‘When it went double platinum, Andy Burnham gave us the award’: how Courteeners made Not Nineteen Forever
‘In nightclubs, I’d be the dude scribbling lyrics in the corner while everyone else was dancing or copping off’ I had the lyrics to Not Nineteen Forever before the band existed. They were in a little red book of poems and scribbles that got me a place on the creative writing course at the University of Salford. Most of what became the songs for our first album, St Jude, were in that book. As well as uni, I was…
Key points
- Liam Fray wrote the lyrics to Not Nineteen Forever before Courteeners existed, in a red book of poems.
- The song initially charted at No 19 but later went double platinum, with Andy Burnham presenting the award.
- Producer Stephen Street, who had worked with the Smiths, recorded the album live at Olympic Studios in London.
Liam Fray, frontman of Courteeners, has described how he wrote the lyrics to Not Nineteen Forever before the band was formed. The words came from a red book of poems that helped him win a place on a creative writing course at the University of Salford, and most of the songs on the band's debut album St Jude also originated there.
Fray said he would scribble lyrics in nightclubs while others danced. The song was probably inspired by a specific incident, though he cannot recall it exactly. Its first line, 'She had to peel me off the pavement', could have happened on many nights out, and the reference to front-crawling down stairs came from the tight staircase at the 42nd Street club in Manchester.
Writing and early days
Fray got the chords while trying to work out Someday by the Strokes but muddling the finger positions. He was at his parents' house working on it in his old bedroom when his father poked his head in and said, 'It sounds all right, that.' Not Nineteen Forever was one of the last songs he wrote before convincing his three best mates to form the band, telling them: 'If you don't do this with me, I'll be playing acoustic guitar on my own in Manchester pubs for ever.'
If you don't do this with me, I'll be playing acoustic guitar on my own in Manchester pubs for ever.
— Liam Fray
Chart success and legacy
The song initially charted at No 19, but years later it went double platinum. Andy Burnham, who attends the band's gigs, presented the award at the Britons Protection pub. Fray noted that the song has become poignant, with original fans now singing alongside their children, who are 17, 18 or 19.
Recording with Stephen Street
Producer Stephen Street, who had worked with the Smiths, saw Courteeners play at a university hall after they were signed by a major label. He found the performance mind-blowing and noted their devoted following. Street said Not Nineteen Forever was a ready-made anthem that stood out, along with Cavorting and What Took You So Long?
Street recorded the album live at Olympic Studios in London, using click tracks only for tempos. He lent guitarist Conan Moores a vintage Telecaster and found the emotion in Fray's voice attractive. Street recalled telling Fray he didn't need to shout in the studio, and when he saw the lyrics written down, he was struck by their quality. The reissue of St Jude later went to No 1, 15 years after its original release.
