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Arctic Monkeys — My Propeller
Album: Humbug
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1957









Released: 2009
Length: 3:18
Plays (last 30 days): 3
If you can summon the strength, tow me
I can't hold down the urgency
You've got to make your descent slowly
And oil up those sticky keys

Coax me out my low
And have a spin of my propeller

It's a necessary evil
No cause for emergency
Borrowed the beak of a bald eagle
Momentary synergy

Coax me out my low
Sink in to tomorrow
Coax me out my low
And have a spin of my propeller

My propeller won't spin
And I can't get it started on my own
When are you arriving?
My propeller won't spin
And I can't get it started on my own
When are you arriving?
My propeller won't spin
And I can't get it started on my own
When are you arriving?
My propeller
Comments (100)add comment
 mjp wrote:

Why is there a lock on the song (on the list) ?


If you hover over the icon you'll see a tooltip that says "Toggle auto refresh".  No, me neither.
Why is there a lock on the song (on the list) ?
Oh Alex, my Alex..
Worst live Band i have seen. 

They played like robots, no feelings. 

Hope they just had a bad day 👍😂
Where have you gone, my Rosealia?
 
Wait what is this song
lazy album art shows confidence 
i really dig this.
 SchoepTone wrote:

First, Snow Patrol followed by Arctic Monkeys. Perhaps Coldplay comes next to complete the cold weather trifecta.




Or maybe Icehouse 😁
I prefer the 3 Daft Monkeys.
First, Snow Patrol followed by Arctic Monkeys. Perhaps Coldplay comes next to complete the cold weather trifecta.
Good Tune!!
 Ben_Smedley wrote:

what a horrible sound.....hurts ones ears




NOT mine!! I like it!! To each their own!!
 stevematic wrote:

vocals are JimMorrisonesque


Maybe you have identified why I find these guys to be pretty close to dreadful...
what a horrible sound.....hurts ones ears
I used to like them, but when I found out they are offshoring their taxes, I can't stand them. I know it's not about the music, but tax avoidance is an insult to all the people who need to be supported by taxes. Arctic Monkeys don't give a damn about the country they were brought up in. Shame.
This track really pulls me in ✌️
 drewd wrote:

I think Japanese snow monkeys look like Eskimos : aww
 
Cool. Matching coat and gloves.

Seriously, is that hood like a foreskin on his "head"? Pull it up in the cold, wear like a cowlneck sweater in warmer weather?
 macatac50 wrote:
 They're monkeys and they're arctic......what more do you need man...
 
I think Japanese snow monkeys look like Eskimos : aww
They're monkeys and they're arctic......what more do you need man...
very c@@l band
Can't get past the impression that these guys seem to believe that they are the coolest band ever....
Goood Shiiit...this IS!
 rbmbe wrote:
I think he's referring to his narrow boat's propeller. It's probably got a chunk of weed stuck in it. Can be difficult to get out. Somewhere near Rotherham perhaps?
 

Yeah, hard to get that weed out man, I know exactly what you're talking about.
 rbmbe wrote:
I think he's referring to his narrow boat's propeller. It's probably got a chunk of weed stuck in it. Can be difficult to get out. Somewhere near Rotherham perhaps?
 
Seaweed & kelp! LOL! ...keep your hands outta there, before they wind up  calling you "Lefty"!
I think he's referring to his narrow boat's propeller. It's probably got a chunk of weed stuck in it. Can be difficult to get out. Somewhere near Rotherham perhaps?
 phlattop wrote:


nope, this monkey's gone to heaven
 
I think that's what I was hoping this song was when it started, playing that now instead
Yeah, no clue either what that was all about, Mr. Bill. 
 
What somme goods energies these guys 
Love theses guys tonic
and so English 

Bill when do you play TOSTAKI of NOIR DESIR ??  
Why not feel good and jam? I d0, so should you
Me and my son (14) meet over the Arctic Monkeys.
 25demayo wrote:


 
newwavegurly wrote:
This monkey's gone to heaven....
Something in the riff sounds like The Pixies. 
 

No it's "monkey on your back" Aldo Nova
 

nope, this monkey's gone to heaven
 flyboy wrote:
When the battery is dead on my airplane, I generally just get out and hand prop it myself.  That gets the propeller spinning.  Maybe his flight instructor didn't teach him how to hand prop?

