They've sped up to the point where they provoke
The punchline before they have told the joke
Plenty of desperation to be seen
Staring at the television screen
They've sped up to the point where they provoke
You to tell the fucking punchline before you have told the joke
Well sorry, sunshine, it doesn't exist
It wasn't in the Top 100 list

And it's the thousandth time that's it's even bolder
Don't be surprised when you get bent over
They told ya, but you were dying for it

Saw it and she grabbed it, and it wasn't what it seemed
The kids all dream of making it, whatever that means
Another variation on a theme
A tangle on the television and the magazine
Do you reckon that they do it for a joke?
Do you reckon that they make 'em take an oath
That says that we are defenders
Of any poseur or professional pretender around

When did your list replace the twist and turn
Like a fist replaced the kiss?
Don't concern us with your bollocks, I don't want your prayer
Save it for the morning after

And it's the thousandth time that's it's even bolder
Don't be surprised when you get bent over
They told ya, but you were gagging for it

Let's have a game on the teddy picker
Not quick enough, can I have it quicker?
Already thick and you're getting thicker
Let's have a game on the teddy picker
Not quick enough, can I have it quicker?
Already thick and you're getting thicker

Presuming that all things are equal
Who'd want to be men of the people
When there's people like you?

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Lyrics submitted by backlash_x, edited by kitteo, ArcticMonkey1, Talocin, lambywashe

Teddy Picker Lyrics as written by Alex Turner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Teddy Picker song meanings

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50 Comments

+9
General Comment
From what i've heard, and my boyfriend agrees with me, is that Teddy Picker literally depicts one of those arcade machines; the grabbing ones. The meaning of the song is how music nowadays, anyone can become famous, i.e. you could just pick anyone on the teddy picker and there you go. There are however good bands who are really good but they don't get the recognition they deserve as random bands are being picked out all the time, and because they are trendy, everyone loves them If that makes any sense? There is also a band that the Arctics used to support who are still around now, and they are so good, great music and great lyrics. They have a great fanbase, but because they have been "teddy picked" they've not become famous. It's kind of (slightly) in their defence, and in defence of other musicians in the same position.

From what i've heard, and my boyfriend agrees with me, is that Teddy Picker literally depicts one of those arcade machines; the grabbing ones. The meaning of the song is how music nowadays, anyone can become famous, i.e. you could just pick anyone on the teddy picker and there you go. There are however good bands who are really good but they don't get the recognition they deserve as random bands are being picked out all the time, and because they are trendy, everyone loves them If that makes any sense? There is also a band that the Arctics used to support who are still around now, and they are so good, great music and great lyrics. They have a great fanbase, but because they have been "teddy picked" they've not become famous. It's kind of (slightly) in their defence, and in defence of other musicians in the same position.

Reason:

twiggydollon December 16, 2007 Link
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@twiggydoll

@twiggydoll what does your boyfriend have to do with anything

johnny1060on July 16, 2021
+4
General Comment
This is in the wikipedia I hope it helps you all out as much as it's helped me hahah... it's actually not that hard to find it.. but here it is The song refers to the popularity of celebrities. A 'teddy picker' is British slang for a crane machine, a popular machine at carnivals where prizes, particularly stuffed animals, are picked by a mechanical crane. The song equates a person getting noticed as a celebrity with a prize being picked up by a crane-a result of luck. The song expresses annoyance with people who are so desperate to be famous that they do over-the-top things to get attention, such as participate in reality shows. Such occurrences of reality show 'stars' being treated as real celebrities are especially prevalent in the UK, the home of Arctic Monkeys, where the show Big Brother has spawned such national icons as Jade Goody. The line "don't be surprised when you get bent over" refers to the amount of celebrities or media darlings that are tricked or persuaded by the industry to continue their attention seeking by promises of fame or money.

