#jet skis on the moat

[misskattylashes]

Jet Skis clearly written before Miles had his teeth fixed

#saw toothed indeed #alex turner #milex #miles kane #arctic monkeys #jet skis on the moat

[depressedraisin]

idk if anyone has come up with this theory before but i just thought maybe "jet skis on the moat" is kind of a metaphor or that feeling of being trapped in a golden cage; living a life that's all glitz and glamour but makes you feel smothered as if in goldfish bowl. like we think of jet skis and we think of high speed and adrenaline rushes, of adventures and feeling like the king of the season dominating the waves. but instead of the boundless freedom of the ocean, you are actually going round and round in circles in the little moat of the lofty castle you've found yourself confined in.

#is this abt the experience of living the life of a rockstar under the magnifying glass of the public eye? #perhaps #jet skis on the moat #arctic monkeys #alex turner #the car #song theories

[jetskisonyourmoat]

What’s haunting Alex Turner?

In The Bourne identity, Alex Turner spends an entire song addressing his persona head on. 

In this verse he presents a scene in which he is driving a car (an apt metaphor for leading ones life) but he can’t seem to shake this figure in the backseat who is preventing him from feeling good about himself and his decisions. These two versions of himself are like personas and  throughout the song he explores the tension between the person who he wants to present himself as and the person he knows hismelf to be. In this song Alex can’t help but try to escape the version of himself that he sees as a hinderance, he wants to ‘kiss the past goodbye’ and leave behind the things that are plaguing his ability to move forward. But that is easier said than done and arguably this struggle with his persona’s carries over into other albums. 

In the song Star treatment, Alex reflects on his past in a song dripping with nostalgia. 

And in the beginning of this verse he returns to the theme of driving this time he embodies the persona he was trying to escape and becomes the apparition. We can always argue about who exactly the ‘you’ Alex is addressing is, it could be someone close to him, the audience or (in my opinion) himself. In this song Alex is once again struggling with the person he wants to be and the person he is, this ghostly figure who can’t be forgotten and who continues to remind Alex of the parts of himself that he wants to hide or metaphorically drive away from. 

Interestingly, this nostalgia is carried forward into the song Jet Skis on the Moat. 

Here Alex is looking back at the last 30 years of his life and trying to process how any of it happened. Former versions of himself appear before him like ghosts, he sees his AM/rockstar persona, with his abrasive confidence and his quick witted charm, and remembers how much that version of himself was exposed to the glare of celebrity culture. Then he juxtaposes that apparition with this younger version that appears once the show is really over, the one who is vulnerable and childlike and innocent. I feel like he’s having a conversation with his inner child and this contact allows him to realise that he doesn’t have to pretend to be all of the things that his AM/rockstar persona wanted to be. 

These three songs create an interesting timeline, with The Bourne Identity (2016), Star Treatment (2018) and Jet Skis on the Moat (2022) all touching on themes of the past, regret, fame, driving, personas and haunting. What is also interesting is how the way he has written about these ideas has changed over time. Where The Bourne Identity is a song about self loathing and wanting desperately to rid yourself of your bad qualities, Star Treatment is a restrospective song in which Alex conciously becomes the apparition in order to understand himself and Jet Skis is a moment in which Alex meets this ghost and doesn’t try and struggle against himself. Throughout his creative process he finally reaches a point where sees the ghost that has been haunting him without malice and instead with compassion. 

#arctic monkeys #alex turner #am #the last shadow puppets #star treatment #the bourne identity #jet skis on the moat #brain dump #i love his brain

[dailyamlyrics]

“Your saw toothed lover boy was quick off the mark.”

#dailyamlyrics #arctic monkeys #am #alex turner #jamie cook #matt helders #nick o'malley #lyrics #the car #jet skis on the moat #the car era #the car tour #lyric quotes #lyric posting

[rymbrr]

Jetskis on the moat sped up sounds like it’s straight from Mario

#the car #Arctic monkeys #jet skis on the moat

[paperlovesadness]

do you think “jet skis on the moat” and “body paint” are about miles? or just “jet skis…”?

