Pretty Visitors

Arctic Monkeys' 'Pretty Visitors' is a song that weaves a tapestry of vivid imagery and metaphor, creating an enigmatic narrative that invites various interpretations. The opening lines set a scene of mundane routine, with a tramp carrying a trampoline, suggesting a life of carrying burdens yet holding onto something that can provide a bounce or escape. The 'barking alarm' that waits to sound off could symbolize the sudden moments of realization or urgency that interrupt our daily trudge.

The chorus, with its 'pretty visitors' casting 'the shadow of a snake pit on the wall,' could be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of fame and the music industry. The visitors may represent fans or critics who come and go, their transient interest casting a menacing shadow over the artist's life, much like a snake pit represents danger and treachery. The rhetorical question 'What came first, the chicken or the dickhead?' might be a satirical take on the cyclical nature of such superficial relationships and the absurdity of trying to discern their origins.

The latter part of the song delves into a darker, more surreal space, with references to a 'crook in a hammock' who cruelly manipulates the 'base and the scales.' This could be a metaphor for the deceit and manipulation in the industry, where artists are often gagged and bound by contracts and expectations, crafting tales for public consumption while losing their authenticity. The repeated imagery of entrapment and the struggle for balance reflect the internal and external conflicts that come with creative expression and public scrutiny.