This is in the wikipedia I hope it helps you all out as much as it's helped me hahah... it's actually not that hard to find it.. but here it is The song refers to the popularity of celebrities. A 'teddy picker' is British slang for a crane machine, a popular machine at carnivals where prizes, particularly stuffed animals, are picked by a mechanical crane. The song equates a person getting noticed as a celebrity with a prize being picked up by a crane-a result of luck. The song expresses annoyance with people who are so desperate to be famous that they do over-the-top things to get attention, such as participate in reality shows. Such occurrences of reality show 'stars' being treated as real celebrities are especially prevalent in the UK, the home of Arctic Monkeys, where the show Big Brother has spawned such national icons as Jade Goody. The line "don't be surprised when you get bent over" refers to the amount of celebrities or media darlings that are tricked or persuaded by the industry to continue their attention seeking by promises of fame or money.

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waks85on July 11, 2008 Link
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@waks85
+3
General Comment
"it sped up to the point where they provoke" "you see a desperation to be seen" "he told you, but you were dying for it" "when did your list replace the twist and turn and And your fist replace the kiss Dont concern us with your bollocks I dont want your prayer Save it for the morning after" thats how i hear it anyway lol

"it sped up to the point where they provoke" "you see a desperation to be seen" "he told you, but you were dying for it" "when did your list replace the twist and turn and And your fist replace the kiss Dont concern us with your bollocks I dont want your prayer Save it for the morning after" thats how i hear it anyway lol

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arcticnayloron April 24, 2007 Link
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@arcticnaylor
+3
General Comment
This song is actually brilliant. Firstly, my interpretation is a very realistically modern motto based around the Arctic Monkey's home town of Sheffield. Teddy picker is the name given to an almost sub-culture of people, usually men, who are beyond arrogance and think the world of themselves. Like the song says, they'll annoy you so much by telling you the "punch line before you have told the joke". Then the song goes on to depict that one day, if those people stay like that then someone will choose to emit harm upon them, in this case the teddy picker has been told a "thousand times" and he's getting "bolder" and he was warned, before someone took it upon themselves to violently bring harm to him. The term "get bent over" is often mistaken for meaning rape, when in retrospect it is a cruel modern day means of attack where a person is stabbed in the behind, effective and common as if caught, it is not attempt to murder but simply violent attack.

This song is actually brilliant. Firstly, my interpretation is a very realistically modern motto based around the Arctic Monkey's home town of Sheffield. Teddy picker is the name given to an almost sub-culture of people, usually men, who are beyond arrogance and think the world of themselves. Like the song says, they'll annoy you so much by telling you the "punch line before you have told the joke". Then the song goes on to depict that one day, if those people stay like that then someone will choose to emit harm upon them, in this case the teddy picker has been told a "thousand times" and he's getting "bolder" and he was warned, before someone took it upon themselves to violently bring harm to him. The term "get bent over" is often mistaken for meaning rape, when in retrospect it is a cruel modern day means of attack where a person is stabbed in the behind, effective and common as if caught, it is not attempt to murder but simply violent attack.

Reason:

mistymooon August 13, 2008 Link
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@mistymoo

wait a second does this have something to do with muslims atacks in London where the muslim killed people with a knife on the streets, wow, you english men have slangs already for what is happening already. PS a romanian

zeroZon July 07, 2013
+2
General Comment
its about reality tv 'celebrities'. its a reference to the modern media buzz of throwing 'nobodies' into the public eye for ten minutes at a time

its about reality tv 'celebrities'. its a reference to the modern media buzz of throwing 'nobodies' into the public eye for ten minutes at a time

