When the Sun Goes Down by Arctic Monkeys Lyrics Meaning Unveiling the Dark Nightlife of Suburban
Lyrics
I said, who’s that girl there?I wonder what went wrong so that she had to roam the streets
She don’t do major credit cards, I doubt she does receipts
It’s all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance, I bet he’ll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he’s got a driving ban
Among some other offences
And I’ve seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They’re all infected but he’ll be alright
‘Cause he’s a scumbag, don’t you know?
I said, he’s a scumbag, don’t you know?
Although you’re trying not to listen
Avert your eyes and staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
I’m sorry, love, I’ll have to turn you down
And oh, he must be up to summat
What are the chances? Sure it’s more than likely
I’ve got a feeling in my stomach
And start to wonder what his story might be
What his story might be, yeah
‘Cause they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah, they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here, oh
Look, here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn’t he Mister Inconspicuous?
And he don’t even have to say owt
She’s in the stance ready to get picked up
Bet she’s delighted when she sees him
Pullin’ in and givin’ her the eye
Because she must be fuckin’ freezin’
Scantily-clad beneath the clear night sky
It don’t stop in the winter, no
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah, they said it changes when the sun goes down
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Well, they said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river going out of town
And they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here, oh
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance, I bet he’ll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he’s got a nasty plan
I hope you’re not involved at all
In the immersive and gritty narrative of ‘When the Sun Goes Down,’ Arctic Monkeys draw back the velvet curtain to reveal the not-so-glamorous underbelly of suburban nightlife. Frontman Alex Turner’s lyrical prowess weaves a tale both raw and intricate, setting the scene for a social commentary that resonates with the stark reality of street life.
The song, off their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,’ transcends mere surface-level storytelling and dives deep into the human condition amidst the backdrop of Sheffield’s twilight. It’s a vivid snapshot of a world where darkness doesn’t just fall from the sky but seeps into the lives of those the daylight forgets.
The Girl and the Scummy Man: A Collision of Desperation and Exploitation
This isn’t just a song about the night; it’s a thoughtful exploration of the characters that inhabit it. The girl, emblematic of lost innocence and vulnerability, roams the streets not out of choice but circumstance. Her interactions with the ‘scummy man’—the symbol of exploitation and moral decay—lay bare the power dynamics and the survival strategies born of necessity.
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Streetlight Vignettes: Stripping Glamour from the Nightlife
Turner’s turn of phrase doesn’t shy away from exposing the harsh truths of England’s street corners. The mention of Roxanne and her red light is a blatant nod to the Police’s own song about prostitution, weaving the narrative into a larger tapestry of music that comments on the seedy underbelly of urban life.
The imagery is unapologetic—’scantily-clad beneath the clear night sky’ communicates both the physical chill and the emotional isolation of the girl in the narrative. The relentless continuation of this life ‘in the winter, no’ underscores the persistence of these realities, regardless of the season.
The Anthem of Suburbia’s Dark Side: Delving into the Hidden Meanings
Beneath the gritty surface of ‘When the Sun Goes Down,’ lies a complex layering of societal judgement and human resilience. The song is a compelling indictment of how society turns a blind eye to the plights of the less fortunate, defining morality through a biased lens while ignoring the nuanced stories of individuals.
Lines like ‘I bet he’ll rob you if he can’ and ‘I hope you’re not involved at all’ serve as a stark reminder of the quick assumptions and the ‘us vs. them’ mentality that often governs perceptions of the marginalized.
Melodic Contrasts: The Juxtaposition of Lyrical Darkness with Energetic Riffs
Musically, ‘When the Sun Goes Down’ doesn’t seem to match its somber lyrical themes. The tune powers forward with driving guitars and a rhythmic propulsion that belies the darkness of its words.
This contrast may be exactly the point—the upbeat sound encapsulates the deceptive allure of the nightlife; a scene that seems inviting and electric at first glance, yet upon a closer look, reveals the stark reality lurking in the corners.
Memorable Lines that Echo through Time: ‘What a Scummy Man’
Some songs are defined by a single line, and in ‘When the Sun Goes Down,’ the refrain ‘what a scummy man’ resonates as a chilling echo. It’s a mantra that punctuates the narrative, a label that’s both an accusation and a recognition of an archetype existing in society.
Yet, it’s not just a man the song condemns, but the societal undercurrents that allow such characters to thrive. The song holds up a mirror to the listener, challenging them to confront their own prejudices and the reality they might ignore.
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