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About

Genius Annotation

“Cornerstone” is the seventh track of Arctic Monkeys’ 2009 release Humbug, and the second single to be released from the album.

The song has a straightforward narrative. The narrator visits several different pubs, and finds at each venue a woman who resembles the ex-lover he’s pining for. He approaches the women, but is repeatedly turned away when:

“I asked her if I could call her your name”

In an interview with NME, songwriter Alex Turner cited “Cornerstone” as one of the songs he’s most happy with, saying:

“‘Cornerstone’, maybe… it’s quite concise.”

This was reflected during Arctic Monkeys’ 2018 tour, where “Cornerstone” was performed at almost every concert.

In an interview with Uncut magazine, Turner shed some light on the writing process for “Cornerstone”, saying:

“I wrote ‘Cornerstone’ one morning, quite quickly. There’s something to be said for writing in the morning. At other points in the day you’re a bit more defensive. I saw it as a challenge to write something in a major key, but that wasn’t cheesy.”

Turner cites Yorkshire folk-pop artist Jake Thackray as an influence for “Cornerstone”. Thackray is known for his humorous and often sexually bizarre songs, as well as his affected vocals. With that reference in mind, it’s highly probable that the distinctive red polo neck sported by Turner in the music video for “Cornerstone” is to match the one worn by Thackray in this BBC Four broadcast of his song “Lah-Di-Dah”, the very song Turner mentions as a structural inspiration for “Cornerstone”.

Within the context of Humbug, “Cornerstone” is a musical diversion of sorts, thanks in part to its being written in a major key; a bright anomaly in a troupe of decidedly darker offerings.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What were the inspirations for this song?
Genius Answer

Turner cites Yorkshire folk-pop artist Jake Thackray as an influence for “Cornerstone”. Thackray is known for his humorous and often sexually bizarre songs, as well as his affected vocals. Turner said of Thackray:

“The way he pronounced things was hilarious.”

Is the song based on a true story?
Genius Answer

The song is almost certainly not based on a (completely) true story, judging by Turner’s discussion of it during interviews.

During Arctic Monkey’s 2018 tour, however, Turner made a running joke of pretending it was, occasionally throwing in anecdotes about the female character after performances:

“And all these years later, we’re all really good friends now, remarkably. It didn’t last with the sister. I think she married a chef.”

What is a "cornerstone"?
Genius Answer

In the context of this song, it’s the name of the pub where the narrator meets his ex’s sister. But Cornerstone is also the name of a counseling center in Sheffield, which may hint that the narrator is unstable.

What has the band said about the song?
What's the story behind the lyrics?
Credits
Produced By
Written By
Video Director
Lead Vocals
Percussion
Lead guitar
Bass Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Keyboards
Mastered by
Engineered By
Recorded At
Mission Sound, Brooklyn
Release Date
August 19, 2009
Cornerstone Live Performances
View Cornerstone samples
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