 
Update on hand propping.  Apparently the idiot that was parked behind me didn't get taught how to hand prop by his flight instructor either, at least not correctly.  He had a dead battery and thought he could start it himself.

(dragging of locally-stored images into post editor is not allowed - dragging images from other web pages is ok)

Edit: I tried to post a picture of the results of the hand propping misadventure, and apparently I can't do that here.  Imagine, if you will, a beautiful Aeronca Champ, freshly restored with brand new covering, with the left wing completely blown to bits. Yeah, it wasn't pretty.

Also of note, my grandpa had his right arm removed by a propeller when trying to start his airplane in 1950.  He had a hook for 52 years.  he enjoyed people's reactions when they tried to shake his hand.

When the battery is dead on my airplane, I generally just get out and hand prop it myself.  That gets the propeller spinning.  Maybe his flight instructor didn't teach him how to hand prop?
{#Propeller}
 Dazzerb wrote:
Bill likes the Arctic Monkeys.
Bill is cool!

 

 
And Bill is wry. 
"I have my suspicions, but I don't really know." 

{#Drool}
(sic)
Everyone seems to assume he's singing about his own experiences. Remember he's a songwriter, not a diarist.

I assumed propeller was a metaphor for being down and needing someone/something to bring you up, like when you feel as if there's only one person/thing who can make you happy. It seems to be about obsession, like a lot of AM songs. Alex Turner makes it universal by not specifying whether it's a friend, partner, drug, or whatever that's capable of making him happier.

I'm not denying the sexual connotations, just saying it could be about a lot of things, but yeah, I think the gist of the propeller being whatever brings you up (as in being happier) is pretty straightforward.
 Dazzerb wrote:
Bill likes the Arctic Monkeys.
Bill is cool!

 

 
Bill likes propellers. {#Propeller}

{#Wink}
Bill likes the Arctic Monkeys.
Bill is cool!

 
 WonderLizard wrote:
The inimitable Alan Price on organ—either a Vox or a Farfisa, but it doesn't matter.

 
Really?  Alan Price is not listed on the credits - maybe someone is imitating him.
 WonderLizard wrote:
The inimitable Alan Price on organ—either a Vox or a Farfisa, but it doesn't matter.

 
For real?  the same Alan Price that was in the Animals and more?   Cool.  His stuff was great in the potent film"O Lucky Man"  in any case, it's a damn sexy song..
Please consider following sometime w/ 'this monkey's gone to heaven'?
The more I hear this song, the more I like it.  Slow and sexy.  

 
Oh no, Bill, no!!  Send it to the cornfield, send it to the cornfield!!
The inimitable Alan Price on organ—either a Vox or a Farfisa, but it doesn't matter.
 GTT wrote:
... really like this band, this song.

 
I almost agree.  I really like(d) this band, (not) this song. 
Another reason that radio paradise is the best station in the world.  Keeping it real.
Please make it {#Stop}.
... really like this band, this song.
 richlister wrote:

You mean, hardlyatalllikeJimMorrisonesque?

 
my mind keeps singing "and god is seven"
 stevematic wrote:
vocals are JimMorrisonesque

 
You mean, hardlyatalllikeJimMorrisonesque?
Love the monkeys! 🐒🐒🐒
great arctics..even more behind,, the doors..
Oh God, really awful....  
love.
SquiddlyDiddly wrote:
I am SO going to ask Mrs Squid if she wants to take a spin on my propeller and see what she says. 
 
  
johnjconn wrote:
Do it,  I'm thinking you'll get lucky{#Moon}
  
Maybe it was my delivery. I just got one of her 'looks'. I'll try it again in a Barry White style and report back.
 
 
Byronape wrote:

If it makes you feel any better, it wouldn't work for me either.

 

I can let you know that the Barry White style works. You need to do it with conviction and style. 

Let us all know how you get on.  
 newwavegurly wrote:
This monkey's gone to heaven....
Something in the riff sounds like The Pixies. 
 
Oh yes, I heard that too. I thought we'd slid right into that song.
 Poacher wrote:
Poacher wrote:
I am SO going to ask Mrs Poacher is she wants to take a spin on my propeller and see what she says. 
 
  
johnjconn wrote:
Do it,  I'm thinking you'll get lucky{#Moon}
 
Maybe it was my delivery. I just got one of her 'looks'. I'll try it again in a Barry White style and report back.
 
