He sank into their calculations
And snorted on the stench
Of their arithmetic.
Looked for the boy who was hanging his head low,
More trophies than ideas. To follow their pretence.

With a scowl in his pocket and a smile on his face
He followed with obidience
And fell in the Nettles.

Afterwards those spikey whispers said he bought his own rope.
And skipped the bits they loathed.
Didn't scramble to find a dock leaf to capture back our hope
To advice his mind had closed
He lost all of his footholes.

He was a toothpick!
And the garlic and the cinder upon the path
Had failed to blunt or hinder the slow collapse
Clinging to the doorframe he was dragged
Off to a reminder of where he had been.

With a smile in his pocket
And a scowl on his face
He had nowhere to flee
So sat content in the Nettles.



Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 01:45

"Nettles [DVD]" as written by Alex Turner

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Nettles song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:btw what is a foothole??
    Flag ng123on March 25, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:all I know is that nettle plants sting and people say dock leaves (mentioned in the 3rd stanza) are said to heal the rash from the sting.
    Flag ng123on March 25, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about a prick.
    Flag SweetCheeks2on January 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I really think this song is about cocaine.

    It sounds like a rush and got some metaphorical bits:

    "And snorted on the stench
    Of Their arithmetic
    Looked for the boy who was hanging his head low"

    And

    "With a smile in his pocket
    And a scowl on his face
    He had nowhere to flee
    So sat content in the nettles"
    Flag Macarebeon November 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, Arctics = Ramps :)

    It was a "pseudonym" they used for the 7 inch release of the b-sides... I don't have it, I know my stuff but am not the kind of fan who won't just stick to CDs lol!
    Flag noisecaton March 20, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I agree with whoever said that its about a boy who falls in with the wrong people. Although, I think it's more that he's kind of awkward, and doesn't really now how to socialize, so he gets used. Then to try and fit in he does some shit and then he becomes that kind of person.

    Also... do Arctic Monkeys=The Death Ramps?
    Flag mardybumon February 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think this songs brilliant -and amazing live too. i really cant wait for alex turners solo album + the monkeys 3rd album
    Flag belleeeeon January 13, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i think it's about an innocent boy who basically gets in with the wrong crowd. Unfortunately as a result, i think this boy kills himself - there are a couple of references to hanging, "he brought his own rope", "clinging to the DOOR FRAME"
    Flag matt4don December 22, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The lyrics are a bit more metaphorical than usual, and I'm not sure I fully understand them to be honest.
    Flag AllyS2on December 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The lyrics are printed on the teddy picker CD single:

    He sank into their calculations
    And snorted on the stench
    Of Their arithmetic
    Looked for the boy who was hanging his head low
    More trophies than ideas. To follow their pretence

    With a scowl in his pocket and a smile on his face
    He followed with obedience
    And fell in the nettles

    Afterwards those spikey whispers said he bought his own rope
    And skipped the bits they loathed
    Didin't scramble to find a dock leaf to capture back our hope
    To advice his mind had closed
    He lost all of his footholes.

    And with a smile in his pocket and a scowl on his face
    He followed with obedience
    And fell in the nettles, fell in the nettles, fell in the nettles.

    He was a toothpick!
    And the garlic and the cinder upon the path
    Had failed to blunt or hinder the slow collapse
    Clinging to the door frame he was dragged
    Off to a reminder of where he had been

    With a smile in his pocket
    And a scowl on his face
    He had nowhere to flee
    So sat content in the nettles
    Flag noisecaton December 11, 2007   Link

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