To see the lyrics, click on the name of the version you are interested in (on the left).

This song, the first real Divine Comedy single, is regularly played live since 1996.

It became a hit by chance. Chris Evans heard it at a friend’s party. On the following Monday he wanted to play it during his morning radio programme but realised that he didn't have the disc, so he phoned his friend to play it.

The phrase ‘something for the weekend’ was used by barbers to sell condoms. Now, it means that someone has an affair. Neil got the ‘something in the woodshed’ from the film Cold Comfort Farm, with Kate Beckinsale, adapted from a novel by Stella Gibbons.

The success of the song resides in that it's hilarious, honestly. As an opening song, it gives the pace to the whole album: sex, sex and sex. It tells the story of a man who wants to sleep with a woman, but she tricks him. He is punished for his natural instincts (‘his genes’ being possibly understood as ‘his jeans’).

Here's what Neil says about the song: “Inspired by Kate Beckinsale’s lovely face, and the idea that if anybody quite that beautiful ever took the slightest bit of interest in me, I’d be forever wondering whether they were simply humouring me, or had some more devious intentions hidden up their delicate sleeves. The idea, as the album opener, is that while love is a dangerous game, and usually ends in heartbreak, it’s usually much more fun to dive in head first!” [1]

The roll of drums at the beginning might have been inspired by France Gall’s ‘Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son’ (written by Serge Gainsbourg). [2]

For the single release, a video was shot for the first time for The Divine Comedy. It was filmed in Venice, to fit with the ambiance of the album artwork, although it was done at a later stage. We do not know who the director actually was.


[1] Casanova track by track, Setanta 1996
[2] Les Inrockuptibles 13/02/2001