Released: October 17, 2005

Songwriter: Alex Turner

Producer: Jim Abbiss

[Verse 1]
There's always somebody taller with more of a wit
And he's equipped to enthrall her and her friends think he’s fit
And you just can't measure up though, you don't have a prayer
Wishing that you'd made the most of her when she was there

[Pre-Chorus]
They've got engaged, there's no intention of a wedding
He's pinched your bird and he'd probably kick your head in

[Chorus]
Bigger boys and stolen sweethearts
Oh, you’re better off without her anyway
You said you wasn't sad to see her go
Yeah, but I know you were though

[Verse 2]
Now you don't know what she's up to, you can only assume
If she's not in the front of the shops then they've gone to his room
Bet she's gone 'round in her school stuff, bet that’s what he likes
I know you thought she were different and you thought she were nice

[Pre-Chorus]
But she's not nice, she's pretty fucking far from nice
She’s looking at you funny, rarely looking at you twice

[Chorus]
Bigger boys and stolen sweethearts
Oh, you’re better off without her anyway
You said you wasn't sad to see her go
Yeah, but it's clear you were though

[Verse 3]
Have you heard what she has been doing? Never did it for me
He picks her up at the school gate at twenty past three
She’s been with all of the boys but never went very far
And she wagged English and Science just to go in his car

[Pre-Chorus]
They've got engaged, there's no intention of a wedding
He's pinched me bird and he'd probably kick my head in
Oh, now the girls have grown
Yeah, but I'm sure that they still carry on in similar ways

[Chorus]
Bigger boys and stolen sweethearts
Oh, I'm better off without her anyway
I said I wasn’t sad to see her go
Yeah, but I’m only pretending, you know
Yeah, I’m only pretending, you know
I was only pretending, you know
I was only pretending, you know

Arctic Monkeys

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.