We all want some one to shout for
Yeah, everyone wants somebody to adore
But heroes aren't what they seem
When you've been, where we've been

Have I done something to trigger
The funny looks and the snigger
Are they there at all
Or is it just paranoia

Everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns

Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us

There's a couple of hundred
Think they're Christopher Columbus
But the settlers had already settled
Here long before you

Just because we're having a say so
And not lining up to be play doh
In five years time will it be
Who the fuck's arctic monkeys'

'Cause everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns

Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us

All the thoughts that I just said
Linger round and multiply in the head
Not that bad to start with
I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed

It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues

It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
And bring on the backlash

It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell him to take out his tongue
Tell him to take out his tongue

It's not you it's them that's the fake
I won't mess with your escape
Is this really your escape'



Lyrics submitted by K-nuxXx

Track duration: 05:36

"Who the Fuck Are the Arctic Monkeys?" as written by Alex Turner

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? song meanings
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41 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Generally i think this song is about their rise to fame where they are starting to be in the rooms with the 'really famous' people and meeting their idols only to realize they are actually just giant egotistical douche bags. I suppose you would begin to doubt things if you have grown up loving music not just because its there but because you have a passion for it and then you meet the people you thought shared your opinions but it turns out they are just "doing what their told" and are too worried about "marketing suicide" to take risks and develop. It's quite sad really, when you think about it.
    Flag Mediocrityon March 28, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I like the idea that the "escape" mentioned at the end is Andy leaving the band, seeing as this was the last-recorded song he appeared on.
    Flag AllyS2on July 11, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Lyrical genius, if you ask me.
    Flag dialon July 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:First verse talks about the fact that people want an idol in their lives to adore, or people want the feeling of discovering a new band before everyone else.

    Second verse is self explanatory.

    Third verse, I think is talking about how everyone is in this "box, doing what they're told" meaning they are following all the trends out there and what not, and the Arctic Monkeys are saying that we don't give a shit if our music is marketing suicidal, (either meaning that their music isn't doing so well, or it means that their music is sending out bad messages), and they will stick to what they are doing cause they don't want to be trapped in that "box".

    Fourth verse talking about how people think they have discovered this new band, just to find out that they aren't the first to actually discover them.

    Fifth verse is talking about how they are not lining up to be playdoh, or they are not lining up like the rest of these new and upcoming bands to be molded by the public to fit their liking...and they are not gonna put up with that molding of the "playdoh" if that makes sense...

    Then they are saying how its not you, its them, meaning its not the fans, its "them"...and who is them? I'm not sure...it could be the general media or what not.

    Rest is pretty self explanatory.


    Hope this helped.
    -dial
    Flag dialon July 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:@ MakesMeSmile
    I was thinking something along the lines of that aswell, all those new indie bands who think they're cool, new, hip, refreshing etc but are actually just following the craze.

    That verse being about the fact that people don't really like them and just follow the crowd could be true too, but about the 'old' fans and the 'new' fans seems stupid to me. Why would someone who has knows arctic monkeys for 3 years be a better/bigger/whatever fan than someone who has knows them for 6 months? People who brag with things like 'oh i knew that band before they were famous, bla bla bla' are more fony, in my opinion.
    Flag Vetproon February 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:We all want someone to shout for
    Yeah, everyone wants somebody to adore
    But your heroes aren't what they seem
    When you've been where we've been

    -I think this bit means they've met other famous people that maybe they idolised and thought of differently but in person, really, they are much different to what the media etc say.. maybe?

    Have I done something to trigger
    The funny looks and the sniggers?
    Are they there at all, or is it just paranoia?

    - Probably about some people who look down on them, maybe think they are better than them or their music is just rubbish..?

    Everybody's got their box
    Doing what they're told
    You pushed my faith near being lost
    But we'll stick to the guns
    Don't care if it's marketing suicidal
    Won't crack or compromise
    Your do-rights or individes
    Will never unhinge us

    - Most famous people get told what to do pretty much, but I think they are saying they aren't like that, they do what they want, they make music.

    And there's a couple of hundred
    Think they're Christopher Columbus
    But the settlers had already settled
    Yeah, long before ya

    -About true fans who have been there all along not just when they got cool or whatever. Fans who think they found a new amazing band but really theyy didnt find it cos well a lot of people already knew it, 'But the settlers had already settled
    Yeah, long before ya'
    Flag RhiannonWon January 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I always thought the Columbus Bit was about people who thought they were so fresh on the music scene and were so ready to be popular, but really there were better people before them. Or people who arent famous yet, but are ten times better.

    Boy, am i different from u guys.
    Flag MakesmeSmileon November 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Does anyone else think he sounds like he has a cold at the "it's not you, it's them" part?
    Flag anneke93on August 31, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Everyone who listens to Arctic Monkey should listen to this song. I know a few people who listen to this band and think they're Hipster McHip for listening to them. One guy actually wanted to build himself up and said, "I introduced this band to you," as if Arctic Monkeys were hidden under some rock or something. I don't think he's heard this song, 'cos he obviously thinks he's Christopher Colombus. Truth is, no one's Christopher Colombus, dammit.

    I know it's cliche, but it really should be about the music. If you just listened to this band for the first time four days ago in some little American town, or four years ago in Sheffield, who cares? Do you really like the music, the message and the meaning?

    Funny thing is, this song is so true, because all the fuss that he did say lingered around in everyone's head and got people thinking about what kind of music enjoyers they truly are.
    Flag bueller84on May 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the song's thematically similar to Nirvana's In Bloom, with the whole idea of people not understanding or caring about their lyrics, and just coming to them because they're a popular band (thinking they've "discovered them" too)

    i.e. "It's not you it's them that's the fake" compared with "He's the one Who likes all our pretty songs And he likes to sing along" ... "but he knows not what it means"
    Flag Winston_Wolfon May 01, 2007   Link

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