Still got pictures of friends on the wall
I suppose we aren’t really friends anymore
Maybe I shouldn’t ever have called that thing friendly at all
Get freaked out from a knock at the door
When I haven’t been expecting one
Didn’t that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?
We’ll be there at the back of the bar
In a booth like we usually were
Every time there was a rocket launch or some big event
What a death I died writing that song
Start to finish, with you looking on
It stays between us, Steinway and his sons
Because it’s the ultracheese
Perhaps it’s time that you went for a walk
Dressed like a fictional character
From a place they called America in the golden age
Trust the politics to come along
When you were just trying to orbit the sun
When you were just about to be kind to someone because you have the chance
I’ve still got pictures of friends on the wall
I might look as if I’m deep in thought
But the truth is I’m probably not
If I ever was
Oh the dawn won’t stop weighing a tonne
I’ve done some things that I shouldn’t have done
But I haven’t stopped loving you once
Oh…
Bittersweet Nostalgia and Emotional Reflection
“The Ultracheese” by Arctic Monkeys closes their album with a poignant look at friendship, memory, and the passage of time. Alex Turner’s lyrics paint a vivid portrait of growing older and the changing nature of relationships. The images of old friends’ photos on the wall and the awkwardness of unexpected knocks at the door evoke a sense of longing for the past, when life felt simpler and connections were effortless. There’s a clear tension between nostalgia and acceptance, as Turner acknowledges the emotional weight of memories while confronting his own vulnerabilities.
Melancholy and Hope Intertwined
The song’s gentle piano arrangement complements its introspective lyrics, blending melancholy with a subtle undercurrent of hope. Turner’s reflections on missed opportunities, unspoken affection, and the permanence of love resonate deeply. The phrase “the ultracheese” itself suggests something almost unbearably sentimental, yet it’s delivered with sincerity and warmth, inviting listeners to embrace vulnerability rather than run from it.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Alex Turner
- Release Year: 2018
- Label: Domino Recording Company