A'Rebours

danyes needs to learn that Pete doesn't need to try and sound clever. He is VERY well read and incredibly articulate.

Ah this song is amazing, one of the best of the album. and: I defy you all You know twice as much as nothing at all It's still nothing at all

that's just brilliant songwriting, imo :)

A'rebours is a french expression that translates to "against the grain" or "against the normal". Pete isnt using it to sound clever, he's using it to express how he feels isolated from everything because he himself is not normal. The lyrics here are actually wrong, in particular it just says: "The Curtain was calling, you were there and a'rebour". I think in this line Pete is expressing how in his time of need towards the end of the Libertines, he turned to Carl, but Carl wasnt there for him - a'rebour expressing how Pete felt abnormal and that if his best friend couldnt help him, then there would be no-one to help him.

I've been running round this world too much, girl Pretending not to see What's drilling me, it's killing me

This should actually say what's thrilling me is killing me - i.e heroin. He says pretending not to see because in actual fact he knows the damage its doing to him but he uses this self destruction to get back at those who made him feel "a'rebours".

I think it almost certain that Pete is familiar with the phrase through the novel I mentioned due to the fact that he has mentioned writers of the decadence period as some of his favourite in interviews (e.g. Baudelaire) and also entitled one of his own diaries A'rebours.

I just thought it was interesting that the a'rebours song on Down In Albion is a mixture of a couple of other songs Pete had done in previous sessions.

Did you know that the parts of the song containing the word a'rebours and the part about thrilling and killing used to be two completely different tunes?

"Would you vow today to pay tomorrow The fucked off big debt I owe to sorrow..."

Brilliant. It truly shows the sad journey he's been trough. Owing to sorrow is a genius lyric. Easily related to. I love it .

This is my favourite 'shambles song. I also love the "twice as much as nothing at all it's still nothing at all" lines. They are amazingly clever. Well done Pete. .....Fitty :D

It's a special song. I think it's upbeat, upbeat in a special way. It's neither a positive nor a optimistic song but the drums, guitars and the voice sounds fucking awesome. It makes me feel happy (in a special way) when I listen to this song. ESPECIALLY the "twice as much" line puts a smile on my face.

for some reason.. when he says "if you really cared for me" reminds me of a beatles tune. i cant remember which one but something along the lines of 'happy just to dance with you' or something from that era

anybody else?

"But what you robbed me of is my... Oh is my liberty"

i always thought that said my libertine, which could mean carlos. but maybe not. :)

superb songwriting.. as many others i just love the "twice as much as nothing at all" part..

probably the best song on down in albion behind fuck forever and (possibly) pipedown.