Heyyy

Oh my goodness. I'm so so sorry for how late I'm responding to this! I remember leaving it aside because I knew I could sit down and write a whole big answer, but then it kind of escaped my mind. But I'm here now! And will make up for it with probably another novel-length answer 🙈

Disclaimers are always: this is for fun. This is one of a million possible interpretations and even I have a lot of those in my head but just choose the 'loudest' one to share. (Sometimes I'll publish an analysis and then have a million new ideas about the song one day when listening to it. Nothing is fixed). This is based a lot on "vibes" cause it's so hard to understand the The Car songs, man.

Okay - so firstly, like I always say with The Car - I do believe that album is first and foremost extremely introspective. And Alex likes to say or suggest in interviews that there isn't too much straight up references to his actual life in there... Now I don't completely believe that? He just definitely doesn't want to talk about them (as usual).

What I see in there is a jumble of emotions and feelings and self-reflection - perhaps done in a less straightforward way than he would do previously. Maybe he did it more instinctively? But there's a strong feeling it is there.

So I do think most songs are just... about Alex's inner workings and feelings (also perhaps why it seems more abstract?) - but do some of those have the potential to refer to a very important and seemingly complicated, undefined relationship in his life? I do believe so.

Body Paint - I've tried looking at from different perspectives. And I'm not sure I found enough to connect it to Miles.

Although - there's a mysterious little detail that I've been overthinking for a while - which is this recurring theme of paint in a few songs. This is probably a prime example of my useless overthinking (and Alex would probably laugh about these sorts of connections being made) - but have you ever noticed:

There's still a trace of body paint On your legs and on your arms and on your face

Exactly the wrong time in exactly the wrong place. Save it for a rainy day. Baby, you go hard in the paint

Or are you just happy to sit there and watch while the paint job dries?

(Body Paint // Anyways // Jet Skis on the Moat)

So like do Jet Skis connect somehow with Body Paint (and Anyways) in themes? 👀

Who knows. But that's just a side observation 😅

Now Jet Skis - Jet Skis being connected to Miles possibly maybe I can see a bit more. With lyrics like:

Come over here and give your buddy a hug

So much for deciding not to let it slide

Because? You know our Milex brains work on overdrive hearing stuff like that. Can it be about anything? Yep. Does it bring to mind a certain someone whose been this man's favorite hug buddy? Also yup. Now extrawild theory territory:

"Deciding not to let it slide" kind of makes me think of how perhaps they've maybe established some new boundaries after crossing a bit too many. Like perhaps one of them went and "killed the joke" they had going in (👀) and after that some boundaries were set. Not letting more-than-friendly things happen. Not letting shit like that slide anymore... Until the next time (so much for that resolution!)

Lights out in the Wonder Park

Your saw-toothed lover boy was quick off the mark

That's long enough in the sunshine for one night

To me lights out in the wonder park is a sad image of something gone by. A wondrous place (jeez. Reference not even intended here) full of fun and joy - but the lights need to go off at some point. It's not real life; it's somewhere you can only go for so long before returning to reality.

Saw-toothed lover boy was probably what grabbed a bunch of people's attention? Miles' crooked, endearing smile (before he straightened his teeth) was something he was known for. And something Alex commented on himself I do believe a few times. (I also do know saw-toothed isn't crooked-toothed. It just sort of evokes that image to me?)

Long enough in the sunshine for one night - to me brings to mind the image of someone being given the full attention they want/deserve. But for some reason can't entirely own. (I can be yours tonight, but not tomorrow type of vibes. That's all we can have - then it's back to "real life". Lights out in the wonder park)

I don't know about the pajama pants and Subbuteo cloke. It for sure evokes childhood imagery. So maybe refers to some specific childhood story? Maybe it's about Alex. Maybe someone told him that they did that in their childhood for fun. Who knows.

And then come the super sad parts?

You know that it's alright if you wanna cry

is obviously so sad even if I can't place it anywhere specific context-wise. (Also seems to evoke Body Paint a bit with "Do your time traveling through the tanning booth So you don't let the sun catch you crying" and "I'm watching your every move I feel the tears are coming on")

And then:

Is there somethin' on your mind

Or are you just happy to sit there and watch

While the paint job dries?

When it's over, you're supposed to know

Okay - so what if paint is some specific metaphor? I haven't found a good enough theory for what that could be (would love to hear your thoughts if you agree and have ideas!) (though... i mean in Body Paint itself there's some interesting theories 👀 not sure it works with the rest though). And now... Watching it dry signifies the end or hibernation of something. But then "when it's over you're supposed to know" - kind of suggests like that ending isn't something that the person it refers to is ready to accept. It still seems like an open possibility. Like one side is still hoping.

