You take your white finger
Slide the nail under the top and bottom buttons of my blazer
Relax the fraying wool, slacken ties and I'm
Not to look at you in the shoe
But the eyes
Find the eyes

Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine

I time every journey
To bump into you accidentally, I charm you and tell you
Of the boys I hate, all the girls I hate, all the words I hate
All the clothes I hate, how I'll never be anything I hate
You smile, mention something that you like
Oh, how you'd have a happy life if you did the things you like

Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine

So I'm on BBC Two now
Telling Terry Wogan how I made it and
What I made is unclear now
But his deference is and his laughter is
My words and smile are so easy now
Yes, it's easy now, yes, it's easy now

Find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, dark of the matinée
It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
You will find me and follow me through corridors, refectories and files
You must follow, leave this academic factory
You will find me in the matinée, the dark of the matinée
Better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée is mine
Yes, it's mine


Lyrics submitted by talkischeap

Dark of the Matinée Lyrics as written by Robert Hardy Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Dark of the Matinee song meanings
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120 Comments

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  • +2
    My Interpretation

    For me this song is about an anxious, maybe socially awkward, lost soul who hates everything (maybe because he hates himself?). He fancies a girl at school (and even fantasises about her) When he finally meets her he offloads his hatred thinking they may share common ground, but then she counters all his negative thoughts with a positive outlook. She tells him to concentrate on the things he does like, and that's the way to fully enjoy life.

    Suddenly his mind is wondering, he's happy, he's successful, he's 'made it' (talking to Terry Wogan). The anxiety has gone, his confidence has grown, he's found his voice (My words and smile are so easy now).

    The chorus is about wanting to bunk off school and go to a matinee with said girl.

    I think this song is all about how a good woman can change a man's life.

    automatomon March 30, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    my favourite lines are: "So I'm on BBC2 now, telling Terry Wogan how I made it and What I made is unclear now, but his deference is and his laughter is My words and smile are so easy now Yes, It's easy now Yes, It's easy now" They're about people saying you've made it when you're on Terry Wogan's show, but they don't really know what they're on it for. That's my interpretation anyway, and forgive my ill mind for stating the obvious

    nutty dolphinon April 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I saw these guys live last night the song is all about bunking off school and where they hid. It's about how school isn't necessary to get what he wants.

    pinkheepon May 05, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Wtf?!?!? my last 2 posts were deleted???

    Rock Zealoton December 31, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Haha yeah I saw the funny teeth thing!

    bbuckykkatton July 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    That first line is SO sexy, holy shit. I think it's just about that courtship period of a relationship, where you don't really know each other yet but you're edging together..."time every journey to bump into you".

    rhuesteron September 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favorite franz ferdinand song... and the video for it is certainly amusing!

    dirty_toaston April 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i never thought id like FF but this song is really catchy. I think the video reflects that charm.

    What does it mean to me? I just dont know, the lyrics are all mushy.

    tommyhaychon May 13, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love franz and i love this song!

    To me, this song means that you can do whatever you want, whatever you like and then you'll smile. If you read the 2nd part of the 2nd verse then that pretty much explains it.

    The chorus is basically about school. refectories are school canteens academic factory also is self explanitory- a school.

    So basically its saying leave school and do whatever you like and you can be happy and make it in the world.

    jenz00ukon May 15, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ....Have a happy life if you did the things you like

    That is my favourite line on this record. People never seem to do the things they want to in life. The song is like a celebration of just doing whatever makes you happy.

    drivel75on May 21, 2004   Link

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