505

Song meaning of 505 by Arctic Monkeys

The relationship and the protagonist's need to go back to a place for a specific person or event are major themes in the song's lyrics.

The song is frequently cited as one of the band's early love songs. Turner said of the song in an NME interview: "It's the first proper love song we've done, like, 'Oh, it's that one person.'"

In the same interview, Turner acknowledges that the song is about his ex-lover, a reference that some fans have surmised to be Johanna Bennett, Turner's previous girlfriend.

At first peaking at number 73 on the UK Singles Chart, the song was a sleeper hit. Its use on the social media site TikTok led to a rise in popularity in late 2022.

505 lyrics by Arctic Monkeys

I'm going back to 505

If it's a 7 hour flight or a 45 minute drive

In my imagination you're waiting lying on your side

With your hands between your thighs

Stop and wait a sec

Oh when you look at me like that my darling

What did you expect

I probably still adore you with your hands around my neck

Or I did last time I checked

Not shy of a spark

A knife twists at the thought that I should fall short of the mark

Frightened by the bite though its no harsher than the bark

Middle of adventure, such a perfect place to start

I'm going back to 505

If it's a 7 hour flight or a 45 minute drive

In my imagination you're waiting lying on your side

With your hands between your thighs

But I crumble completely when you cry

It seems like once again you've had to greet me with goodbye

I'm always just about to go and spoil a surprise

Take my hands off of your eyes too soon

I'm going back to 505

If it's a 7 hour flight or a 45 minute drive

In my imagination you're waiting lying on your side

With your hands between your thighs

...and a smile