Stop making the eyes at me
I'll stop making the eyes at you
What it is that surprises me
Is that I don't really want you to

And your shoulders are frozen (cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (you're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b-b-bang-oh

I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984

I wish you'd stop ignoring me
Because you're sending me to despair
Without a sound, yeah, you're calling me
And I don't think it's very fair

That your shoulders are frozen (cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (you're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse might result in a bang, b-b-bang-oh

I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984

Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets
Just banging tunes and DJ sets and
Dirty dance floors and dreams of naughtiness

Well, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Said, from 1984


Lyrics submitted by obsessed

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor Lyrics as written by Alexander David Turner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor song meanings
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131 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    I didnt realise this before someone put the point across. i am currently reading 1984 and in the book it shows how in the 'future' there will be no love. in other words evryone is lyk a robot. it kind of adresses how theres no real emotional love anymore especially since the bridge backs up this with 'Oh there ain't no love no, Montagues or Capulets'. though on the other hand the Duran Duran reference 'Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand' cud be to do with the date as Duran Duran though im not a big fan were around in the early 80s. Gr8 song but theyve got far better ones.

    njacksonon January 29, 2006   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    Great song, great words. The 'You're name isn't Rio...' line is a reference to the Duran Durna song, with the chorus 'Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand'. The girl in that Duran Duran song was being painted as really exotic and Alex Turner is pretty much saying the scene in this song couldn't be further from that one.

    shanemurphyon December 12, 2005   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    He used 1984 because it rhymes with floor, i doubt it has any real meaning

    Noelismygodon January 07, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Lukefun... haha, what an appropriate screen name. You are among the many internet music cynics who need very much to collectively lighten up.

    What makes the Arctic Monkeys special? How about the fact that they broke the record for fastest-selling debut album ever? Face it dude, A LOT of people like their music. That's what makes them special.

    "... singing about some girl doesn't really qualify. If they sung about real world issues, like war, fascism and bullying, then I might believe them."

    Come on dude, you can't be serious. The majority of Arctic Monkeys' members aren't even 21 yet. You think they are going to enlighten the world with philosophical musings about the state of the world? Probably not. What they CAN offer us, however, are clever, well-written songs that reflect THEIR own personal world-view. The Arctic Monkeys have become so popular by writing fun, thoughtful songs about everyday life, which is what most people can relate to. I'm sorry that you can't relate to their songs, but obviously a lot of people can, so there's really no need for you to talk down about them. Also, you're really a joke if you expect every band's songs to deal with politics and the like. That's not really what music is about. Music is about writing and recording songs that people will enjoy. People clearly enjoy the Arctic Monkeys' music, or else they wouldn't be gaining so much popularity so quickly. Did the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, U2, or the Clash gain their immense level of popularity by writing preachy anti-war songs? Nope. Even the Beatles were very good at keeping their politics separate from their music. And they were better for it.

    Blah, I'm done arguing for now. However, I think it would do you some good, lukefun, to take a glance at the Arctic Monkey's song "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But...." Maybe you will at least be able to relate to that song... you vampire, you.

    SonicDMon February 08, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Do people not read the comments before posting their own?

    Jon McClure (Frontman of Reverend & The Makers) used to be in a band called 1984 who made electro pop. The line "Dancing like a robot to a electro pop like a robot from 1984" definitely references this and not the book by the same name by George Orwell.

    As for anyone saying that Arctic Monkeys are over-hyped, well here we are 4 years on and guess what, they're still one of the biggest bands in Britain. They've done what a lot of bands don't do and that is matured and changed their musical style as a result of that.

    Personally I think this is one of their weakest tracks both lyrically and musically but it's by no means bad, it's better than the majority of rubbish being churned out by the same old same old with a new name year upon year. There are very few bands whose music can make shivers run through me, this is one of those bands.

    I wonder if any of the people complaining about Arctic Monkeys being another generic indie band would say the same thing now they've released a second album that was musically different to their first and are about to release a third (which is already available on the internet) which is so much darker and the lyrics are so much more complex?

    tomsprayon August 01, 2009   Link
  • +3
    My Opinion

    He's a young guy and he sees a milf. She catches his eye, and he's looking back despite himself, but he's not sure about an older woman, it gets him offbalance that she wants him. He's not looking to have a thing with an older woman and he's surprised she's interested in him. He doesn't want to start something with an older woman, but now he's wondering what it is she wants, does she just want him for sex? He is imagining her in a more sexual way. He's down with that, and he's attracted, he wont deny, But now she's passed him over, and he's even more interested in her. She's looking at him and it ignites his attraction. He's like, You want to start something with me? If you do, I'll bang you, even despite myself. There is no love , no. He'll tap that. Dreams of naughtiness, theyre both thinking of banging the other.

    noringon January 15, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    wow... you people like to complicate things dontcha hahaha... i just see a guy who digs a chick, and she gives him the cold shoulder but he likes her even more because of the hard to get thing... AAAANNNDDD in both Romeo and Juliet (Montagues or Capulets) and the book 1984, there's forbidden love...

    Oh there ain't no love no, Montagues or Capulets Just banging tunes 'n' DJ sets 'n' Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness!

    he's saying that there's nothing stopping them, so why not give her a go...

    upbeat. fun. not deep, but i'm not either.... ;)

    lifesarollercoasteron May 19, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984"

    what a fucking line! this song is just pure class! i love the bridge "Oh there ain't no love no, Montagues and Capulets We just banging tunes 'n' DJ sets 'n' Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtyness! "

    forever delayedon August 05, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    shouldn't the title be rather smth like "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"?

    mylifegoesblankon October 22, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    aclockworktomato, i half agree with you. I agree I shouldnt have put Oasis in cos i dont like them much myself, however there is no denying that they did change things and I still think music in the 90's was reasonably good compared to the crap we get nowadays. However, I do think Oasis were more about the kind of attitude they brought to music and I dont know why I put them in. Theres loads of other bands I never listed that should have got a mention like REM, Kinks, Nirvana, Sex Pistols, The Clash etc. Yet How can you not list the King Of Rock and Roll?? Elvis was the first big superstar, John Lennon himself said that if you had no Elvis there'd be no Beatles. I dont see how he ripped off black musicians, he might have been influenced by them but as for ripping them off, i dont see your point. Anyway, I still stand by the general point I made about music today in my original comment nomatter how 'queer' steveosteve thought it was. Music has never been in a worse condition than it is at the moment. But it surely can only be a matter of time before a band comes along and changes things again, I hope so anyway. After that happens, the Arctic Monkeys and all the other indie dross thats kicking about these days like the frasmellis and the view and so on will be finished. Its sad to say, but at this moment in time it looks as if rock and roll has died

    Mr_Soulon July 23, 2007   Link

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