Your grandfather’s guitar
Thinking about how funny I must look
Trying to adjust to what’s been there all along
With the boat kiosk lady and her sleepy amigos
But it ain’t a holiday until
You go to fetch something from the car
A travel size champagne cork pops
And we’re sweeping for bugs in some dusty apartment
The what’s it called café
You can arrive at eleven and have lunch with the English
But it ain’t a holiday until
They force you to make a wish
They say “climb up this”
And “jump off that”
And you pretend to fall asleep on the way back
No, it ain’t a holiday until
You go to fetch something from the car
Peeling Back the Layers of Nostalgia
Arctic Monkeys’ “The Car” artfully captures the bittersweet nostalgia of seemingly mundane moments on holiday. Through vivid imagery—like the act of fetching something from the car or the pop of a champagne cork—the song evokes the quiet rituals and small adventures that define our memories. The lyrics center on the subtle awkwardness of trying to settle into familiar places, and the cast of background characters, such as the boat kiosk lady and her friends, creates a cinematic atmosphere. Each verse hints at the passage of time and the gentle tension between expectation and reality, drawing listeners into a reflective state where the smallest acts become deeply meaningful.
Song Credits
Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Songwriters: Alex Turner
Release Year: 2022
Label: Domino Recording Company