Up The Bracket

The Libertines

I saw two shadow men on the Vallance Road
Said they'd pay me for your address
Oh, I was so bold

I said you see these two cold fingers
These crooked fingers I show
You's a way to mean no

Well they didn't like that much I can tell you
Said "Sunshine, I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes"
They chased me up two flights of stairs
Caught me in the lift how I sighed and said
"Hello," cause you're impossible

But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
Wind up like Joseph, bloody in a hole

And it's just like she's in another world
And how they suit each other oh no
But they never get close
It's impossible

Saw the same two men on the Cally Road
Said now they'd double their offer
I was so bold

To say "You see these two cold fingers"
These crooked fingers I show
Oh you's a way to mean no

But it's just like he's in another world
He doesn't see the danger on show
That he'll end up like Joseph, bloody in a hole

And it's just like she's in another world
And how they suit each other oh no
But they never get close
(Crazy, unstoppable)

But it's just like we're all in another world
How we suit each other oh no
But we never get close
That's close enough now


Lyrics submitted by iloveweezer

Up the Bracket Lyrics as written by Peter Doherty Carl Barat

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Up The Bracket song meanings
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69 Comments

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  • +2
    General Commenti love this song. for those who dont know i reckon its about pete(or whoever wrote this song) being chased by a gang for sum girls adress but he flicks the v's(english talk for stickin 2 fingers up at sum1) and runs away only to get punched up the bracket up 3 flights of stairs (up the bracket is english talk for gettin punched in the throat) i love the libs!
    GO ENGLISH PEOPLE!!(im from london in case you didnt guess!)
    libertines_loveron October 16, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI thought the 'two shadow men' were a reference to the Kray twins, who grew up on the Vallance road in Bethnal Green, where Pete/Carl/whoever lived for a time.
    Evil Herbivoreon January 17, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI like to think that after a night on the town two men have come over to him and asked him for a girls address. Unlucky for him he has a liking for the girl and shows them the V n pisses off. They chase him and aren't best pleased so he tries to make conversation ... and he gets a swift punch in the throat.

    Meanwhile the girl is completely unaware that any of this is going on, meaning that she's in another world. However, the bloke that wouldn't give up her address is a decent kinda chap, unlike the two blokes, meaning that he's in another kinda world to the two men ... because he "was so bold" and didn't take the money they would be a perfect couple.

    Quite a downbeat on the ending as it doesn't sound like they're gonna get together, she probably doesn't realise he likes her

    -----EXACTLY
    areboursson April 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Commentdeja vu...(*_*)
    anyhoo. yeah this soung's great. Saw them at T in the Park this year they were good but wasn't quite the same without Pete. Glad 2 hear he's on the mend.
    sOCS479on October 19, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Commenti reckon the song is about 2 debt collectors asking a guy for a girls address who owes them money for drugs and he gives them the v and they beat him up and how the guy and her both "in another world" and so suit each other
    ad good ladon February 13, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI agree that the song is about someone shady searching for one of Pete's friends and him refusing to give them his address, and expanding on that I think the choruses are Pete/the narrator lamenting how this same friend always gets himself into this kind of trouble, either by getting into debt or generally pissing people off, and is always oblivious to it, or is arrogant enough to think he can handle it (it's just like he's in another world/he doesn't see the danger on show). He worries that if this friend doesn't stop getting on the wrong side of these people "he'll end up like Joseph, bloody in a hole".
    Fairly straightforward really.
    cassiusitsoveron October 22, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationPretty straightforward song to decipher. On two separate occasions, the narrator of the song is accosted by two 'shadow men' (meaning enforcers, debt collectors, or some other goons otherwise affiliated with a gang) who ask him for the address of friend (who has evidently run afoul of said gang). The narrator refuses, and as a result ends up getting chased by them and presumably given a bit of a slap.

    The chorus is the narrator warning the friend that was being sought out, who is either oblivious to the danger he's in or just too plain cocky to acknowledge it ('it's just like he's in another world'), that in messing with the gang he's getting into serious trouble and could end up like 'Joseph, bloody in a hole'.
    rvdenton September 09, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWow, I'm the first to comment on this incredible song.

    Well, I have NO idea what it's about. I'll be the first to admit that.

    I love this single, however. :-) Great, furious punk rock made in a reggae-pop-surf style that makes you wanna imitate a British accent: "The name is Bond. James Bond." Slink down London streets in pursuit of the bad guys. All in the name of punk rock!

    Yeah. I don't know what I'm saying.

    But this band will be absolutely HUGE. :-)
    marytylermooreon May 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is WIKID!!!! ive had it on repeat for a long time now haha... i shall stop soon, dont wanna ruin it!
    Mixiblobon April 27, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti just herd this song like 3 weeks ago
    my fav. song currently..
    horrow show n geggin fantastic as well..
    sad thing pete's got drug probs., hope he get's well soon enough to retour
    kezmanon May 22, 2004   Link

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