Arctic Monkeys - Their 15 Best Lyrics

By Patrick Dalziel /

13. "And I've seen him with girls of the night, he told Roxanne to put on her red light. They're all infected but he'll be alright, cause he's a scumbag don't you know" Song: When The Sun Goes Down Album: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm not One of the standout songs on the band's remarkable debut album "When The Sun Goes Down" details the story of a prostitute with Turner acting as the narrator, as he observes her working on an undisclosed night. This line stands out especially as it combines both the bleak reality of her life with Turner's subtle sense of humour in the way of a "The Police" reference. The reference in question is to the 1978 hit song "Roxanne" which too detailed the life of a prostitute, but in a more positive way with lead singer Sting helping her escape her oppressive lifestyle. In contrast Turner's Roxanne is still very much trapped in her lifestyle by the song's "scumbag" character (most likely her pimp) offering a far darker but more realistic alternative.12: "And I tried last night to pack away the laugh, like a key under the mat, but it never seems to be there when you want it" Song: Black Treacle Album: Suck It And See Taken from the closing line from the band's fourth single from "Suck It And See", this line stands out as a clever simile for the fleeting notions of happiness experienced by Turner whilst in the presence of the girl he is in infatuated with. The idea is that when he is with her he feels extreme levels of joys that he cannot recreate by himself by simply reminiscing over their memories at a later date. This is where the comparison to losing your keys comes in as instead of being locked out of his house, he is being kept from his happiness by her not being present. This stands out as an example of Turner's willingness to portray himself as a vulnerable character, making his lyrics more believable and creating a sense of empathy with the listener. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wznj4lD1Bs

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