Alex Kapranos shared the meaning behind this song in a December 2024 interview with Riff Magazine:
“Then there’s the drum-forward ‘The Doctor,’ which Kapranos described as being about his fear of leaving an institution. He had chronic asthma as a child and spent lots of time at the hospital. He sta...
I said to the doctor
I don't want to go home
I think you ought to
Leave this drip alone
I've become accustomed
To this level of attention
I have nurses I can talk to
And thermometers to hold
Though I feel
Just a little bit better
I could feel
So much better
Can't you see
Oh, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
I've become accustomed
To this level of affection
I have visions I can talk to
And my nightmares to behold
Though I feel
Just a little bit better
I could feel
So much better
Can't you see
That I have a good bed here
I don't want to leave here
Just getting to know you
You don't want me to go
You don't want me to go
Oh, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
I've become accustomed
To this level of infection
There are catheters to cling to
And my lifetime to unfold
Oh, doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor
Doctor, doctor, doctor, doctor, Oh
The Doctor was written by Alex Kapranos & Julian Corrie & Dino Bardot.
The Doctor was produced by Mark Ralph.
Franz-ferdinand released The Doctor on Fri Jan 10 2025.