The Undertones are a Northern Irish punk band formed in Derry, Northern Ire… Read Full Bio ↴The Undertones are a Northern Irish punk band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1975. The original band consisted of:

* Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals),
* John O'Neill (guitar),
* Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals),
* Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and
* Billy Doherty (drums).

John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.

Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song (Teenage Kicks) his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards), American group The Raconteurs, Swedish band [aritst]Sahara Hotnights and French band Nouvelle Vague.

The original band released four studio albums:

* The Undertones (1979)
* Hypnotised (1980)
* Positive Touch (1981)
* The Sin Of Pride (1983).

Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) (2004) exist.

The O'Neill brothers went on to form That Petrol Emotion. The Undertones reconvened in 1999, initially to play a few shows in their hometown of Londonderry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with a similarly warbling new recruit, Paul McLoone. Since this time, the band has continued to play a small number of gigs each year in various places around the world.

The band have also released two further studio albums:

* Get What You Need (2003)
* Dig Yourself Deep (2007)

NOTE: There is another band with this name - The Undertones, a subset of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club who sing a capella arrangements of popular songs. For more information on these guys, check out www.nd.edu/~utones.

Smarter Than You
The Undertones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a little intellectual
Some one who knows it all
I could be your summer special
You could be my New York doll - my doll

I'm a little ...

Smarter than you

Smarter than you
Smarter than you
Can't you see I'm

Smarter ...

I met you we talk a little
Find you fascinating by five past ten
I kiss you and call you later
Cos I want to see you again - you again

Smarter ...

Can't you see I'm smart

Overall Meaning

The Undertones' "Smarter Than You" is a catchy pop-punk song with a hint of arrogance. The opening line "I'm a little intellectual, someone who knows it all" conveys a message of self-confidence, intelligence and superiority. The singer boasts of being able to make the girl he's talking to his "Summer Special" and she could be his "New York Doll," both of which are references to pop culture icons. In other words, he's expressing his desire for her to be his perfect companion, and he'll even let her be the star of the show.

The chorus repeats the line "smarter than you" multiple times, emphasizing that the singer is indeed more intelligent than the person he's talking to. He seems to think that he's better suited for her than anyone else. The second verse tells of him meeting the girl and being drawn to her, finding her fascinating by five past ten. He then kisses her and tells her he wants to see her again.

The song seems to be a playful take on male courtship, where the singer is not afraid of showing his confidence and intelligence. He's certainly showing off his intellectual side, but also his charming personality, making him a lovable and fun character.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a little intellectual
I possess knowledge and understanding on various topics and subjects

Some one who knows it all
I have complete knowledge and comprehension of everything

I could be your summer special
I have a unique and enjoyable quality that can enhance a summer experience

You could be my New York doll - my doll
You have a captivating and charming demeanor that I admire and desire

Smarter than you
My intellectual capacity surpasses yours

Can't you see I'm
Can't you recognize that I am

I met you we talk a little
I encountered you and engaged in a brief conversation

Find you fascinating by five past ten
By 10:05 pm, I have already found you incredibly captivating and intriguing

I kiss you and call you later
I express my affection for you with a kiss and plan to contact you again in the future

Cos I want to see you again - you again
Because I have the desire to spend time with you in the near future

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMIAN STEPHEN O'NEILL, MICHAEL BRADLEY, WILLIAM EDWARD MARTIN DOHERTY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS