In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Tralala, in your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure
Deep greedy and Googling every corner
Dead in the middle of the C-O-double M-O-N
Little did I know then that the Mandela Boys soon become Mandela Men
Tall woman, pull the pylons down
And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next
Steepled fingers, ring leaders, queue jumpers, rock fist paper scissors, lingered fluffers
In your hoof lies the heartland
Where we tent for our treasure, pleasure, leisure, les yeux, it's all in your eyes
In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure
Deep greedy and Googling every corner
Blended by the lights
Deep greedy and Googling every corner
Dead in the middle of the C-O-double M-O-N
Little did I know then that the Mandela Boys soon become Mandela Men
Tall woman, pull the pylons down
And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next
Steepled fingers, ring leaders, queue jumpers, rock fist paper scissors, lingered fluffers
In your hoof lies the heartland
Where we tent for our treasure, pleasure, leisure, les yeux, it's all in your eyes
In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure
Deep greedy and Googling every corner
Blended by the lights
Lyrics submitted by shemovesshe
Fitzpleasure Lyrics as written by Gwilym David Dylan Sainsbury Augustus Figaro Niso Unger-hamilton
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Tralala is the name of a character from the book Last Exit to Brooklyn. If you don't understand the song, it's worth reading that chapter, in particular the last half a page or so (though be warned the book was banned in several countries for shocking content). If you'd rather not read it, it ends with gang rape culminating in death by broom. A rather pleasant topic for a song, if I do say so myself :) Either way, this is an awesome song
@tiggydong wow that is really awesome and really creepy. I am definitely feeling both… a lot a lot. But cool I don't think I could read it if I tried, that was enough for me.
Thanks for this info! :)
on a side note, I haven't read the book yet but I read it's about lower class Brooklyn. I thought the music video was so good at depicting this.
This is copied from an interview with Alt-J. I'm a bit disappointed with them. I get that it's artistic but I feel that their song glorifies the gang rape.
What is Fitzpleasure? Fitzpleasure? Erm It’s not rude is it? It is rude, well it’s not rude, it’s graphic and it’s violent. It’s based on a book by Hubert Selby Jr [Last Exit to Brooklyn]. Each chapter is about a different character and they all intertwine throughout the book. There’s a woman called Tralala so that’s why we sing [sings] Tra-la-la-la there’s a character called Tralala and it’s just about her. So basically the phrase is ‘in your snatch fits pleasure, broom shaped pleasure’ so fits and pleasure and Fitz like a second name, like Fitzpatrick so we thought Fitzpleasure, so more subtle. But it’s about the end of the chapter where she gets, er, gang-raped, so it’s really horrible. Who read the book? I did. I always believe that you write about what moves you and although that gang-rape scene is horrible… it really moved me, it’s really well written, you don’t really know which way is up after that chapter. I thought it was a really powerful thing to write about. We like your shoes, where are they from? They’re Doc Martins.
Well, love them, but this song... I´ll skip from now on
Yeah, its weird. The lyrical content and mood of the song don't do anything to condemn the actions described which is a little disturbing to me.
The Irish prefix "Fitz" indicates illigitimatcy. "Fitzpatrick" means "bastard son of Patrick."
I dunno, I disagree. The song does sound pretty dark, as much of their music does. They obviously take their art really seriously, and something like this is pretty heavy, so I can see why it moved the artist to write about it. Just because it's different from the way you initially interpreted it doesn't mean that it glorifies gang rape. There are plenty of songs about drug addiction, or suicide, etc. that don't glorify those things but simply use them as the basis for a work of art that explores that subject.
I don't think it glorifies gang rape or rape for that matter. When I read more about Alt-J I found out that one of them is a Literature graduate. Fitzpleasure isn't the only song with references to novels. <br /> <br /> This was his way of reacting to the novel, specifically that chapter. It's just like Foster the People's "Pumped up Kicks" it such a happy sounding song but extremely dark and I doubt that it's glorifying murder, it's making you aware of what's or what could be going on in these kids' minds. There's also "Date Rape" by Sublime...<br /> <br /> People react to horrific acts differently. If they write a song (like alt-j does), a book (holocaust stories for example), make a painting (Fautrier's heads of hostage), and many other examples; doesn't mean they glorify it.
I also don't think it really glorifies gang rape. <br /> I've read the book the song was based on and Selby's other works, and I think Alt-J really captures Selby's writing style. His books are basically centered around the horror and darkness in the city. The writing is harsh and immediate; he really doesn't censor any of the content in the work and rarely indicates whether any of the situations are "right" or "wrong". <br /> Fitzpleasure is a lot like that: it gives the facts of what happened with complete honesty. Personally, I think that a huge part of the book and the song is that they both give the bare, horrible reality. Most of the time, people turn away from what they think is obscene even if it's true. The bluntness is what makes you really recognize the reality of the situation.
@Jlefant I don't think they meant to glorify it. Thanks for finding this interview though! :)
In reply to PaxCeciliaPwns, I do think that they condemn the actions described in the song in the lines<br /> "Tall woman, pull the pylons down<br /> And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next"
Also read in NME that the common in the song "dead in the middle of the c, o double m, o, n" is a reference to a place near where the band grew up. A lot of dodgy characters used to hang out there including a gang called the mandella boys "little did i know then, that the mandella boys soon became mandella men".
Such a dark song, but I love it :D
Tiggydong, very valid comment. I see vague references to Trainspotting, specifically with "pleasure leisure leishya" and the term snatch as well as the general violent nature of the lyrics.
Its not leishya. The lyric is, "les yeux", which is French for, "the eyes". The following lyric, "Its all in your eyes."
This songs is brilliant The Mandela Boys are a gang in Southampton who are always getting into trouble but I guess they've toned down a little as growing to 'men' (still wouldn't mess with them though)
also I live right next to the common and yeh I walk my dog there most days and have never actually encountered anything too frightening but then again there are loads of horror stories that prevent me from going there alone! haha
I love they way that Joe Newman sings the word "corner" in the second line when he says "Deep greedy and Googling every corner"
He pronounces it in such a way that the word itself BECOMES an actual corner. ("deep, greedy, and googling every coooor-ner).
The rhythm in which the entire line is sung adds to the overall imagery that is evoked in the listeners mind almost as much as the words do.
Alt J pulls these little tricks in many of their songs and these small subtleties are what make them truly amazing.
@shelbsss Yes! ????
In the line - And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be the next. I always hear - around the necks..I wont affect this mainly queue to be the next. It also speaks to the nature of the song, the animalistic and patriarchal theme of the assault
This songs is brilliant The Mandela Boys are a gang in Southampton who are always getting into trouble but I guess they've toned down a little as growing to 'men' (still wouldn't mess with them though)
also I live right next to the common and yeh I walk my dog there most days and have never actually encountered anything too frightening but then again there are loads of horror stories that prevent me from going there alone! haha
im stunned that its all english. The delivery of these lyrics is nothing short of uh, uh, uh
well i havent read the book, but i get the overwhelming sense that it is about a woman/prostitute will a possible murderous streak in her.....boys become men...deep greedy googling every corner? shes blended by the lights so noone sees her coming and dont realize they are prey,... just saying. thats what i get. =)
but now i am soooo gonna read the book. thanx.<br />