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Riot Van

Arctic Monkeys

Up rolled the riot van

And sparked excitement in the boys

But the policemen look annoyed

Perhaps these are ones they should avoid

They got a chase last night from men with truncheon's dressed in hats

They didn't do that much wrong, still ran away though for the laugh

"Please just stop talking

Because they won't find us if you do

Oh those silly boys in blue

Well they won't catch me and you"

"Have you been drinking son, you don't look old enough to me"

"I'm sorry officer is there a certain age you're supposed to be?.. nobody told me"

Up rolled the riot van

And these lads just wind the coppers up

Ask why they don't catch proper crooks

Get their address and their name's took

But they couldn't care less

He got thrown in the riot van

And all the coppers kicked him in

And there was no way he could win

Just had to take it on the chin

LanguageEnglish
Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Riot Van by Arctic Monkeys paints a vivid picture of a rebellious night out for young people in the UK, specifically Sheffield. This track falls within the indie rock genre and encapsulates themes of youthful defiance, law enforcement tension, and the reckless freedom of adolescence. The song follows a group of teens who are mischievously causing trouble and eventually get apprehended by the police. A poignant moment is when the story shifts to the interaction with the authorities, highlighting the sense of invincibility felt in youth suddenly being confronted by the reality of authority. Riot Van captures the essence of teenage insubordination and the inevitable clash with societal rules.

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