The Royston Club are a four-piece indie band from Wrexham, North Wales cons… Read Full Bio ↴The Royston Club are a four-piece indie band from Wrexham, North Wales consisting of Tom Faithfull (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Ben Matthias (lead guitar and main song writer), Dave Tute (bass) and Sam Jones (drums). After becoming friends at secondary school, Tom, Ben and Dave started playing together in 2017 due to their shared passion for playing indie music, then added Sam on drums in 2019 to create The Royston Club.

Old Man's Knees
The Royston Club Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You sigh, repeat yourself
Sorry I'm no good at taking orders
I'm stubborn to the core
Although I'm just a weed, let me grow
You'll hate the words on which I choke
So block out all these dulcet tones
And stoke the flames that dance neath my toes
Keep me warm and singe all my clothes

Shut the curtains hold me close
Strip me of my comfort prose
Ignore the shaking of my bones
Breathe life into both my barren lungs
Old man's knees at seventeen
Limped through my adolescence
Why did the keyhole surgery
Have to be another complication?
I wake violently
With traffic in my head
Argue silently
With the demons in my bed
Shut the curtains hold me close
Strip me of my comfort prose

Ignore the shaking of my bones
Breathe life into both my barren lungs

Overall Meaning

The song "Old Man's Knees" by The Royston Club speaks to the struggle of not conforming to what others expect of you. The singer of the song is stubborn, and not good at taking orders, yet they long to be accepted and loved. They ask for space to grow, despite the fact that the person they are speaking to may not like the path they are taking, hence the line "you'll hate the words on which I choke". They ask to be kept warm and comforted, yet stripped of their comfort prose, as they strive for something more.

The chorus of the song speaks to the physical pain the singer is experiencing, with the line "old man's knees at seventeen, limped through my adolescence". This physical pain is juxtaposed with the emotional pain that comes with arguing silently with the "demons in my bed". Despite all of this, the singer still longs to be held close and have life breathed into their "barren lungs".

Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of not conforming to societal norms, while also longing to be loved and accepted. It also touches on the physical and emotional pain that often comes with this struggle.

Line by Line Meaning

You sigh, repeat yourself
You express frustration and annoyance, while I fail to follow your direction and don't learn from my mistakes.

Sorry I'm no good at taking orders
I apologize for my inability to receive instructions, which might arise due to my stubbornness.

I'm stubborn to the core
I possess an innate quality of being headstrong, and it's difficult for me to change my opinions or decisions.

Although I'm just a weed, let me grow
Even though people might think of me as insignificant and not worth investing time and efforts, I still urge them to give me a chance and let me flourish.

You'll hate the words on which I choke
My thoughts and expressions might not be appealing or comforting to you, yet they are true to my nature and personality.

So block out all these dulcet tones
Please don't pay heed to the sweet and agreeable sounds coming from me because they might be deceiving or irrelevant.

And stoke the flames that dance neath my toes
Instead, fuel the passion and drive within me, that keeps me going and open to new experiences and challenges.

Keep me warm and singe all my clothes
Protect me from the coldness and bitterness of the world, even if it means exposing me to risks or changes that might 'burn' or transform me.

Shut the curtains hold me close
Create an environment of comfort and closeness, where I can express my true feelings and emotions without fear of judgment or criticism.

Strip me of my comfort prose
Don't let me settle for mediocrity and mundanity, even if it means stripping me of the familiar and the safe.

Ignore the shaking of my bones
Overlook my fears and anxieties, that might paralyze me or hinder my growth, and encourage me to take risks and explore my potential.

Breathe life into both my barren lungs
Revive my spirit and my motivation, that might have been dormant or extinguished, and help me see the beauty and the hope in life.

Old man's knees at seventeen
I feel old and wearied, beyond my years, and I carry the baggage and the scars of my past experiences.

Limped through my adolescence
I struggled and suffered during my youth, and I still bear the consequences of my mistakes and my misfortunes.

Why did the keyhole surgery
I question the necessity and the value of the medical intervention that should have saved me but ended up complicating my condition.

Have to be another complication?
Why did life have to inflict another challenge or obstacle on me, just when I thought I had overcome my previous struggles?

I wake violently
I experience sleep disorders and nightmares, a reflection of my inner turmoil and my unresolved issues.

With traffic in my head
My mind is cluttered and chaotic, with countless thoughts and emotions that keep me restless and unfocused.

Argue silently
I engage in internal debates and conflicts, wrestling with my doubts, my fears, and my conflicting values and beliefs.

With the demons in my bed
I face my own demons and my own insecurities, that haunt me and undermine my self-esteem and my confidence.

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Ben Matthias

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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