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.
Fake tales of San Francisco
Echo through the room
More point to a wedding disco
Without a bride or groom
And there's a super cool band, yeah
With their trilbies and their glasses of white wine
And all the weekend rock stars are in the toilet
Practicing their lines
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you, no
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
I don't want to hear your
Fake tales of San Francisco
Echo through the air
And there's a few bored faces at the back
All wishing they weren't there
And as the microphone squeaks
A young girl's telephone beeps
Yeah, she's dashing for the exit
Oh, she's running to the streets outside
"Oh, you've saved me," she screams down the line
"The band were fucking wank
And I'm not having a nice time"
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you, no
(Kick me out, kick me out)
Yeah, but his bird said it's amazing, though
So all that's left
Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf
He talks of San Francisco, he's from Hunter's Bar
I don't quite know the distance
But I'm sure that's far
Yeah I'm sure it's pretty far
And yeah, I'd love to tell you all my problem
You're not from New York City, you're from Rotherham
So get off the bandwagon, and put down the handbook
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Echo through the room
More point to a wedding disco
Without a bride or groom
And there's a super cool band, yeah
With their trilbies and their glasses of white wine
And all the weekend rock stars are in the toilet
Practicing their lines
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you, no
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you
I don't want to hear your
Fake tales of San Francisco
Echo through the air
And there's a few bored faces at the back
All wishing they weren't there
And as the microphone squeaks
A young girl's telephone beeps
Yeah, she's dashing for the exit
Oh, she's running to the streets outside
"Oh, you've saved me," she screams down the line
"The band were fucking wank
And I'm not having a nice time"
I don't want to hear you
(Kick me out, kick me out)
I don't want to hear you, no
(Kick me out, kick me out)
Yeah, but his bird said it's amazing, though
So all that's left
Is the proof that love's not only blind but deaf
He talks of San Francisco, he's from Hunter's Bar
I don't quite know the distance
But I'm sure that's far
Yeah I'm sure it's pretty far
And yeah, I'd love to tell you all my problem
You're not from New York City, you're from Rotherham
So get off the bandwagon, and put down the handbook
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook
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Okay so I read like so many opions on this song and the Arctic Monkeys in general and I am sooo ready to tell it how it is!
First of all, the meaning of this song: This is what I got out of it.....Bands today really arn't, i guess, themselves. Everyone is trying to be someone they're not. "Get of the bandwagon, put down the handbook," - Stop trying to be someone else to make yourself look "cool". Be who you are. I think the "put down the handbook" part is saying stop trying to read up on this subject to act like you know what your talking about cuz ya don't!
I wasn't sure if the song was targeted towards just bands or people in general. Either way it's true.
I like this song a lot. It has a great guitar and bass (which i can play ;] not to brag, lol) And let me just tell it like it is......The Arctic Monkeys are amazing and I'm not sure what everyone is talking about as far as they are trying to be "American". They're just being themselves....They're doing it like the lyrics say!
Plus, dont ya think if they wanted to be American soooo bad then they would drop the accents? I am American and it is suchhh a beautiful change to hear that lovely accent.....Alex Turner <3
But anyways, everyone should stop getting hyped up and just take the song for what it is....Be your self. I'm sure everyone in the U.K. is jumpin on the Arctic Monkeys Bandwagon and Everyone over here in retarted America is jumin on the dumb rap crap bandwagon.....but either way I'm not tryna be someone I'm not. I'm not into rap at all. All my friends are just because its so popular but i am being myself and sticking with the arctic monkeys like ive been doing for the last 3 yearss.
OH AND LET ME MAKE ONE MORE THING CLEAR>>> Don't come on a website to discuss Arctic Monkeys and then totally diss them! They are my boyyss....I hate when people talk bad about them. The world is jelous that they can't come up with the genious lyrics Alex Turner and his crew does!!! And they wish they had those beautiful accents and were loved worldwide. You have to be an Arctic Monkey to get love like that!! ;]