Released 14 August 2006 Length 3:52 | Format 7", CD Label Domino | |
B-side "Put Your Dukes Up John"
"Baby I'm Yours" Recorded Mayfair Studios, London | ||
"Leave Before the Lights Come On" is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. The song was released on 14 August 2006 as the band's third single in the United Kingdom. The song was not included on the band's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, though Alex Turner has stated that it could have been on the album as it follows a similar theme to many of the album tracks. It was the band's final release before promotion began for their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare in Spring 2007. However, it was not included on their second album either.
Contents
The single's release was confirmed on the band's website on 6 July 2006, and that the track would be released on Monday, 14 August, on 3 track CD and 2 track 7" vinyl. The website did not offer any further information, but NME's website announced that the two b-side tracks for the single will be covers, "one of which will be their version of an old song and the other a cover of a track by one of their favourite groups." In July 2006, it was confirmed on Gonzo that "Put Your Dukes Up, John" by The Little Flames would be one of the cover versions. On 17 July, it emerged on an Arctic Monkeys fansite that the other cover version would be "Baby, I'm Yours" originally recorded by Barbara Lewis. The official website soon confirmed this and added that the track would be a collaboration with the 747s. The single entered the UK singles charts at number four on 20 August 2006, their first not to top the chart.
"Leave Before the Lights Come On" was the Arctic Monkeys' first single to enter the Canadian Singles Chart and debuted at number two behind Eva Avila's "Meant to Fly" (2006) by only fifteen copies. It descended to number three in its second week and remained on the chart for seven weeks.
Alex Turner confirmed the release of the single in an interview with NME: "'Leave Before the Lights Come On' feels very much like it could be on the album. So we're going to put that out as a single. I remember it's the last song that I wrote about that sort of time, going out and that. My life's not really like that any more."
Music video
The video was released on the band's website on 3 August 2006. It was directed by John Hardwick, who was also at the helm for the video for "M.O.R." for the band Blur. The video was filmed in Sheffield in the Cultural Industries Quarter in July 2006 and features actors Kate Ashfield of Shaun of the Dead fame and Paddy Considine of The World's End and Hot Fuzz fame. The video starts off with Ashfield on the top of a building (the Showroom Cinema) about to jump off. She drops her shoe as Considine is walking in the street below. He sees Ashfield and immediately runs to the top of the building. He puts out his hand then he and Ashfield hug. The two walk to nearby cafe and sit down to have coffee. Ashfield makes an attempt to kiss Considine. He stops her, showing his wedding ring, then walks out of the cafe but she makes an attempt to follow him. He gets her up against a fence and threatens her before walking off. Ashfield then runs back up to the top of the building where she purposely drops her shoe in front of an unsuspecting Matt Helders, strolling along in a T-shirt with the words 'Bang, Bang' on it, a recording company for the Arctic Monkeys, implying the events to be repeated cyclically.