Try This At Home
Turner Frank Lyrics
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'cause no one else is taking it
Come on do your worst, before the moment's passed
In bedrooms across England and all the western world
There's posters and there's magazines
'cause music isn't ours.
'Cause we write love songs in C and we do politics in G
So tear down the stars now and take up your guitars
And come on folks and try this at home
Let's stop waiting around for someone to patronize us
Let's hammer out a sound that speaks of where we've been
Forget about the haircuts and stupid skinny jeans
The stampings and the irony of the media philistines
'Cause we write love songs in C and we do politics in G
We sing songs about our friends in E minor
So tear down the stars now and take up your guitars
And come on folks and try this at home
Because the only thing
That punk-rock should never really mean
Is not sitting round
And waiting for the lights to turn green
And not thinking that you're better
'cause you're stood up on a stage
If you're oh, so fucking different
Then who cares what you have to say?
'Cause there's no such thing as rockstars
There's just people who play music
And some of them are just like us
And some of them are dicks
So, quick turn off your stereo
Pick up that pen and paper
Yeah, you can do much better
Than some skinny half-arsed English country singer
'Cause we write love songs in C and we do politics in G
We sing songs about our friends in E minor
So tear down the stars now and take up your guitars
And come on folks and try this at home.
The lyrics of Turner Frank's song "Try This At Home" encourage a sense of empowerment and ownership over one's creativity and expression. The opening lines, "Let's inherit the earth, 'cause no one else is taking it, Come on do your worst, before the moment's passed," suggest a call to action for individuals to seize opportunities and make their mark on the world before it slips away. This sense of urgency is tied to a feeling of reclaiming music as a form of personal expression, as seen in the lines, "In bedrooms across England and all the western world, There's posters and there's magazines 'cause music isn't ours."
The lyrics also touch on the idea of authenticity in creative pursuits, urging listeners to break away from conventional norms and expectations. The mention of writing love songs in C, doing politics in G, and singing about friends in E minor reflects a desire to create art that is genuine and heartfelt, rather than conforming to commercial trends or stereotypes. This sentiment is further reinforced in the lines, "Forget about the haircuts and stupid skinny jeans, The stampings and the irony of the media philistines," which suggest a rejection of superficiality in favor of substance and individuality.
The song challenges the notion of waiting for validation or recognition from external sources, advocating for self-determination and self-expression. By urging listeners to "stop waiting around for someone to patronize us" and to "hammer out a sound that speaks of where we've been," the lyrics encourage listeners to take control of their own artistic journeys and to create music that is true to their own experiences and perspectives.
Ultimately, the song emphasizes the idea that anyone can make meaningful music and that there is no hierarchy or elitism in artistry. The dismissal of the concept of rockstars in favor of viewing musicians as ordinary people who share their passion for music underscores the democratic nature of creativity. The call to action at the end of the song, "And come on folks and try this at home," serves as an empowering reminder that artistic expression is within reach for everyone, and that true fulfillment comes from staying true to oneself rather than conforming to external expectations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EDWARD TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ara Walter
For those who are interested in the story behind this video:
"What a fucking day. After a really fun run of shows in Ireland,
I arrived at the airport this morning to board my flight from Dublin to
London, whence I was headed for Oxford for a video shoot. Pretty tight
turn around, but then most things are for me these days. However, on
arrival, I was told that I could not travel without a passport. My
passport is currently up on blocks in readiness for heading to Israel
tomorrow, but I’d been assured, fucking assured, that I could
travel with my credit card on this flight. Apparently not, on arrival.
Cue mass panic and much creative swearing, followed by a manic drive to
Belfast, buying another ticket and getting ready to fly home much later
than planned.
This means that the original idea for the video is out the window, as
we don’t have enough time (which means I bought a 1970s geography
teacher outfit for nothing – dang!). However, we are still shooting
today, and we need as much help as we can get. This is where you (might)
come in.
We’ll be in Oxford this afternoon, basically trawling the streets and
getting people to sing a couple of lines of the song (“Try This At
Home”) to the camera, maybe play some guitar too. If you’re in Oxford
(or nearby) and at a loose end, we would love your help. Exact locations
have yet to be determined, but as soon as I know, I’ll post it on my twitter feed.
The boys in the band will be out in force, as will I, as soon as I get
there. Please do spread the word on your own twitter, facebook or
whatever. All the help we can get is hugely appreciated. Let’s make this
happen!
(....)
Well yesterday turned out just awesome, victory snatched from the jaws
of defeat. After a total arse of a start to the day, and a last minute
re-pitching of the video, we ended up in a park on top of the hill in
Oxford in glorious sunshine, with about 50 people helping out with
singing, dancing and generally pratting about in front of the camera. It
was a pretty stressful day all told, but I think we’ve ended up with
something great. Many thanks to all who participated."
Jack Loder
My sister turned me onto this song last week, I can't explain how much I love it. The message speaks to me hard
Rinzy
Man, I've been hooked ever since I heard of Frank. Definitely one of the greatest musicians of our time (if not THE greatest) <3
Michael Teward
This man is simply a hero. Not many artists in the world today who have such meaningful lyrics. Really can't wait to go and see him live later this year!!!
tofu farmer
I just found out about this guy about a week ago, and I can honestly say he's the most joyous, honest, and talented songwriter in years. He makes me wish I was a Brit. Please, PLEASE never stop singing. You're real.
Ara Walter
For those who are interested in the story behind this video:
"What a fucking day. After a really fun run of shows in Ireland,
I arrived at the airport this morning to board my flight from Dublin to
London, whence I was headed for Oxford for a video shoot. Pretty tight
turn around, but then most things are for me these days. However, on
arrival, I was told that I could not travel without a passport. My
passport is currently up on blocks in readiness for heading to Israel
tomorrow, but I’d been assured, fucking assured, that I could
travel with my credit card on this flight. Apparently not, on arrival.
Cue mass panic and much creative swearing, followed by a manic drive to
Belfast, buying another ticket and getting ready to fly home much later
than planned.
This means that the original idea for the video is out the window, as
we don’t have enough time (which means I bought a 1970s geography
teacher outfit for nothing – dang!). However, we are still shooting
today, and we need as much help as we can get. This is where you (might)
come in.
We’ll be in Oxford this afternoon, basically trawling the streets and
getting people to sing a couple of lines of the song (“Try This At
Home”) to the camera, maybe play some guitar too. If you’re in Oxford
(or nearby) and at a loose end, we would love your help. Exact locations
have yet to be determined, but as soon as I know, I’ll post it on my twitter feed.
The boys in the band will be out in force, as will I, as soon as I get
there. Please do spread the word on your own twitter, facebook or
whatever. All the help we can get is hugely appreciated. Let’s make this
happen!
(....)
Well yesterday turned out just awesome, victory snatched from the jaws
of defeat. After a total arse of a start to the day, and a last minute
re-pitching of the video, we ended up in a park on top of the hill in
Oxford in glorious sunshine, with about 50 people helping out with
singing, dancing and generally pratting about in front of the camera. It
was a pretty stressful day all told, but I think we’ve ended up with
something great. Many thanks to all who participated."
Ara Walter
+Arabell Peks source: his blog
Ng Jun Xiang
I always come back to this song and it's still my favourite music video of all time because the story behind it is just so damn punk rock.
Lottie Luna
That is EXCELLENT and also somehow even truer to the song itself!
MrsLepetit
Loving this song/video...Frank has a wicked connection with the camera...just totally open and honest and makes you feel like he is EVERYBODY'S friend :) Frank rules ;) xxx
Rebekah Elvidge
can't believe its taken me this long to hear this guy! so talented, frank is the real thing