If it makes you feel any better, it wouldn't work for me either.
vocals are JimMorrisonesque
Channelling Jim
9
Poacher wrote:
I am SO going to ask Mrs Poacher is she wants to take a spin on my propeller and see what she says. 
 
  
johnjconn wrote:
Do it,  I'm thinking you'll get lucky{#Moon}
 
Maybe it was my delivery. I just got one of her 'looks'. I'll try it again in a Barry White style and report back.
not sure what they're trying to do with this song, but doesn't seem to be going anywhere. 
 adroc wrote:

Josh Homme (lead singer/guitarist for QOTSA) actually produced this record.

 
Ahhhhh, thanks for the info!  Guess I have a good ear then?  {#Wink}
 gormeister wrote:
 

heinous and reprehensible


 

Ouch. 

I was just going to say it's a bit juvenile. 
When these guys came out with their first album, I thought they were mere snotty little brats with nothing to show for all the hype. Now the hype is long over and the more often I hear them on RP, the more I realise they're not bad.
Not bad at all.

7 -> 8
I'm really impressed by these guys. Bumping up from an 8 > 9.
 

heinous and reprehensible


I am SO going to ask Mrs Poacher is she wants to take a spin on my propeller and see what she says. 
 

 Marr wrote:
I'm starting to think that I've gotta get this CD. Anyone got it already and willing to share an opinion on the whole of it??
 
Being a fan of their first 2 albums, I didn't get this at first and actually gave up on it.  It's darker and deeper (in content and melody) and after hearing this song on RP a few more times, I decided to delve back in and was glad I did!

 socalhol wrote:
this song should be followed up by Queens of the Stone Age - Make it Wit Chu  (I always think this song IS Queens of the Stone Age — singer sounds just like theirs!)

 
Josh Homme (lead singer/guitarist for QOTSA) actually produced this record.

Eeh, don't love it, don't hate it.
this song should be followed up by Queens of the Stone Age - Make it Wit Chu  (I always think this song IS Queens of the Stone Age — singer sounds just like theirs!)

The propeller on his hat?
Bummer!
Just discovered these guys.  Well alright.
That's one amazing photo quesarah!
I really don't care for this song.  : (
my propeller

You have to hand prop 'em


 
newwavegurly wrote:
This monkey's gone to heaven....
Something in the riff sounds like The Pixies. 
 

No it's "monkey on your back" Aldo Nova
This song is getting on my nerves. MUTE!

Liking this more and more each time I hear it. . .

7 {#Arrow} 8


These guys have a pretty short shelf life. Dropping this to a 3. Yawn. {#Yawn}
Yes, I guess it is..I'm glad to be working {#Smile} cosmiclint wrote:

Sounds like a cool company to work for :)

 


I'm starting to think that I've gotta get this CD. Anyone got it already and willing to share an opinion on the whole of it??
 newwavegurly wrote:
This monkey's gone to heaven....
Something in the riff sounds like The Pixies. 
 
+1... first thing that came to my mind was that this was the Pixies at the intro riff.

This monkey's gone to heaven....
Something in the riff sounds like The Pixies. 
7-> 8
 Paul_in_Australia wrote:
Sheffield kids diversify after listening to Supergrass?
 
And after smokin a lot of it I guess....

 Jelani wrote:
where would that propeller be located?
 
                                {#Propeller}
where would that propeller be located?
 1wolfy wrote:
Our company once exported a vehicle called a Humbug...it was a 'mini-Hummer' built on a VW Beetle chasis...General Motors quickly killed it claiming copyright issues.  Interesting title for a CD

 
Sounds like a cool company to work for :)

"My propeller won't spin and I can't get it started on my own"?

{#Ask}        {#Lol}
 MinMan wrote:
Kicks off like Pixies
 
Yes! Very cool indeed. {#Cool}
Kicks off like Pixies: Monkey gone to heaven. Let's hope the artic veriety aren't subject to quite so much sludge.
I was fed up of his whining - but I really dig this new direction.

Maybe they are really that talented
Our company once exported a vehicle called a Humbug...it was a 'mini-Hummer' built on a VW Beetle chasis...General Motors quickly killed it claiming copyright issues.  Interesting title for a CD

Dark n dirty, me likes. Josh Homme doing his deeds.

My propellller!
Sheffield kids diversify after listening to Supergrass?