Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down (video)

When the Sun Goes Down is the second single by Arctic Monkeys, released on 16 January 2006. The song, about prostitution in the Neepsend district of Sheffield, was originally known as "Scummy" and followed debut single "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" to UK Number One.

The track is featured on the band's debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, released the week after this single.

The song and music video inspired a longer film, named Scummy Man after a line from the song, using the same actors who appeared in the music video to tell the story of 'Nina', the nameless "that girl there" from the song.

Alec Turners own words about the song:

"We used to have a practice room in an old industrial sort of area just outside town. Loads of bands practice round there and we still do as well. There are sandwich shops and some other businesses that are run there by day. At night, as well as studios and practice rooms there is perhaps some less celebrated activity. When we moved into our room the man next door actually really said, 'It changes around here when the sun goes down,' and you would get asked for business [by prostitutes] out in the street sometimes, or it would be the middle of the night and there would be a bloke with a carrier bag just walking about as we left. It sounds like there's a bit of a humorous tone but it's really pretty sad. It's strange how these different worlds exist in the same space."

Lyrics:

So who's that girl there?
I wonder what went wrong
So that she had to roam the streets
She don't do major credit cards
I doubt she does receipts
It's all not quite legitimate
And what a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes, yeah
That he's got a driving ban
Amongst some other offences

And I've seen him with girls of the night
And he told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know
I said he's a scumbag, don't you know!

Although you're trying not to listen
I bet your eyes are staring at the ground
She makes a subtle proposition
I'm sorry love I'll have to turn you down

And oh he must be up to summat
Want half a chance to show he's more than likely
I've got a feeling in my stomach
I start to wonder what his story might be
What his story might be, yeah

They said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here

And look here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous
And he don't have to say owt
She understands she's here to get picked up

And she's delighted when she sees him
Pulling in and giving her the eye
Because she must be fuckin' freezing
Scantily clad beneath the clear night sky
She don't stop in the winter, no

Well they said it changes when the sun goes down
Yeah they said it changes when the sun goes down
Well they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here

Well they said it changes when the sun goes down
Over the river going out to town
Well they said it changes when the sun goes down
Around here
Around here

What a scummy man
Just give him half a chance
I bet he'll rob you if he can
Can see it in his eyes that he's got a nasty plan
I hope you're not involved at all