Teddy Picker
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴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?
Overall Meaning
The Arctic Monkeys' hit "Teddy Picker" is a searing commentary on the entertainment industry and the way it uses and manipulates its audiences. The lyrics start with the observation that the industry has "sped up to the point where they provoke/The punchline before they have told the joke." This is a metaphor for the way that everything in the entertainment industry is sped up and pushed out, often without much thought or quality. The desperation to be seen is palpable, as people stare at their television screens looking for meaning.
The lyrics then go on to argue that this cheap, fast-paced entertainment is not worth anyone's time. When people get excited about something that turns out to be dull or uninteresting, the song seems to say, they only have themselves to blame. They were "dying" for it, and the industry was only too happy to oblige.
Later in the song, the lyrics delve more specifically into the music industry, with the line "The kids all dream of making it, whatever that means." The implication here is that young people are sold an impossible dream, that success in the music industry is something that can be achieved if only they work hard enough. The song suggests that this is a lie, and that the industry doesn't care about its artists at all.
Overall, "Teddy Picker" paints a bleak picture of the entertainment industry and its audiences, arguing that both are complicit in perpetuating a shallow, meaningless culture.
Line by Line Meaning
They've sped up to the point where they provoke
The entertainment industry has become so fast-paced that it tries to elicit a reaction before even delivering the content
The punchline before they have told the joke
Media entities often try to sensationalize content, even if it means revealing the most important parts of it beforehand
Plenty of desperation to be seen
There is a sense of urgency and desperation to grab people's attention, even if it means resorting to cheap tactics
Staring at the television screen
People are glued to their screens, consuming content that is often contrived and manipulative
You to tell the fucking punchline before you have told the joke
The media wants you to react to their content before they've even delivered it, and it's frustrating
Well sorry, sunshine, it doesn't exist
Sorry, but the hype that the media builds up is often unfounded
It wasn't in the Top 100 list
The media's idea of 'good content' is often shaped by their own narrow-minded interests and biases
And it's the thousandth time that's it's even bolder
The media keeps repeating the same pattern of overhyping and underdelivering
Don't be surprised when you get bent over
Don't be surprised when the media tricks you again and again, using cheap tactics to grab your attention
They told ya, but you were dying for it
The media often gives you hints about what they're going to do next, but you're so hooked that you still fall for it
saw it and she grabbed it, and it wasn't what it seemed
People's dreams and aspirations are often built around the false promises of the media, which are later revealed to be hollow
The kids all dream of making it, whatever that means
People aspire to success without necessarily knowing what that success means or entails
Another variation on a theme
The media often rehashes the same ideas and concepts, repackaging them to make them appear new
A tangle on the television and the magazine
The media is a web of interconnected content, but it's often repetitive and shallow
Do you reckon that they do it for a joke?
Do the media create content that's meant to be humorous, or are they just playing with people's emotions?
Do you reckon that they make 'em take an oath
Do media entities force people to conform to their narrow definition of 'good content'?
That says that we are defenders
The media often claims to be the protectors of people's interests, even if that's far from the truth
Of any poseur or professional pretender around
The media goes after people who are seen as fake or insincere, even if the media itself is also guilty of those same things
When did your list replace the twist and turn
When did the media's definition of what's good and bad replace people's ability to form their own opinions?
Like a fist replaced the kiss?
Has the media's emphasis on sensationalism replaced nuanced and thoughtful content?
Don't concern us with your bollocks, I don't want your prayer
Don't waste your time trying to sell me nonsense or any other trivial thing. I don't buy into it
Save it for the morning after
You can keep your message for some other time when it might hold more meaning. Right now, it's just empty words
Let's have a game on the teddy picker
Let's play a game where we try to pick out something good from the media's barrage of shallow and recycled content
Not quick enough, can I have it quicker?
Even though the media is already delivering content at lightning speed, we still demand it faster and quicker
Already thick and you're getting thicker
The media is already shallow and contrived, and it's only getting worse with time
Presuming that all things are equal
Assuming that everyone has the same opportunities and resources
Who'd want to be men of the people
Who would aspire to be someone who represents the interests of the masses?
When there's people like you?
When there are people like you who are always looking for the next big thing, the media will always try to manipulate and take advantage of that
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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