As though it's the last time you're gonna ride

Is also sad - suggests something seeming like it's ending. It's the last time. But then there's that "as though". Like an open possibility, hope of it not really being true.

But damn; this is a big mess! Because The Car songs are so hard to analyze, they're so abstract. I can definitely see what Alex has been saying about focusing more on the melody and the emotions it evokes and lyrics kind of being an extension of that. Taking a backseat for a second (hehe. Car pun. Not even intended).

It would seem the album that's set on the actual moon would be as mixed up and tough to decipher as if gets but nope! Alex took up the challenge of cranking it up a notch. Because of course he did.

Anyway. I hope any of this makes sense and/or resonates with someone and their thoughts about this song 💛

Thank you for the question, sorry for the delay!

Sending good energy your way! 💫

.

#ask #song theory #lyric analysis #The Car album #Jet Skis on the Moat

[emisoras]

#jet skis on the moat #arctic monkeys #the car

[skylarbee]

thanks davey, this helps ❤️

no but honestly it is just my luck for them not to play my fav song from tbhc or the car... ever. justice for golden trunks and jet skis 💔

#this is like the fifth time he's left me on read #why does he hate me :( #if they do end up playing it thank me #davey latter #arctic monkeys #alex turner #the car tour #the car #jet skis on the moat #golden trunks #tbhc #tranquility base hotel and casino

[reidiot]

therapy is not enough i need arctic monkeys to drop the new album

#arctic monkeys #the car #the car album #October 21 #there'd better be a mirrorball #body paint #i ain't quite where i think i am #sculptures of anything goes #jet skis on the moat #big ideas #hello you #mr schwartz #perfect sense #jazz #indie rock #indie #alternative #music #alex turner #matt helders #nick o'malley #jamie cook #fandom #quotes #text post #AM #suck it and see #favorite worst nightmare #tranquility base hotel and casino #rock band

[sh3sthnderstorms]

maybe i just wanna be yours ♡

#alex turner #arctic monkeys #am album #knee socks #r u mine #arabella #i wanna be yours #do i wanna know #indie rock #i'm going back to 505 #cornerstone #when the sun goes down #mardy bum #the car #bodypaint #jet skis on the moat #hello you #the last shadow puppets #humbug #favorite worst nightmare #suck it and see #whatever people say i am that's what i'm not #tumblr music

[shit-talk-turner]

i dont think they’ll debut jet skis. that little “i just wanted a jet ski for the moat” is all the acknowledgment we’ll get about it. i think because the problem they’d have is it’s too quiet and slow of a song for the hyper crowds today who only want AM and 505. that and it’d sound too hollow like people say about perfect sense. sad but i dont think they’d play it in the last four shows of tour. maybe we’ll get some jet ski love in zackery michael’s doc though?

☹️

#jet skis on the moat #the car tour

[misskattylashes]

Jet Skis On The Moat - an analysis

So, given that Glastonbury proved, to me, that Jet Skis on the Moat has some sort of significance to Alex, given his rant about wanting a hole filled with water so he could make a splash, then starting the Star Treatment ‘rap’ on I Wanna Be Yours with ‘I Just wanted a Jet Ski for the Moat’. Following on from @blacktrickle’s Sculptures analysis that it is about wanting to come out, and Jet Skis is a sort of follow on from that…I am going to do my own analysis.

Of course, as usual, with Alex, this is all supposition, he could literally be singing about anything. Or just have thrown some words together and thought they were pretty. But hey, deciphering his songs are good fun. So, I am going to throw my hat into the ring.

Jet Skis on the Moat

They Shot it all in Cinemascope

As though it’s the last time

You’re gonna ride

Okay, so the idea is that Jet Skis on the Moat is meaningless in itself, but it symbolises this ideal world Alex wants to live in with his lover. An idea that is as far-fetched idea as having a jet ski on a moat.

Showstoppers Anonymous

Come over here and give your buddy a hug

So much for deciding not to let it slide.

This is where my theory comes in that this song is possibly about being reunited with Miles

Showstoppers Anonymous – the whole EYCTE tour was showstopping. We saw a completely different side to Alex, the shows were wild and outrageous, like nothing you’ve seen before.

