You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
I know we've been through this before
Can't you hear me
I'm calling out your name
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
Can't you hear me
I'm beating on your wall
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
Can't you hear me
While I'm calling out your name
When I used to go out I would know everyone that I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
I'm sure we've been through this before
Can't you hear me
I'm beating on your wall
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
I know we've been through this before
Can't you hear me
I'm calling out your name
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
Can't you hear me
I'm beating on your wall
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
Can't you hear me
While I'm calling out your name
When I used to go out I would know everyone that I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
When I used to go out I'd know everyone I saw
Now I go out alone if I go out at all
You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
I'm sure we've been through this before
Can't you hear me
I'm beating on your wall
Can't you see me
I'm pounding on your door
song info:
Verified yes
Language
Rank−
Duration00:04:28
Charts
Copyright ©Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music
WriterJames Leithauser, Matthew Barrick, Paul C. Maroon, Peter M. Bauer, Walter Martin
Lyrics licensed byLyricFind
Added
Last updatedMarch 6th, 2022
About"The Rat" is a song by American indie rock band The Walkmen. It was released as the first single from their second studio album, Bows + Arrows (2004), on April 19, 2004. The song peaked at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart and number 49 on the Scottish Singles Chart. It has received high acclaim from critics, featuring in many publications' best-of-the-decade lists.
Singer Hamilton Leithauser said the song originated in a jam session when the band were "just screwin' around." The band's drummer Matt Barrick instigated the track by playing a fast drum pattern. The band then quickly built this foundation into the full track, Leithauser said "we threw some chords on it, I wrote the words in five minutes." The song had been included in the band's live sets as early as February 2002, with slightly different lyrics than the recorded version.
The band's usual method was to self-produce their material. However, after unsuccessful attempts to record the layered electric organ and guitar, they decided to record the track with a professional record producer at the advice of their label. This was later viewed as an unsatisfactory move by bassist Walter Martin who said "It doesn't sound right at all. I think the production for the rest of the album makes the music sound big and live. But it just sounds dense and solid."
Ezra Koenig, who worked as an intern for the band, says the song was originally titled "Girls At Night" and was recorded a year after it was first played to him.
The video features a live performance shot in black and white making use of chiaroscuro. (Chiaroscuro [ˌkjaroˈskuːro] (light-dark)) is an oil painting technique, developed during the Renaissance, that uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms, often to dramatic effect.)
The track has received highly positive critical acclaim, featuring in many end-of-decade lists. It was named thirteenth best track of the decade by NME and 20th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media who named it "a St. Valentine's Day Massacre of relentless drums, bass, and guitar." Rolling Stone called it "one of the greatest songs of the century". Modern Drummer magazine praised Barrick's performance as "a jaw-dropping exercise in precision and velocity". In October 2011, NME placed it at number 31 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Stylus Magazine took a different slant saying that the song's 'one-hit wonder' success "was the worst thing to ever happen to The Walkmen. It brought the iPod-lazy—singles, MP3s, mix and matchers—to their shows and records."
The song is featured on the soundtracks of Major League Baseball 2K7, Dirt 2, and True Crime: New York City.
'Florence and The Machine' covered the track as part of a series on Myspace Music.
Singer Hamilton Leithauser said the song originated in a jam session when the band were "just screwin' around." The band's drummer Matt Barrick instigated the track by playing a fast drum pattern. The band then quickly built this foundation into the full track, Leithauser said "we threw some chords on it, I wrote the words in five minutes." The song had been included in the band's live sets as early as February 2002, with slightly different lyrics than the recorded version.
The band's usual method was to self-produce their material. However, after unsuccessful attempts to record the layered electric organ and guitar, they decided to record the track with a professional record producer at the advice of their label. This was later viewed as an unsatisfactory move by bassist Walter Martin who said "It doesn't sound right at all. I think the production for the rest of the album makes the music sound big and live. But it just sounds dense and solid."
Ezra Koenig, who worked as an intern for the band, says the song was originally titled "Girls At Night" and was recorded a year after it was first played to him.
The video features a live performance shot in black and white making use of chiaroscuro. (Chiaroscuro [ˌkjaroˈskuːro] (light-dark)) is an oil painting technique, developed during the Renaissance, that uses strong tonal contrasts between light and dark to model three-dimensional forms, often to dramatic effect.)
The track has received highly positive critical acclaim, featuring in many end-of-decade lists. It was named thirteenth best track of the decade by NME and 20th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media who named it "a St. Valentine's Day Massacre of relentless drums, bass, and guitar." Rolling Stone called it "one of the greatest songs of the century". Modern Drummer magazine praised Barrick's performance as "a jaw-dropping exercise in precision and velocity". In October 2011, NME placed it at number 31 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".
Stylus Magazine took a different slant saying that the song's 'one-hit wonder' success "was the worst thing to ever happen to The Walkmen. It brought the iPod-lazy—singles, MP3s, mix and matchers—to their shows and records."
The song is featured on the soundtracks of Major League Baseball 2K7, Dirt 2, and True Crime: New York City.
'Florence and The Machine' covered the track as part of a series on Myspace Music.
Album Details
![The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows [2004]](https://cdn.lsistatic.com/img/pixel.gif){kind=tracking}