The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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
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
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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.
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
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.
Wtf?!?!? my last 2 posts were deleted???
Haha yeah I saw the funny teeth thing!
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".
this is my favorite franz ferdinand song... and the video for it is certainly amusing!
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.
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.
....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.