Come over here and give your buddy a hug – this could be taken two ways. Part of the TLSP shows was the hugging between Miles and Alex, but it could also be related to a reunion. Alex and Miles’ relationship started out as friendship and I would like to think they will always be buddies.

So much for deciding not to let it slide – I think this is Alex talking to himself. Possibly at the end of the EYCTE tour, he promised not to let their relationship go. But instead, he let it slide. Possibly through fear of coming out, or mental exhaustion or his commitment to the Monkeys to produce another album (I will analyse TBHC another day).

Is there something on your mind

or are you just happy to sit there and watch while the paint job dries?

When it’s over you’re supposed to know

Is there something on your mind? Or are you just happy to watch while the paint job dries? - Paint job = something that is covered with paint. Something that is covered up. Could the something on his mind be the fact that he is bisexual, but he is happy just to sit back and let it all be covered up.

When it’s over you’re supposed to know - there will be a time when it is all over for AM, or he doesn’t feel the pressure to maintain his sex symbol status and can be his true self.

Lights out on the Wonder Park

Your saw tooth lover boy was quick off the mark

That’s long enough in the sunshine for one night

The Wonder Park could represent the shared memories. Saw-toothed means something that rises and falls and is alternate. This could represent Alex’s bisexuality. ‘Quick off the mark/That’s long enough in the sunshine for one night’ could this mean he instigated sex quickly and they had a one-night stand? The majority of the EYCTE tour took place in the summer, and it is when I believe their relationship was at its most intense. To sleep together for one night would be a reminder of that sunshine.

Didn’t recognise you through the smoke

Pyjama pants and Subbuteo cloak

You know that it’s alright if you wanna cry

This paints quite a sad scene. It could be Alex talking to Miles or Miles talking to Alex. The line Pyjama Pants and Subbuteo cloak, conjures up the image of someone who has perhaps let themselves go a little, living in their pyjamas, the Subbuteo cloak could be something as simple as a green blanket they have wrapped around themselves. The home is filled with smoke (both Miles and Alex are smokers).

You know it’s alright if you wanna cry - Self explanatory.

Is there something on your mind

Or are you just happy to sit there and watch while the paint job dries

Ad when it’s over you’re supposed to know

Jet skis on the moat,

The shot it all in cinemascope

As though it’s the last time you’re gonna ride

Like Sculptures of Anything Goes, where Alex dreams of his life with his lover in the last verse, but the last line is ‘I’ll Sing A Tune’, in other words he goes back to the life he is living where he sings and pretends to be something he isn’t. Same with Jet Skis. After his reunion with Miles, he goes back to his life of dreaming of a better future.

As I said, this is all supposition, but after Glastonbury, I maintain my idea that this song means something personal to Alex.

I would love to hear your thoughts...

#alex turner #arctic monkeys #milex #miles kane #the car #jet skis on the moat #song lyric analysis #alex turner songs #arctic monkeys lyric analysis #Spotify

[alittleillusionmachine]

Is there something on your mind

Or are you just happy to sit there and watch while the paint job dries?

Alex really said lemme take "no thoughts, head empty" and make it into beautiful lyrics and melody

#this part is ALWAYS stuck in my head #jet skis on the moat #crazy how much it's become a top song for me and how quickly #arctic monkeys #alex turner

[chaosdancer]

"You know that it's alright if you wanna cry"

#song #songs #spotify #arctic monkeys #jet skis on the moat #cry #cryin #crying

[arcticlovlies]

Dracula Teeth: Lover boy’s last resort. Secretly calls the getaway car.

Jet Skis On The Moat: Your saw-toothed lover boy was quick off the mark.

#lover boy #dracula teeth #jet skis on the moat #lyrics #text

[alexstorm]

But it’s funny that a lot of the interviewers took Jet Skis On The Moat as a take on that life // didn’t Alex himself say that this song is about rockstars isolated from the world? He also said that the band has always felt disconnected from the rest of the world

Yeah but I remember one interview where the interviewer said that and Alex was taken aback about that take. Like, how could one think that. Apparently he doesn’t see himself in that light, like he wrote that song about someone else.

#Alex Turner #Jet Skis On The Moat #Arctic Monkeys