at the time. Still holds up
Lewsir51
This is a really, really good song. Thank you Long Blondes.
ILoveMyTeddyBear Abel
Wow, it's been more than a decade since I was listening to this all day.
Ronald Garrison
I really like the way the song ends. There's a right way to end any song, and what they did here works great.
Danny Zelck
Seen them live. Was pretty impressive. Kinda blew me away
ffbranquinho
Sonzera!!Uma pena que o áudio está péssimo...
jr002q2044
Needs to be said the main singer is stunning!
Shaun Atts
I’ve been looking for this song for over 10 years!!!!!!
Pietro Pes
Me too - been searching and searching - finally found it by looking up the indie charts from 2007 and going through each one.
Alex Voorhees
sounds like Siouxsie and the Banshees... very nice :)