The Qemists were originally the drummer, bassist and guitarist in a rock band where they spent a lot of time touring UK and Europe as well as spending a lot of time in the studio. During this time in the rock band in the late 1990s, they acquired an interest in drum and bass and some of the group's early efforts started to get airplay. For many years they were performing in the rock band as their day job whilst producing and DJing drum and bass at night, and this conflict of interests lead to the fusion of the two styles to form The Qemists sound that is known today. They had previously worked as live sound engineers for Basement Jaxx, Kano and Lady Sovereign.
Their debut release on Ninja Tune was a remix of Coldcut's "Everything Is Under Control" which was supported by Zane Lowe, Coldcut and Pendulum.
Their first single "Stompbox" appeared on the movie soundtrack, and in the movie "Jumper". Some singles of the band appeared in many video games. Stompbox appeared in MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Need for Speed: Undercover and Midnight Club: Los Angeles. Lost Weekend appeared in Colin McRae: Dirt 2, Forza Motorsport 3, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge and Need for Speed: Shift. The year 2009 also saw the release of their debut album "Join The Q" on the Ninja Tune label.
In 2009, they supported Enter Shikari on their World Tour, and underwent their own headlining UK Tour.
With the bands origins in heavy rock music and their fusion of rock and drum and bass they are often compared to mainstream drum and bass act Pendulum, with both artists having similar musical history and styles.
Lost Weekend
The Qemists Lyrics
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The stars are out and i'm at home,
Feel like i'm coming alive,
See the knuckles turning white.
It's Friday night and no-ones home,
I'm in this city all alone,
Feel like a carnival tonight,
Strap it up and take a ride, ride, woohoo
And round and round she goes,
And where she stops no-one knows x 2
Feel it coming on, feel it coming on now.
I got your money
Woohoo I got your money
Woohoo I'll treat you honey
Woohoo I'll keep you up for days
I got your sugar,
I'll be your hooker
I'll keep you up for days.
Saturday night i'm fucking stoned, stoned
While all the suckers got the jones, jones
I'm on the freeway gonna blow, blow
The red lights saying, go, go
Saturday night i'm fucking gone, gone
And all my friends are saying don't, don't
The world is flashing like a strobe, strobe
And push the pedal saying woah, woah shit
I got your money
hold on hold on
I'll treat you honey
hold on hold on
I got your money
I got your money
Woohoo I got your money
Woohoo I'll treat you honey
Woohoo I'll keep you up for days
I got your sugar,
I'll be your hooker
I'll keep you up for days.
Its Sunday morning, i'm with you
How did I end up in this room
I'm in a bed that isn't mine,
The walls are closing in tight, tight
It's Sunday morning, i'm with you you
Your voice is like a sonic boom, boom
And round and round she goes,
And where she stops no-one knows
And where she stops no-one knows
And where she stops no-one knows
The Qemists's "Lost Weekend" is a song that encapsulates the sensation of spending a weekend alone in the city, feeling empty, and craving adventure. The lyrics of the song take you through the weekend of the singer as he tries to find his place in the world. The song starts with it being Friday night and the singer being alone at home, feeling alive but also anxious. He gets the feeling of having some fun, so he looks for an adventure in the city, but with no luck. Feeling like a carnival, he takes a ride to see where the night takes him.
On Saturday night, the singer seems to be in a state of intoxication while driving on the freeway, ignoring the speed limits, and going as fast as he can. His friends warn him, but the singer is so focused on the thrill of the moment. The lyrics suggest that he is using drugs for his high. The chorus changes here from "I got your money" to "hold on hold on." It implies that the singer is losing control, and the people around him sense it.
On Sunday, the singer wakes up in a bed that is not his, with someone who he does not seem to know well. He listens to the voice of his unknown partner, and it excites him. But like the rest of the weekend, he feels a sense of uncertainty about the future. The chorus repeats with the exception of the last line, "And where she stops, no one knows." The uncertainty of the end of the weekend represents the singer's feelings throughout the whole weekend.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Friday night and i'm alone,
The persona finds themselves alone on a Friday night.
The stars are out and i'm at home,
The persona is at home gazing at the stars.
Feel like i'm coming alive,
The persona feels re-energized.
See the knuckles turning white.
Anxiety setting in as the persona clenches their fists.
It's Friday night and no-ones home,
Feeling the effects of loneliness, the persona acknowledges that no one is home.
I'm in this city all alone,
The persona is all by themselves in the city.
Feel like a carnival tonight,
Despite being alone, the persona is determined to have some fun.
Strap it up and take a ride, ride, woohoo
Encouraging themselves to get out and have some fun.
And round and round she goes,
Life can feel like a never-ending cycle of repetition.
And where she stops no-one knows x 2
Uncertainty about life's path and direction.
Feel it coming on, feel it coming on now.
A premonition of something imminent.
I got your money
The persona assumes a position of power and control.
Woohoo I got your money
Celebrating having control over someone.
Woohoo I'll treat you honey
Offering the promise of luxury or pleasure.
Woohoo I'll keep you up for days
The persona will give the subject something to keep them awake and alert.
I got your sugar,
The persona has power and control over their subject.
I'll be your hooker
The persona offers sexual services.
Saturday night i'm fucking stoned, stoned
On a Saturday night, the persona is heavily intoxicated.
While all the suckers got the jones, jones
The persona sees others as being addicted or obsessed with something.
I'm on the freeway gonna blow, blow
Driving under the influence and taking risks.
The red lights saying, go, go
Ignoring traffic signals and danger.
Saturday night i'm fucking gone, gone
Intoxication has completely taken over on Saturday night.
And all my friends are saying don't, don't
Friends warning against the dangers of the persona's behavior.
The world is flashing like a strobe, strobe
Feeling disorientated and overwhelmed by their surroundings.
And push the pedal saying woah, woah shit
A sense of recklessness and disregard for safety.
Its Sunday morning, i'm with you
The persona finds themselves in someone else's bed on Sunday morning.
How did I end up in this room
The persona is trying to recollect how they arrived in this room.
I'm in a bed that isn't mine,
The persona is not in their own bed.
The walls are closing in tight, tight
Feeling claustrophobic and trapped.
Your voice is like a sonic boom, boom
The subject's voice has a powerful, physical impact on the persona.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL JAMES ARNOLD, LEON PAUL HARRIS, LIAM MCGREGOR BLACK, MICHAEL RAYMOND PATTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind