Cornerstone: A Haunting Ode to Lost Love by Arctic Monkeys
Searching for Solace in Familiar Haunts
In this poignant track, Alex Turner, the band's frontman and lyricist, embodies a heartbroken narrator seeking solace in familiar haunts – a series of pubs. Mistaking strangers for his lost love, Turner's character embarks on a pub crawl that becomes a poignant reflection on grief, denial, and the struggle to move on.
A Cyclical Journey of Yearning and Disappointment
The song's repetitive structure, reminiscent of classic country tunes, emphasizes the character's obsessive pursuit. Each verse follows a similar pattern: he spots a look-alike, approaches her, and is ultimately rejected when he asks to call her by his ex's name. This cyclical nature mirrors the narrator's emotional state, trapped in a loop of yearning and disappointment.
Wit, Melancholy, and Sensory Detail
Turner's lyrics are both witty and melancholic, capturing the character's desperation with lines like "I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along." The chorus, with its extended taxi rides and lingering scent on the seatbelt, adds a layer of sensory detail, grounding the emotional turmoil in the physical world.
Melodic Simplicity and Emotional Resonance
The song's musical arrangement is understated, allowing Turner's vocals and lyrics to take center stage. The gentle guitar melody and subtle piano chords create a melancholic atmosphere, perfectly complementing the song's themes.
A Standout Track in the Humbug Album
"Cornerstone" stands out as a more melodic and emotionally vulnerable track within the context of the "Humbug" album. It showcases Turner's ability to write relatable and emotionally resonant songs that transcend genre boundaries.
Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone Review: A Hauntingly Beautiful Exploration of Heartbreak
"Cornerstone" is a hauntingly beautiful song that explores the complexities of heartbreak with honesty and vulnerability. It is a testament to Alex Turner's songwriting prowess and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is beauty to be found.
Listen to Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone
Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone Lyrics Meaning Explained
Verse 1: The Battleship Encounter
In the opening verse, Turner sets the scene in a pub called the Battleship. The line "I thought I saw you" establishes the theme of mistaken identity, blurring the lines between reality and the narrator's yearning for his lost love. The phrase "vision trick under the warning light" suggests a fleeting illusion, a mirage created by the dimly lit bar atmosphere and his own desperate hope. The verse ends with a failed attempt to connect, as the narrator's request to call the look-alike by his ex's name is met with rejection.
Verse 2: The Rusty Hook Incident
The second verse introduces a new setting, the Rusty Hook pub. The narrator's impulsiveness is evident as he kisses the woman in the wicker chair before even confirming her identity. The line "she held me very tightly" hints at a momentary comfort found in a stranger's embrace, but the illusion is shattered once again when he asks to call her by his ex's name.
Chorus: The Lingering Scent of Memory
The chorus shifts focus to the narrator's journey home in a taxi. The elongated ride and the lingering scent of his ex on the seatbelt symbolize his inability to let go. The line "kept my shortcuts to myself" suggests a desire to prolong the journey, to hold onto the last vestiges of her presence.
Verse 3: The Parrot's Beak Mishap
The third verse takes us to the Parrot's Beak, where the narrator encounters another look-alike. The loud music and the woman's broken arm create a barrier to communication, highlighting the futility of his search. The line "the walls were wet" implies a sense of claustrophobia and despair, as if the narrator is drowning in his own grief.
Bridge: The Fading Memory
The bridge delves into the narrator's growing fear of forgetting his ex's face. The repetition of "I've asked everyone" emphasizes his desperation and the isolation he feels in his grief. The line "I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along" reveals a creeping doubt, a fear that his memories are fading.
Verse 4: The Cornerstone Revelation
The final verse takes us to the Cornerstone, where the narrator encounters his ex's sister. Unlike the previous encounters, there's a sense of recognition and understanding here. The sister's willingness to be called by any name the narrator desires signifies a turning point, a potential for healing and moving on.
In summary, the lyrics of "Cornerstone" paint a vivid picture of heartbreak, longing, and the struggle to let go. Through vivid imagery and relatable emotions, Alex Turner creates a song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of lost love.
Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I thought I saw you in the Battleship
But it was only a look-a-like
She was nothing but a vision trick
Under the warning light
She was close, close enough to be your ghost
But my chances turned to toast
When I asked her if I could call her your name
[Verse 2]
I thought I saw you in the Rusty Hook
Huddled up in a wicker chair
I wandered over for a closer look
And kissed whoever was sitting there
She was close, and she held me very tightly
'Til I asked awfully politely
"Please, can I call you her name?"
[Chorus]
And I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelt your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself
[Verse 3]
I thought I saw you in the Parrot's Beak
Messing with the smoke alarm
It was too loud for me to hear her speak
And she had a broken arm
It was close, so close that the walls were wet
And she wrote it out in Letraset
"No, you can't call me her name"
[Bridge]
Tell me, where's your hiding place?
I'm worried I'll forget your face
And I've asked everyone
I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along
[Chorus]
I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelt your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself
[Verse 4]
I saw your sister in the Cornerstone
On the phone to the middle man
When I saw that she was on her own
I thought she might understand
She was close, well, you couldn't get much closer
She said, "I'm really not supposed to, but yes
You can call me anything you want"
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