Arctic Monkeys

Released: November 16, 2009

Songwriter: Alex Turner

Producer: Josh Homme

[Verse 1]
You thrive on dancing in our laps before the more familiar chaps
Who know the curtain leads to fever
We watched the womaniser cry, and in the last sip
You and I declared we might require a breather
I am the truth's true truant
I can feign excitement fluently as solid as I can busk shock
With well-presented merriment
And I know all too well I shouldn't break the key off in the lock

[Chorus]
And the tumble splits the frame
Revealing silk and fits
In the fright lined dining room
Throw a gaze towards them while they feast

[Verse 2]
The days drag their heels
When you're not there to crack the whip
And the weeks wait to burst like a sachet of brats
The old pantomime villain follows my coat
And he hides where it hangs
And he spies through the slats
And meanwhile in the desert's only costume shop
The cowls hang and wait to rot away the identities of the willing

[Verse 3]
So I'm back to sugar in the night
Rocketing shutter doors despite the shop not opening for hours
You can itch, flap and whistle and try to avoid the tock
As I scribbled over drivel, you were snoring; showing off

[Chorus]
The tumble splits the frame
Revealing silk and fits
In the fright lined dining room
Throw a gaze towards them while they feast

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, England. The band consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, rhythm/lead guitar), Matt Helders (drums, vocals), Jamie Cook (lead/rhythm guitar) and Nick O'Malley (bass, backing vocals). Former band member Andy Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) left the band in 2006 shortly after their debut album was released. Their sound has changed extensively from album to album, gradually evolving from raw, youthful post-punk revival music to R ‘n’ B and jazz-inspired experiments.

All four original members of the band were devoted fans of hip-hop when they were younger, a genre that would have an immense influence on their later work, but it was the sound of The Strokes and The Libertines that would help shape their early style. The Arctic Monkeys became one of the first bands to find fame and recognition purely through internet publicity and social media; the Arctics used to sell their demos CDs at a bar where Alex Turner used to work, but due to the limited number of CDs, their fans started to upload them on the internet.

Initially, they refused to sign a record contract with any label through fear that they would want the band to change their songs, going as far as to refuse scouts guaranteed entry into their gigs. However, they eventually signed with Domino because of the “do it yourself” attitude of founder, Lawrence Bell, who ran the label from his own house.

more tracks from the album

Cornerstone - Single

From the album

Cornerstone - Single (2009)

Arctic Monkeys popular songs

Fright Lined Dining RoomArctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys

Cornerstone - Single