It’s actually happened. We’ll be the first to admit it here at HTF… a tiny bit of wee may have come out with the announcement that The Libertines are to release their first album of new material in 11 years on September the 4th. Anthems For Doomed Youth is available for pre-order here.
To keep you in the loop, we have compiled this sprawling list of everything known at this moment about the album and will be updating it right up to the release date. Let us know any info you feel should be added in the comments below.
‘Gunga Din’ Will Be The First Single From The Album.
The track (previously thought to be called ‘Ganga Gin’) was premiered last night (02/07/15) at 7.30pm on Annie Mac‘s BBC Radio 1 show.
The track received its live debut at Holland’s Best Kept Secret Festival and was played the following week in their surprise Glastonbury set. The lyrics “I’ve got those Monday blues / Straight through Sunday blues” are direct from the Billie Holiday song ‘Good Morning Heartache’. The title of the track comes from the Rudyard Kipling‘s poem of the same name, about an Indian soldier at war.
The video (also premiered yesterday) was shot in the seedy suburbs of Pattaya by long term associate Roger Sargent. “Pattaya was sort of like Mordor on the horizon for us,” guitarist Carl Barat explained to NME. “It’s one of the world’s sex capitals and it’s mental. There was an American base there in the Vietnam war, so they started opening brothels. There were Miss Saigon vibes going on.”
Lyrics (sourced from Upthealbion.com)
Gunga Din
I woke up again, to my chagrin,
Getting sick and tired of feeling sick and tired again
I try to write, cause I’ve got the right
to make it look like I’m doing something with my life,
I find a vein, the way to sing,
and a drink to ease the pain and the suffering.
Woke up again,
get off Gunga Din
Yeah the road it is long,
but if you stay strong,
you’re a better man than I.
…
you’re a better man than I.
Woke up again, to my evil twin,
In a mirror he’s fucking ugly
And I’m sick and tired of looking at him.
Clean up for night, i probably pick the fight,
but I can’t help it,
I’m about to hit …
So I tried to write, I think I got a rhyme.
A little drinky now and then,
to help me and to see the light.
Woke up again,
seems nothing changed,
i fucked it,
here we go again
Yeah the road it is long,
but if you stay strong,
you’re a better man than I.
…
you’re a better man than I.
…
Shake it no how.
Leave me alone.
I’ve got those Monday blues, straight through Sunday blues
Yeah the road it is long,
but if you stay strong,
you’re a better man than I.
…
you’re a better man than I.
Three tracks (on the Standard track listing) have been played live.
‘Gunga Din’, ‘You’re My Waterloo’ and ‘Anthem For Doomed Youth’ have all previously been aired live. See videos of all three below (subject to availability/regional restrictions). All the bonus tracks have previously been leaked as demos online.
Gunga Din
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q1A8JJS6sY
Anthem For Doomed Youth (27.35 onwards)
https://youtu.be/lxB-7y2Kd6Q?t=27m36s
‘You’re My Waterloo’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzbyjDHpMLo
You’re My Waterloo – Lyrics
Thought to be written by Pete Doherty about bandmate Carl Barat. The track also uses the battle of the same name as a metaphor for not getting what you want. The track has previously been demoed by the band prior to their breakup in 04 and has been played several times by the band and Doherty.
Lyrics
You’ll never fumigate the demons
No matter how much you smoke
So just say you love me
For three good reasons
And I’ll throw you the rope
You don’t need it
Cos you are the survivor
Of more than one life
And you’re the only lover I had
Who ever slept with a knife
But you’re not Judy Garland
Oh Just like me you’ve never really had a home (of your own)
But I’m not Tony Hancock baby
Until the dawn
We’ll stone the crows
We’ll stone the crows
We’ll stone the crows
And you see I’ve brought you flowers
All collected from the Old Vic Stage
Well I’ve been sitting here for hour’s baby
Just chasing these words
Across the page
Cos you’re my Waterloo
I’ll be your Gypsy Lane
I’m so glad we know just what to do
And exactly who’s to blame
And you’re my Waterloo
I’ll be your Stanley Park
Well I’m so glad we know just what to do
And no ones left
Stumbling around
Fumbling around
Tumbling around
In the dark
Always in the dark
You’re my Waterloo
I’ll be your Calvary
Well I’m so glad we know just what to do
And everyone’s gonna be happy
Everyone’s gonna be happy
Everyone’s gonna be happy
But of course
The Tracklisting: (Deluxe Bonus Tracks Are Labelled)
- Barbarians
- Gunga Din
- Fame and Fortune
- Anthem for Doomed Youth
- Heart of the Matter
- Belly of the Beast
- Iceman
- You’re My Waterloo
- Fury of Chonburi
- The Milkman’s Horse
- Glasgow Coma Scale Blues
- Dead for Love
- Love on the Dole [Bonus]
- Bucket Shop’ [Bonus]
- Lust of the Libertines’ [Bonus]
- 7 Deadly Sins’ [Bonus]
The Album Was Recorded In Thailand
