Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone"

The Arctic Monkeys turned heads in 2006 with the release of their impressive debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" which was a unique new voice in the crowded alt-rock market. By the time they released their third album 'Humbug' in 2009 they were well established and the expectations from fans never waning. The obvious thing about 'Humbug' is the maturity of their songwriting and that of Alex Turner. "Cornerstone" was the second single from the album and I hear some Morrissey similarities in the verses (the Morrissey of late rather than the early Morrissey or Smiths era)... it would be more coincidence than anything else. "Cornerstone" is a fantastic song on so many levels but what I really like about it has to be the lyrics. The protagonist here is a guy that is so heartbroken and obsessed he approaches look-a-likes of his ex girlfriend but with an obvious lack of success because he asks them if he can call them by his ex girlfriend's name, however, the song finishes with the line "you can call me anything you want" and it just happens to be his ex girlfriend's sister... fucking brilliant. I didn't even know Alex Turner existed five years ago but now I can vehemently say that no one else but Alex Turner could have pulled this off with so much wit and style.


Cornerstone lyrics.
I thought a saw you in the Battleship, but it was only a look alike
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

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
Till I asked awfully politely, "Please, can I call you her name?"

And I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelled your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself

I thought I saw you in the Parrot's Beak messing with a 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 in a letraset, "No, you can't call me her name"

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

And I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelled your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself

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"