Heart of the Matter

Info

Heart of the Matter is the title of a Libertines track, released on their third album in September 2015, which borrows lyrics from an older Doherty number, "No One Can Hold A Light To Your Misery. An NME interview confirms that writing and singing duties were "split 50/50" between Doherty and Barat.

The song was first heard by fans when it was uploaded to YouTube by the band. It was also played live on The Libertines' small UK tour, prior to their album release.

According to The NME, the track came from Pete and Carl taking each others' half-formed ideas and fleshing them out: “It’s an old idea amalgamated with a brand new one,” explains Pete Doherty of one of the new songs. “We pulled out all the stops, really, on the songwriting front. Carl and I had a lot to prove to each other as songwriters.”

First NME review of the song:
"Pete’s chorus to this has been knocking around for a few years, but it’s given a proper backing here. “With all the battering it’s taken / I’m surprised that it’s still ticking,” he sings in a reggae-tinged accent while the rest of the band play fast behind him. The choruses are charged, with John’s bass sounding like it could have crept off an early Strokes record and Carl’s lead guitar line not a million miles away from ‘Last Post On The Bugle’. Lyrically we’ve got Pete taking pot shots at someone (“No one can hold a light to your misery” and “You’ll get by with your smile, your wicked smile” are the two most cutting lines), while Carl’s reply is forthcoming (“I get by, I get by / Just this crocked little smile”). So are they singing about each other then? And whose heart is really the most battered? Guess you’ll have to ask them about that…”.

Appearing on

Later… with Jools Holland	The Libertines	Session	2015-09-29
Anthems for Doomed Youth	The Libertines	Album	2015-09-11

Concerts

Festival SOS 4.8	The Libertines	Murcia	2016-05-07
AB brussels 2016	The Libertines	Ancienne Belgique, Brussels	2016-05-03
Live @ Olympia	The Libertines	Music Hall, Paris	2016-03-09

Lyrics

No one can hold a light to your misery
You’re the number one
Being hard done
Hard done by
You’ll get by with your smile
Wicked smile and laughing at the misfortune of others
Yelling at your kids
A can of bricks
Laughing as they pick up sticks
And old ladies walks on by
Trip up as they cry

With all the battering it’s taken
I’m surprised it’s still ticking
Yeah with all the battering it’s taken
I’m surprised it’s still ticking

Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter
So glum, it’s all on a platter
So what’s the matter, what’s the matter today?

I am no stranger to the cause
I carry them in my soul
They scorch my flesh and leave great holes
In the meaning of my life
But I get by, I get by
Just as crooked little smile
You’ll get by, you’ll get by

With all the battering it’s taken
Well, I’m surprised it’s still ticking
Yeah, with all the battering it has taken
I’m surprised it’s still ticking
Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter
So glum, it’s all on a platter
So what’s the matter, what’s the matter today?
Oh let’s get straight to the heart of the matter
Why so glum it’s all on the platter
So what’s the matter tell me what’s the matter today?

So hold a light to my misery
But don’t send it up in flames
It’s only I who take the blame
But try me anyway
And you’ll get by you’ll get by
With your wicked little smile
You’ll get by, you’ll get by with your wicked little

Ohhhh

With the battering it’s taken
I’m surprised that it’s still ticking
Yeah with all the battering it’s taken
I’m surprised it’s still ticking

Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter
Oh why so glum, it’s all on a platter
Oh what’s the matter, what’s the matter today?
Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter
Why so glum, it’s all on a platter
Oh what’s the matter it's the glory hallelujah day
Straight to the heart of the matter
Why so glum, it’s all on a platter
Oh what’s the matter, what’s the matter today?
Let’s get straight!

Extrainfo