In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Jacqueline was seventeen, working on a desk
When Ivor peered above a spectacle
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know that face as I do
And how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face that you are staring from
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
Gregor was down again, said, "Come on, kick me again"
Said, "I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
Come on, you gutless
Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die"
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we, we need the money
When Ivor peered above a spectacle
Forgot that he had wrecked a girl
Sometimes these eyes forget the face they're peering from
When the face they peer upon
Well, you know that face as I do
And how in the return of the gaze
She can return you the face that you are staring from
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
Gregor was down again, said, "Come on, kick me again"
Said, "I'm so drunk, I don't mind if you kill me
Come on, you gutless
Yeah, I'm alive, oh, I'm alive
Oh, I'm alive and how I know it
Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die"
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we need the money
It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday
That's why we only work when we, we need the money
Lyrics submitted by blood_and_the_ice
Jacqueline Lyrics as written by Nicholas John Mccarthy Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The character Ivor in the song is actually a Glaswegian poet/songwriter called Ivor Cutler. He'll be 82 on January 15th, and the story in the song happened about around 10 years ago, so he would've been about 71 or 72 then. Anyway, he used to go the library that Jacqueline worked in a lot, and talked to her. Jacqueline thought it was innocent, and that he was a lonely old man looking for a friendly face, when he was actually quite attracted to the 17 year old girl. One night, I think Jacqueline walked Ivor home, because it was late and dark, and Ivor offered her up to his flat for a cup of tea, as a thank you. Jacqueline agreed and went up. Then, Ivor told her how he felt about her. Jacqueline was horrified that an old man was attracted to her. At this, Ivor became very sad and said that he didn't blame her, because whenever he looked at Jacqueline, he forgot that he was an old man and thought that he was 17 again. I hope that makes some sense, because I don’t think it looks right. Anyway, it’s quite a tragic story about an old man feeling young again.
Ref: theguardian.com/music/2005/apr/15/franzferdinand (15 Apr 2005)