Jesus in the day spa filling out the information form
Mama got her hair done
Just popping out to sing a protest song
I’ve been on a bender back to that prophetic esplanade
Where I ponder all the questions but just manage to miss the mark
Good afternoon
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
Mark speaking
Please tell me how may I direct your call?
This magical thinking
Feels as if it really might catch on
Mama wants some answers
Do you remember where it all went wrong?
Technological advances
Really bloody get me in the mood
Pull me in close on a crisp eve baby
Kiss me underneath the moon’s side boob
Good afternoon
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
Mark speaking
Please tell me how may I direct your call?
Do you celebrate your dark side
Then wish you’d never left the house?
Have you ever spent a generation trying to figure that one out?
Good afternoon
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
Mark speaking
Please tell me how may I direct your call?
Exploring Surrealism and Modernity
“Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” by Arctic Monkeys is a mesmerizing blend of surrealism and social commentary. Through playful, abstract imagery—like “Jesus in the day spa” and references to cosmic hotels—the lyrics transport listeners to a retro-futuristic world. This setting becomes a metaphorical stage for reflecting on contemporary anxieties, from the overload of technological advances to the search for meaning in a digital age. The recurring hotel receptionist motif offers a sense of detachment, as if life’s big questions are handled with the same indifference as hotel inquiries.
Existential Questions and Wry Humor
The song’s protagonist juggles humor and introspection, pondering missed opportunities and the confusion of modern life. Lines like “Do you celebrate your dark side then wish you’d never left the house?” capture the internal conflicts of a generation grappling with identity and purpose. Arctic Monkeys weave these themes together with their signature wit and inventive storytelling, making the track both thought-provoking and enjoyably cryptic.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Alex Turner
Release Year: 2018
Label: Domino Recording Company