Crying Lightning

Crying Lightning is the first single from British alternative rock band Arctic Monkeys' third album Humbug. It was first played on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 on 6 July 2009, when talking about the song frontman Alex Turner told Lowe, "this was deemed the best signifier of the record. It was a favourite during recording." When Lowe commented that he thought this track works well as an unconventional pop song, Turner agreed saying, "It's quite strange as far as a pop song goes, the arrangement." The track was then made available on iTunes to download the following day. Physical copies of the single were made available on 17 August, one week before the release of the album. The vinyl was made available in Oxfam shops and sold with a download code for fans to get a free MP3 version of the song. The single debuted at #12 on the UK Singles Chart on 12 July 2009 by downloads alone. The music video for the single debuted on Channel 4 in UK on 24 July 2009. It was directed by Richard Ayoade, who worked with the band previously on the video for Fluorescent Adolescent, as well as their "At the Apollo" live DVD. The video features the band performing the song on a boat on a rough sea. During a short instrumental interlude, a large figure rises up from the sea in the form of frontman, Turner. He falls to his knees where the boat passes between his legs before the other three band members also rise up out from the water.

[Verse 1] Outside the cafe by the cracker factory You were practicing a magic trick And my thoughts got rude as you talked and chewed On the last of your pick and mix Said, "You're mistaken if you're thinking That I haven't been called cold before" As you bit into your strawberry lace And then offered me your attention in the form of a gobstopper It's all you had left and it was going to waste [Chorus] Your pastimes consisted of the strange And twisted and deranged And I love that little game you had called Crying Lightning And how you'd like to aggravate the ice-cream man On rainy afternoons [Verse 2] The next time that I caught my own reflection It was on its way to meet you Thinking of excuses to postpone You never looked like yourself from the side But your profile could not hide The fact you knew I was approaching your throne With folded arms you occupied the bench like toothache Stood and puffed your chest out like you'd never lost a war And though I tried so not to suffer the indignity of reaction There was no cracks to grasp or gaps to claw [Chorus] And your pastimes consisted of the strange And twisted and deranged And I hate that little game you had called Crying Lightning And how you'd like to aggravate the icky man on rainy afternoons Uninviting, but not half as impossible as everyone assumes you are Crying Lightning [Instrumental Break] [Chorus] Your pastimes consisted of the strange And twisted and deranged And I hate that little game you had called Crying Lightning, Crying Lightning Crying Lightning, Crying Lightning Your pastimes consisted of the strange And twisted and deranged And I hate that little game you had called Crying