When the Sun Goes Down (Arctic Monkeys song)

Infobox Single
Name = When the Sun Goes Down


Artist = Arctic Monkeys
from Album =
Whatever People Say I Am,
That's What I'm Not
Released =
Format = CD, 7", 12"
Recorded = Track one (The Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire
Tracks two & three (The Motor Museum, Liverpool)
Track A (The Chapel Studios, London)
Track B (The Motor Museum, Liverpool)
Genre = Post-punk revival
Length = 3:20
Label = Domino Records
Writer = Alex Turner
Producer = Track one Jim Abbiss
Tracks two & three Mike Crossey & James Ford
Track A Jim Abbiss
Track B Mike Crossey & James Ford
Last single = 1st
"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
(2005)
This single = 2nd
"When the Sun Goes Down"
(2005)
Next single = 3rd
"Fake Tales of San Francisco"
(2006)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Type = studio
Tracks =
# "The View from the Afternoon"
# "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
# "Fake Tales of San Francisco"
# "Dancing Shoes"
# "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight at Me"
# "Still Take You Home"
# "Riot Van"
# "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured"
# "Mardy Bum"
# "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..."
# "When the Sun Goes Down"
# "From the Ritz to the Rubble"
# "A Certain Romance"

"When the Sun Goes Down" is the second single from Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys, released on 16 November 2005. The song, about prostitution in the Neepsend district of Sheffield, was originally known as "Scummy" and followed debut single "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" to UK Number One. The track is featured on the band's debut album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not", released the week after this single.

Original reports suggested its name would be simply "Sun Goes Down", but the full name was confirmed on the band's website. The line, "and he told Roxanne to put on her red light," is a reference to The Police song, Roxanne.

Meaning

The song is told from the point of view of a concerned individual who is approached by a scantily-clad girl, heavily implied to be a prostitute. The prostitute propositions the song's narrator and he turns her down politely; he then observes a "scummy man" (played by actor Stephen Graham) who has been hanging around the neighbourhood, conspicuously near the girl; the man is implied to be either the prostitute's pimp or a 'client' who is picking her up for sex. The last line "I hope you're not involved at all," is either the narrator expressing his disappointment that the girl has turned to prostitution or a person to whom the narrator is telling the story, who also may be involved with the scummy man.

Music Video

The song's video premiered on MTV Two on December 21, 2005. The song and music video inspired a longer film, named "Scummy Man" after a line from the song, using the same actors who appeared in the music video to tell the story of 'Nina', the nameless "that girl there" from the song.

Track listing

Lyrics written by Alex Turner, music by Arctic Monkeys.
*CD RUG216CD
#"When the Sun Goes Down" 3.20
#"Stickin' to the Floor" 1.18
#"7" 2.10
*7" RUG216
# Side A "When the Sun Goes Down" 3.20
# Side B "Settle for a Draw" 3.19
*12" DNO080
# Side A1 "When the Sun Goes Down" 3.20
# Side A2 "Stickin' to the Floor" 1.18
# Side B1 "Settle for a Draw" 3.19
# Side B2 "7" 2.10

External links

* [http://platial.com/lolly/map/1834#Arctic_Monkeys_World_Tour_2006 Arctic Monkeys Worldtour 2006] Mapped on Platial.