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,tAn-xon April 18, 2007 Link
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@,tAn-x
+2
General Comment
WTF guys, i don't understand why all these web sites with songs lyrics don't take them directly from the artists official site! This song is wrong everywhere. This is the RIGHT lyrics: THEY'VE sped up to the point where they provoke, the punch-line before they have told the joke, PLENTY of desperation to be seen, staring at the television screen, sped up to the point where they provoke you to tell the fucking punch-line, before you have told the joke, "Sorry sunshine it doesn't exist. It wasn't in the top 100 list" It's the 1000th time that it's even bolder, don't be surprised when you get bent over, they told you but you were dying for it Saw it and she grabbed it and it wasn't what it seemed, the kids all dream of making it, whatever that means Another variation on a theme, a tangle on the television and the magazine Do you reckon that they do it for a joke? Do you reckon that they make them take an oath that says: "We are defenders of any poser or professional pretender around" When did your list replace the twist and turn like a fist, replaced A KISS, DON'T CONCERN US WITH YOUR BOLLOCKS, I don't want your prayer save it for the morning after. Let's have a game on the teddy picker "not quick enough can I have it quicker" already thick and your getting thicker PRESUMING all things are equal who'd want to be men of the people, when there's people like you.

WTF guys, i don't understand why all these web sites with songs lyrics don't take them directly from the artists official site! This song is wrong everywhere. This is the RIGHT lyrics: THEY'VE sped up to the point where they provoke, the punch-line before they have told the joke, PLENTY of desperation to be seen, staring at the television screen, sped up to the point where they provoke you to tell the fucking punch-line, before you have told the joke, "Sorry sunshine it doesn't exist. It wasn't in the top 100 list" It's the 1000th time that it's even bolder, don't be surprised when you get bent over, they told you but you were dying for it Saw it and she grabbed it and it wasn't what it seemed, the kids all dream of making it, whatever that means Another variation on a theme, a tangle on the television and the magazine Do you reckon that they do it for a joke? Do you reckon that they make them take an oath that says: "We are defenders of any poser or professional pretender around" When did your list replace the twist and turn like a fist, replaced A KISS, DON'T CONCERN US WITH YOUR BOLLOCKS, I don't want your prayer save it for the morning after. Let's have a game on the teddy picker "not quick enough can I have it quicker" already thick and your getting thicker PRESUMING all things are equal who'd want to be men of the people, when there's people like you.

Reason:

Tekkiuson August 17, 2011 Link
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@Tekkius
+1
General Comment
this song is brilliant, one of the best on the album the bassline at the start is really cool and catchy

this song is brilliant, one of the best on the album the bassline at the start is really cool and catchy

Reason:

brainstew13on April 11, 2007 Link
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@brainstew13
+1
General Comment
ohh its actually 'Despair to the point till they provoke' 'The sheer desperation to be scene/seen' 'He told ya, that you were gagging for it' 'When did your list replace the twist and turn? Ah the fist, replaced the kissed-on concern And if you're bothered, I don't want your prayers Save it for the morning after'

ohh its actually 'Despair to the point till they provoke' 'The sheer desperation to be scene/seen' 'He told ya, that you were gagging for it' 'When did your list replace the twist and turn? Ah the fist, replaced the kissed-on concern And if you're bothered, I don't want your prayers Save it for the morning after'

Reason:

,tAn-xon April 23, 2007 Link
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@,tAn-x

'tis not, dear lad.

ArcticFangirlon January 09, 2010
+1
General Comment
Some of these lyrics are wrong sorry in my opinion I'm pretty sure he's saying: "When did your list replace the twist and turn like a fist, replace the kiss, don't concern us with your bollocks I don't want your prayers, save it for the morning after." Thanks :) (from the north)

Some of these lyrics are wrong sorry in my opinion I'm pretty sure he's saying: "When did your list replace the twist and turn like a fist, replace the kiss, don't concern us with your bollocks I don't want your prayers, save it for the morning after." Thanks :) (from the north)

Reason:

ArcticMorrisseyJPRGon April 17, 2014 Link
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0
General Comment
is teddy picker a northern phrase like mardy bum? the song is obviosly about their abhorence of the media though. can anyone tell me what the teddy picker is? soz im a southern softie. lol :)

is teddy picker a northern phrase like mardy bum? the song is obviosly about their abhorence of the media though. can anyone tell me what the teddy picker is? soz im a southern softie. lol :)

Reason:

lukeashmooreon April 16, 2007 Link
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@lukeashmoore

its the game with all the stuffed animals in it and you use a crane to pick out a stuffed animal.

pianton October 08, 2012