Something For The Weekend

The Divine Comedy's 'Something For The Weekend' is a masterful blend of dark humor and storytelling, exploring themes of deception, desire, and the consequences of dishonesty. The song begins with a woman expressing her fear about something lurking in the woodshed, which her partner dismisses as mere imagination. This initial exchange sets the stage for a deeper narrative about trust and hidden truths.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the man is not who he claims to be. His internal conflict is highlighted by the lyrics, 'Something in his heart told him to come clean / He was not who he claimed to be.' This line suggests a struggle between his true self and the facade he maintains. The phrase 'Something in his genes told him to pretend' cleverly plays on the double meaning of 'genes' and 'jeans,' hinting at both his inherent nature and his outward appearance. The repeated reference to 'something for the weekend' implies a temporary, perhaps superficial, relationship built on pretense.

The climax of the song occurs when the woman challenges the man to prove his claims by investigating the woodshed. His compliance leads to a violent encounter, where he is attacked, gagged, and left for dead. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovers that she has stolen his car and money, revealing her own deceptive nature. This twist ending underscores the song's central theme: the dangers of deceit and the unpredictable outcomes of manipulative behavior. The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon uses witty lyrics and a catchy melody to craft a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving listeners to ponder the complexities of human relationships and the masks people wear.