The composition 505 by the rock band Arctic Monkeys closes the studio album Favorite Worst Nightmare. She did not become the hallmark of the famous British band, although, of course, most fans liked it and received positive reviews in well-known music publications.
Let’s remember how it was written and try to figure out what the song 505 is about.
The story & meaning of the song 505 – Arctic Monkeys
Composed by guitarist and vocalist Alex Turner. In one of the interviews, he said that this is the first composition about love, which was recorded by the Arctic Monkeys musicians.
From the text, it becomes clear that the author is sharing dreams about how he returns to hotel room 505, where a girl is waiting for him. Obviously, we are not talking about any particular room or hotel. Apparently, this is a metaphor, meaning the once happy, but now spoiled relationship that the main character yearns for.
Tracing the relationship between the tracks of the album, you should pay attention to the final line of the song Old Yellow Brick, which is on the record before 505. The phrase “Dorothy was right after all” clearly means the main character of the fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz”, who at the end of an amazing journey realized that there is no better place in the world than home (“There is no place like home”). And already from the first lines of the last song of the album, a picture of returning to his beloved is depicted.
In the title, some see a reference to the song by the rock band The Rolling Stones Flight 505, in the text of which one can trace similar motifs. There is also an opinion that the numbers 505 mean in this case a distress signal SOS.
Release and achievements
As mentioned above, the track ends the album Favorite Worst Nightmare. Singles from it were published by Brainstorm, Fluorescent Adolescent and Teddy Picker.
Music critics praised this work by Alex Turner. The reviews said that he reached a qualitatively new level as an author and was able to reach emotional depths that were previously inaccessible to him.
Video of 505 by Arctic Monkeys
The official music video for 505 was not filmed, so let’s watch an amateur video with the words of the song.
Interesting Facts
- Alex Turner’s friend Miles Kane, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band The Rascals, helped record the track. He played the extra guitar part.
- The composition begins with the organ part by Ennio Morricone, written on the soundtrack to the cult western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, directed by Sergio Leone.
- Pinterest has a 505 Arctic Monkeys page dedicated to the song.
505 Lyrics by Arctic Monkeys
chorus:
I’m going back to 505
If it’s a seven hour flight or a forty-five minute drive
In my imagination you’re waiting, lying on your side
With your hands between your thighs
Stop and wait a sec
Oh, when you look at me like that, my darling
What did you expect?
I probably still adore you with your hands around my neck
Or I did last time I checked
Not shy of a spark
A knife twists at the thought that I should fall short of the mark
Frightened by the bite though it’s no harsher than the bark
Middle of adventure, such a perfect place to start
But I crumble completely when you cry
It seems like once again you’ve had to greet me with goodbye
I’m always just about to go and spoil a surprise
Take my hands off of your eyes too soon
Lyrics of 505 by Arctic Monkeys Alternative
Chorus:
I’m going back to 505
Whether it’s a 7 hour flight or a 45 minute drive
In my imagination, you’re waiting on your side
And with my hands between my thighs
Wait, wait a second
Oh, when you look at me like that, dear…
What did you expect?
I probably still love it when you wrap your arms around my neck
Or adored the last time it happened
I’m not afraid of an outburst of anger
Pain pierces at the thought that I will not succeed
Waiting was the worst punishment for me
The midst of an adventure is the best place to start
But I can’t stand it when you cry
It seems that you will again give me a turn from the gate
I always spoil the surprise
Taking my hands off your eyes too soon
