They released their third and final album Klang in 2009 which included the singles 1989 and That's the Reason.
In October 2009, The Rakes announced that the band was to split with immediate effect: "The Rakes have always been very adamant and proud of the fact that we give 100% to every gig we’ve ever played. If we can’t give it everything then we won’t do it. That was the rule we set ourselves from day one".
Their style can be described as "lo-fi" indie and is vaguely reminiscent of early Joy Division with some catchy guitar riffs and intelligent and humorous lyrics.
Singer Alan Donahoe has a project called Champagne Campaign and drummer Lasse Peterson went on to join Wolf Gang.
The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect
The Rakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got ten new messages on your phone
Keep trying to stop the night from falling to pieces
The night goes on and on and on on on
Where are we going and where's Steve gone?
This whole night is just falling to pieces
And you go on and on on on
Just trying to stop our arguments falling to pieces
You slag off America in the pub
Saying the war was shit
Then in the club
Drink some Buds and smoke some Marlboro Lights
The world was a mess but his hair was perfect
The world was a mess but his hair was perfect
The world was a mess but his hair was perfect
The world was a mess but his hair was perfect
Right listen, yeah, okay, fine, do you know where Steve is?
I thought he was with you Okay
If you see him, tell him that, erm, that, no, let me finish,
Okay yeah, erm, yeah if you see him, tell him that I forgot the money I owe him,
So that's fine, yep, okay alright, yeah I'll see you later, no it's fine.
No I didn't, no no, it's fine, it's okay, I'll see you later, I'll see you later,
I've got to go, I've got to go, buh-bye
Okay, yeah, can I, uh, get two of them and a pint of that? Yeah.
How much? No way! Okay, I've got to use my card. Okay.
Alright, how you doing? Did you see that, uh, thing last night?
Yeah, it was good, it was about Stephen Hawking.
Yeah, no, seriously, it was good, seriously.
He was going on about, uh, black holes, string theory and all that, I dunno.
What you been up to, yeah, anyway? Scuba diving? No way.
Okay, how was that? I've gotta go to the toilets.
Alright? Yeah, yeah I got my hair cut the other day. No, no it's not bad for eight quid. Well I just said, you know, I wanted a tidy trim. Just looks a bit shit round the back. It was the Greek bloke actually, on Finchley Road. Yeah, when I came out of there, I was looking like ten notes...
The Rakes's song "The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect" explores the idea of trying to maintain a facade of having it all together in the face of chaos and uncertainty. The song opens with the singer getting ready for a night out, while simultaneously receiving multiple messages on their phone. They are trying to avoid the night falling apart, as things seem to be steadily disintegrating around them. The chorus repeats the phrase "The world was a mess, but his hair was perfect," indicating that even as everything else is chaotic and unpredictable, the singer is determined to maintain appearances through their physical appearance.
Later in the song, the singer is shown trying to avoid having difficult conversations and disagreements by talking nonsense and making small talk. They are also shown making contradictory statements, such as criticizing America in a pub but then drinking Budweiser and smoking Marlboro Lights in a club. The song ends with a disjointed, rambling conversation that touches on various random topics, indicating that the night has become even more chaotic and unmanageable.
Overall, "The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect" is a commentary on the pressure to present a polished, put-together image even in the face of overwhelming disarray and confusion. It suggests that this pressure can lead people to engage in performative and superficial behaviors, rather than genuinely engaging with others and their own emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
All dressed up with somewhere to go
Ready to go out for the night in fancy attire
Got ten new messages on your phone
Received multiple messages, possibly from friends
Keep trying to stop the night from falling to pieces
Attempting to prevent the evening from going awry
The night goes on and on and on on on
The night seems endless and never-ending
Where are we going and where's Steve gone?
Questioning the destination and whereabouts of a friend named Steve
This whole night is just falling to pieces
The entire evening is spiraling out of control and going poorly
And you go on and on on on
Continuing to talk, blabber, or ramble on
Talking shit through the night
Engaging in meaningless, nonsense conversations throughout the night
Just trying to stop our arguments falling to pieces
Attempting to prevent disagreements from escalating and ruining the night
You slag off America in the pub
Insulting or criticizing America while at a bar or pub
Saying the war was shit
Expressing a negative opinion about a past or ongoing war
Then in the club, Drink some Buds and smoke some Marlboro Lights
Moving from the pub to the club and consuming Budweiser beer and Marlboro Lights cigarettes
The world was a mess but his hair was perfect
Despite chaos and disorder in the world, the singer's hair was impeccable
Right listen, yeah, okay, fine, do you know where Steve is?
Asking for information about the location of Steve
I thought he was with you Okay
Believing that the person being spoken to knew Steve's whereabouts
If you see him, tell him that, erm, that, no, let me finish,
Asking for a favor to be done for Steve but pausing to gather thoughts first
Okay yeah, erm, yeah if you see him, tell him that I forgot the money I owe him,
Requesting that Steve be informed of the singer's forgetfulness regarding an owed debt
So that's fine, yep, okay alright, yeah I'll see you later, no it's fine.
Confirming that the message for Steve has been relayed and that the conversation is concluded
No I didn't, no no, it's fine, it's okay, I'll see you later, I'll see you later,
Denying or correcting something that was mentioned previously and reiterating intent to leave
I've got to go, I've got to go, buh-bye
Announcing immediate departure with a casual goodbye remark
Okay, yeah, can I, uh, get two of them and a pint of that? Yeah.
Ordering a specific quantity of drinks in a casual way
How much? No way! Okay, I've got to use my card. Okay.
Expressing surprise at the cost of a drink and then deciding to use a credit card for payment
Alright, how you doing? Did you see that, uh, thing last night?
Greeting someone casually and asking if they watched a particular event or program on television the night before
Yeah, it was good, it was about Stephen Hawking.
Responding positively about the program watched and naming the subject of the show
Yeah, no, seriously, it was good, seriously.
Emphasizing how much the show was enjoyed and using the word 'seriously' as a reinforcement
He was going on about, uh, black holes, string theory and all that, I dunno.
Recalling and mentioning various topics or ideas discussed on the show, but admitting lack of personal knowledge or understanding about them
What you been up to, yeah, anyway? Scuba diving? No way.
Asking someone what they have been doing recently and expressing disbelief at a suggestion of scuba diving
Okay, how was that? I've gotta go to the toilets.
Inquiring about how the scuba diving experience was and mentioning a need for a restroom break
Alright? Yeah, yeah I got my hair cut the other day. No, no it's not bad for eight quid.
Asking if everything is okay while bringing up a recent hair cut and reassuring that the low price was satisfactory
Well I just said, you know, I wanted a tidy trim. Just looks a bit shit round the back.
Explaining the instructions given to the hairdresser and expressing dissatisfaction with the appearance of the back of the haircut
It was the Greek bloke actually, on Finchley Road. Yeah, when I came out of there, I was looking like ten notes...
Naming the hairdresser and location of haircut, and stating that the hair looked very good after the service was completed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN DONOHOE, JAMES HORN-SMITH, LASSE PETERSEN, MATTHEW SWINNERTON, MATTHEW JAMES SWINNERTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind