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


Lyrics submitted by obsessed, edited by ScottBITW

When The Sun Goes Down Lyrics as written by Alex Turner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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When the Sun Goes Down song meanings
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75 Comments

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  • +8
    General Comment

    This song is basically in defense of prostitutes and criticism of the pimp...

    "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 not quite legitimate." --the prostitute in question didnt do anything wrong necessarily to deserve what she has to do for a living--she lives honestly outside of per proffession...essentially she is victim of an unfortunate fate.

    "He told Roxanne to put on her red light (The Police reference), they're all infected but he'll be alright because hes a scumbag, don't you know?...etc." ... "and look here comes a Ford Mondeo" --the pimp, a nearly exact opposite of the prostitute forementioned, is corrupted..."I bet he'll rob you if he can". His lifestyle is centered around abuse of the misfortune of the girls he works with, and he wins out from it.

    Essentially the song is just about basically how unfair the world, particularly the "prostitution industry" is. The good are forced to freeze to death while waiting to get picked up to sell their bodies, while the corrupt chill in their nice warm cars and rip people off (and these girls) to fund his decadence.

    triemsmaon December 09, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    love the way the song changes tunes. they put music very well

    undErneethon April 15, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I love how they reference other songs, like "Roxanne" from The Police. It shows their not some stupid kids that don't know anything and are just riding the wave, they actually know their stuff. They're awesome :)

    biba_wazlibon June 11, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Brilliant tune, it's so catchy. Especially the 'They said it changes when the sun goes down' part.

    This band are going to be big, they're already so popular and they only have 1 single out yet.

    obsessedon July 07, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    not just the video though. the lyrics make it quite clear:

    'I wonder what went wrong So that she had to roam the streets She don't do major credit cards I doubt she does reciepts It's all not quite legitimite'

    'She makes a subtle proposition Sorry love I'll have to turn you down'

    'Because she must be fucking freezing Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky She don't stop in the winter winter '

    A street prostitute obviously.

    'And I've seen him with girls of the night He told Roxanne to put on her red light They're all infected but he'll be alright'

    The pimp.

    I think this song is trying to sympathise with the girl and criticise the pimp. 'Scummy man' says it all really...

    myimmortalon January 26, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    People this song is about prostitution, plain and simple

    betrayed.hopeon February 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    betrayed.hope is the only person to write a meaning for this song. I wish they'd make songopinion.com. The Arctiv Monkeys said they wrote this song when they were recording in their studio. It was right next to the red light district and when they were leaving at night they used to see scummy men going in with paper bags of unidentifiable stuff. That's what they say its about, or at least what I remember they say its about.

    psu80eon March 12, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think this is about a hooker

    hoopdoggon March 13, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    nice reference to The Police in there ;D

    iamawesome666on July 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction

    He actually says Summit, not something. During, And oh he must be up to something(Summit)

    Dragonslayer10on October 29, 2010   Link

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