Crying Lightning

Album: Humbug (2009)
Charted: 12
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the lead single from English alternative rock band Arctic Monkeys third album, Humbug.
  • The track received its worldwide, exclusive first radio play during the evening of the 6th of July, on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show. The single was then made available digitally via iTunes from midnight that night in order to beat piracy. 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."
  • Humbug was produced by Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme in the Mojave Desert and Los Angeles and Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford in Brooklyn.
  • Turner explained to the Observer Music Monthly that the album was christened Humbug after the traditional hard-boiled sweet of that name. He said helpfully, "You've got to suck it and see." This song also has a number of confectionery references.
  • The B-side to the single includes a cover of "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

Comments: 1

  • Ehren from Bray, IrelandI definitely hear the Josh Homme influence in this one
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.