Fiendish wonder in the carnival's wake
Dull caresses once again irritate
Tread softly, stranger
Move over toward the danger that you seek

You think excitement has receded then the mirror distracts
The logic of the trance quickly reaches and grasps
Handsome and faceless
And weightless, your imagination runs

And now it's no one's fault but yours
At the foot of the house of cards
You thought you'd never get obsessed
You thought the wolves would be impressed
And you're a sinking stone
But you know what it's like to hold the jeweler's hands
That procession of pioneers all drowned

In the moonlight they're more thrilling
Those things that he knows
As he leads you through the grinning
Bubble blowers in the snow
Watching his exit
Was like falling off the ferry in the night

The inevitables gather to push you around
Any other voice makes such a punishing sound
He became laughter's assassin
Shortly after he showed you what it was

And now it's no one's fault but yours
At the foot of the house of cards
You thought you'd never get obsessed
You thought the wolves would be impressed
And you're a sinking stone
But you know what it's like to hold the jeweler's hands
That procession of pioneers all drowned

If you've a lesson to teach me
I'm listening, ready to learn
There's no one here to police me
I'm sinking in until you return

If you've a lesson to teach
Please don't deviate, don't be afraid
Without the last corner piece, I can't calibrate
Let's get it ingrained

If you've a lesson to teach me
I'm listening, ready to learn
There's no one here to police me
I'm sinking in until you return

If you've a lesson to teach
Please don't deviate, don't be afraid
Without the last corner piece, I can't calibrate
Let's get it ingrained

If you've a lesson to teach me
I'm listening, ready to learn
There's no one here to police me
I'm sinking in until you return

If you've a lesson to teach
Please don't deviate, don't be afraid


Lyrics submitted by life_aint_chess, edited by TheBronze

The Jeweller's Hands Lyrics as written by Alex Turner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Jeweller's Hands song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +9
    General Comment

    i agree with my friend whom i was discussing yesterday about this song's meaning... and turns out we came to the same conclusion separately..

    also, in my opinion, the song is about a girl who falls for the wrong person, skillful guy, who attracts girls with his studied behavior, careful like a jeweller in his actions....the promise of love that he makes, is also well fabricated, detailed, sparkling, like a jewell

    it's also about the girl's torment and her suffering when she is abandoned (watching his exit is like falling of the ferry in the night.../and you're a sinking stone....)

    "Any other voice makes such a punishing sound " might mean that she cannot stand anyone around her, thinking only of the boy, which is pretty much that horrible state a person goes through soon after a breakup. Also, in my opinion, it suggests that the girl knew the he was shifty and dangerous from the start and any reminder of the fact that she could have avoided all of this is hurting her even more. The "punishing sound" might be the voice of the people that warned her...Another proof for this are the verses " You thought you'd never get obsessed/ you thought the wolves would be impressed"; she thought that in this particular relationship he would be different than in previous ones ( the other girls being "the precession of pioneers /all drown"), she thought she was in control, but obviously wasn't.

    The "house of cards" might by a symbol for the fragile, vulnerable and deceitful relationship she got into. "and now it's no one's fault but yours/ at the foot of the house of cards"...She is left alone to meditate upon the unstable relationship she built.

    I don't think the song is about a failed marriage even though " He became laughter's assasin/ Shortly after he showed you what it was" might suggest that....He "kills" the laughter, the happiness in a very short time; in a marriage it takes time for the spouses to fall out with each other. Even the word "assasin" suggests a quick, premeditated action from his behalf.

    The end is definately, in my opinion, about the lesson that she is supposed to learn about all this...She is supposed to think about it, and admit to herself in the first place all the details, everything that she has done wrong, everything that she could have done to avoid this situation, in order to have the lesson complete (without the last corner piece I can't calibrate), in order to learn it, to "get it ingrained" and not repeat the mistake in the future.

    Alex Turner, of course, great lyricist...but my friend, amaranta31, we have outdone ourselves...hahaaa...imagine mr turner taking a look at our interpretations...but even though we might seem lame people, it's still ok, because it's like making coments and trying to interpretate poetry...that's always good for improving our english...but hey, tell people that the "31" in your account name is your date of birth and not your age...we still want to look a bit cool...kiss

    chocobocoandizaon October 11, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think when people can't understand a set of lyrics, they assume it's about drugs.

    anickdayon September 04, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    The more I listen to this song's lyrics, the more it makes me think they talk about falling for the wrong person.... About being blinded by who you think it's perfect for you... and who, obviously, isn't. The title of the song is "jeweler's hands"... I think this is a metaphor in order to describe a very versed and witty person who can totally blow someone off their feet with their actions. A jeweler is also like that because he also has to be skillful, artful and precise. The art of a jeweler usually attracts, especially girls and women.... they fall very easily for gems and jewels, just as easily as they fall for the witty and sweet words of a man. And even though at some point they might realize it's all in their head, it's already too late.... The nice thing in all of this is the fact that learning from our mistakes make us who we are. I like the fact that the song is somehow round and I see the story pretty much the following way: It begins with the falling in love part "Tread soflty stranger/ Move over toward the danger that you seek", "Handsome and faceless/ And weightless, your imagination roams", then it goes on with realizing it was a mistake "And now it's no ones fault but yours/ At the foot of the/ house of cards/ You thought you'd never get obsessed...But you know what it's like to hold the jeweler's hand", then very shortly after comes the proof, because the guy leaves "He became laughter's assassin/ Shortly after he showed you what it was", meaning that he showed the girl/woman how it feels to laugh with happiness and than killed everything with his leaving. The last part of the song means learning the lesson, even if it's painful and at the girl's expense: "If you've a lesson to teach me, Don't deviate, don't be afraid/ Without the last corner piece I can't calibrate,/ Let's get it ingrained"... Once again Alex Turner you've outdone yourself!

