Not about an ex-girlfriend, but about falling for a bad girl.
At first it's good fun being with her: She's kind of crazy, and he likes her hard-to-get games (that's crying lightning). The line, "her past-times consisted of the strange, the twisted and deranged," means she likes messing with this guy's mind. She's all over him one day, but fighting him the next. Toying with his feelings is fun for her. In the song's context, "past times" means hobbies, or things to do for fun— not a past experience.
He knows the girl is bad news, but he goes with it ("I love that little game you call crying lightning"). I think he tried to avoid getting involved with her ("the next time that I caught my own reflection it was on its way to meet you, thinking of excuses to postpone") because he knew she played games, but he was too attracted to her...
However, as he spends time with her, he realizes her games aren't fun anymore. Now he sees her attitude as mean and conceited with no regards for his bruised feelings ("..stood and puffed your chest out like you never lost a war..") He doesn't want to be a brokenhearted wimp about realizing she's really a bitch, so he doesn't say anything and holds in his emotions ("..I try so not to suffer the indignity of a reaction.."), but he does conclude that being her boy toy and emotional punching bag is not what he wants to be. She's been a hard pill to swallow, but even if it was fun in the beginning (she was "uninviting, but not half as impossible as everyone assumes"), he doesn't want to play crying lightning anymore.
In the end, he's changed his mind: "I hate that little game you had called crying lightning."
This is so good. I love how Alex Turner's given a name to the teasing games some girls play, and kind of uses it as a metaphor to show how guys can also get hurt. Arctic Monkeys back, and still really fucking good. No surprise there, though.
i think is the closest interpretation. i would just like to add though that i think the girl could have been playing with his emotions which could have involved "crying" to him at times.
i think is the closest interpretation. i would just like to add though that i think the girl could have been playing with his emotions which could have involved "crying" to him at times.
if you listen to the song, the song ends with the sentence "and i hate that little game you call, CRYING..."
if you listen to the song, the song ends with the sentence "and i hate that little game you call, CRYING..."
the girl could have been playing him with all her dramas the he's gotten sick and confused of it thus the reason why "he hates that little game".
the girl could have been playing him with all her dramas the he's gotten sick and confused of it thus the reason why "he hates that little game".
Not about an ex-girlfriend, but about falling for a bad girl.
At first it's good fun being with her: She's kind of crazy, and he likes her hard-to-get games (that's crying lightning). The line, "her past-times consisted of the strange, the twisted and deranged," means she likes messing with this guy's mind. She's all over him one day, but fighting him the next. Toying with his feelings is fun for her. In the song's context, "past times" means hobbies, or things to do for fun— not a past experience.
He knows the girl is bad news, but he goes with it ("I love that little game you call crying lightning"). I think he tried to avoid getting involved with her ("the next time that I caught my own reflection it was on its way to meet you, thinking of excuses to postpone") because he knew she played games, but he was too attracted to her...
However, as he spends time with her, he realizes her games aren't fun anymore. Now he sees her attitude as mean and conceited with no regards for his bruised feelings ("..stood and puffed your chest out like you never lost a war..") He doesn't want to be a brokenhearted wimp about realizing she's really a bitch, so he doesn't say anything and holds in his emotions ("..I try so not to suffer the indignity of a reaction.."), but he does conclude that being her boy toy and emotional punching bag is not what he wants to be. She's been a hard pill to swallow, but even if it was fun in the beginning (she was "uninviting, but not half as impossible as everyone assumes"), he doesn't want to play crying lightning anymore.
In the end, he's changed his mind: "I hate that little game you had called crying lightning."
This is so good. I love how Alex Turner's given a name to the teasing games some girls play, and kind of uses it as a metaphor to show how guys can also get hurt. Arctic Monkeys back, and still really fucking good. No surprise there, though.
This makes the most sense to me.
This makes the most sense to me.
Cant wait for the rest of the album!
Cant wait for the rest of the album!
I agree with markubus.
I agree with markubus.
Ur explanation was amazing, it really got me into the song, thank u so much!
Ur explanation was amazing, it really got me into the song, thank u so much!
THANKYOU finally i understand..wow, that makes so much sense.
THANKYOU finally i understand..wow, that makes so much sense.
i think is the closest interpretation. i would just like to add though that i think the girl could have been playing with his emotions which could have involved "crying" to him at times.
i think is the closest interpretation. i would just like to add though that i think the girl could have been playing with his emotions which could have involved "crying" to him at times.
if you listen to the song, the song ends with the sentence "and i hate that little game you call, CRYING..."
if you listen to the song, the song ends with the sentence "and i hate that little game you call, CRYING..."
the girl could have been playing him with all her dramas the he's gotten sick and confused of it thus the reason why "he hates that little game".
the girl could have been playing him with all her dramas the he's gotten sick and confused of it thus the reason why "he hates that little game".
Registeted to say thanks for this explanation!
Registeted to say thanks for this explanation!
Unfortunately I think this is wrong. I think what Alex means by Crying Lightning is just crying, a lot. When your tears split down your cheek, it will look like a lightning. Here's a photo to what I mean : http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.14449494.7885/fig,slate,mens,ffffff.u1.jpg
Unfortunately I think this is wrong. I think what Alex means by Crying Lightning is just crying, a lot. When your tears split down your cheek, it will look like a lightning. Here's a photo to what I mean : http://ih2.redbubble.net/image.14449494.7885/fig,slate,mens,ffffff.u1.jpg