Fluorescent Adolescent

The song 'Fluorescent Adolescent' by the Arctic Monkeys, fronted by Alex Turner, is a vibrant yet wistful look at the passage of time and the loss of youth. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who once lived a life filled with excitement and rebelliousness, symbolized by the 'fishnets,' but has now settled into a more mundane existence, 'in your night dress.' The song suggests a longing for the past, a time when life was more thrilling and colorful, as opposed to the 'very common crisis' of the present.

The chorus, 'Oh, that boy's a slag, The best you ever had, The best you ever had, Is just a memory,' reflects on the idea that the past often seems more appealing in hindsight. The term 'slag' is British slang, often used derogatorily, but here it seems to be used more affectionately, indicating a wilder time in the protagonist's life. The repeated lines emphasize the notion that the excitement of the past is now just a memory, and the dreams once held may not have been as foolish as they seemed at the time.

The latter part of the song, with lines like 'Falling about, You took a left off last laugh lane,' could be interpreted as the character's realization that they have deviated from the path of joy and spontaneity. The repeated question 'Where did you go?' echoes the theme of looking for the lost vibrancy of youth. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody contrast with the nostalgic and somewhat melancholic lyrics, creating a sense of bittersweet reflection on the inevitable changes that come with growing older.