    amaranta31on October 10, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Come on people! Alex is sooo deep and such a talented lyricist! When I first heard this song the first 20 times (even reading the lyrics along w) I didn't get it. But then it clicked one day. That's how talented his writing is.. you actually have to meditate on his lyrics sometimes. The song isn't about drugs!!! Most of his songs are about Deep Love :) I'll break it down:

    THE CORRECT LYRICS (From their website!): arcticmonkeys.com/song.php

    Fiendish wonder in the carnival's wake Dull caresses once again irritate Tread softly stranger Move over toward the danger that you seek {I think he's talking about somebody who's married or in a serious relationship, and they're thinking about starting an affair. He's pointing out the danger in starting an affair}

    You think excitement has receded then the mirror distracts The logic of the trance quickly reaches and grasps Handsome and faceless and weightless your imagination runs {You think you're past the excitement of the affair & not gonna go thru w it, but then you feel connected to the other person (their like a mirror to you) so you reason (logic) that its ok & off your imagination runs of what it would be like with the other person & the more u entertain the thought the more likely you'll do it}

    And now it's no ones fault but yours, at the foot of the house of cards {its noones fault but your own that your entering something that is bound to fail & fall apart like a house of cards} You thought you'd never get obsessed You thought the wolves would be impressed {wolves being how society romanticizes affairs & makes it ok} And you're a sinking stone {it doesnt make you feel sexy & in control - instead you're a sinking stone} But you know what it's like to hold the jeweller's hands {but it feels too good, you feel like a gem in his hands & attention} That procession of pioneers all drowned {but the people (the procession of lovers) that were with him before all drowned}

    In the moonlight they're more thrilling those things that he knows As he leads you through the grinning bubble blowers in the snow Watching his exit was like falling off the ferry in the night {when he leaves U, its soo cold & shocking}

    The inevitables gather to push you around {people will say "I told you so" & talk about you} Any other voice makes such a punishing sound It became laughter's assassin shortly after he showed you what it was {the whole thing leaves you depressed}

    And now it's no ones fault but yours, at the foot of the house of cards You thought you'd never get obsessed You thought the wolves would be impressed And you're a sinking stone, But you know what it's like to hold the jewellers hands That procession of pioneers all drowned

    If you've a lesson to teach me I'm listening, ready to learn {Now, Alex is saying you can treat him this way - you can switch roles & be the "Jeweler" and he'll be the one "standing at the foot of the house of cards" & obsessing over you} There's no one here to police me I'm sinking in until the return If you've a lesson to teach please don't deviate, don't be afraid, {most likely you'll do the same that was done to you} Without the last corner piece I can't calibrate, let's get it engraved. {Alex is bringing the analogy of "House of Cards" and "Jeweler" full circle} :) i love him!!!!!!!

    azmelodyon November 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Wow.....Egore is disappointed...changed style of music, then what??? is it that bad?? the album is awesome because they always try to change, otherwise they'd be like other tons of bands. Alex is looking like a drug addict?? Ok, whatever...

    booyakaon August 04, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think its about marriage.

    Someone either by force or desperation has agreed to marriage, but regrets it, and wants to get out of it.

    olMUSICHnjon August 18, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    omfg...it really pisses me off that people think that every song on humbug is about drug!!! I mean,Alex is a genius songwriter,even if he is taking drugs (and I really doubt that,he doesn't look like junkie),he's not that dumb to write a whole album about it!!!! and I think that humbug is a great album,I am glad that they've changed,but they've kept their style...I mean,I love their previous albums,but it would be boring if every album sounded the same...and about this song,I'm not sure yet,it's quite hard for me to understand...I also thought it's about marriage,but I'm not sure anymore...

    Dejana013on September 02, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I really like this song, it seems like Arctic Monkeys have leant towards a heavier, darker vibe but I really love it and Alex Turner's lyrics seem to be quite inspired by Jim Morrison. Don't know, don't dispute it. It's just my opinion.

    iamrosaon September 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    god that is a long comment i just wrote....sorry guys....but i think it's a bit more down to earth than to say that a song can be either about sex or about acid. if you have time read it... sorry if some words are no spelled properly, english is not my native language...good luck :P

    chocobocoandizaon October 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I must say, I agree with andfrazer and azmelody. Once you look at it, there do seem to be lots of clues pointing towardas this being abotu having an affair. I cansee where people are coming from with the whole drugs thing, but in all honesty, I like to think that the Arctic's lyrics have more meaning and depth behind them than a night time trip.

    HollyGayfaceon November 17, 2009   Link

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