Tom and Serge performing Thick As Thieves for Bunch.tv in April 2009
Thick As Thieves was written by Sergio Pizzorno and is the 6th track on West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
Background[]
Thick As Thieves has been descibed as a relationship song, about two boys who are friends as kids and how they drift apart as they grow up.[1] In an interview with Q Magazine Serge said: "The scars line - 'I gave you all your scars, but you gave me mine...' - is meant on both levels. When you're young and you knock about in the park and cut yourself, everyone's got an old scar from falling off a swing or whatever. But also mental scars: I fucked you up, but you fucked me up as well."[2] Musically it has been compared to The Doors, The Kinks or the Small Faces. On the fact that it's a duet Serge commented that there is no conscious thought process behind the decision who sings which song, they will just go with whatever works best.[1] An earlier mix of Thick As Thieves has been released on the 2007 Fast Fuse EP.
Live[]
Thick As Thieves was first played live at the Little Noise Sessions on 14 November 2008 and has been performed at almost every gig of the West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Tour and until April 2012 on the Velociraptor! Tour. During the 48:13 Tour it only showed up occasionally. It has been played by Serge on his own for Musique Mag,[3] as well as by Tom in a session for BBC 6 Music in December 2009. From the arena tour in November 2011 until June 2015, they replaced the ending of the song with a snippet of The Doors' People Are Strange, which Thick As Thieves has often been compared to.[2] In June 2015 Kasabian started playing a full cover of People Are Strange, while Thick As Thieves got its original ending back.
A live version from Sheffield in November 2009 has been released as an iTunes exclusive b-side on the Vlad The Impaler Digital Single.
Quotes[]
- "I don't think Serge will ever write anything so beautiful ever again."
- — Tom (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum Commentary)
Releases[]
Live Releases[]
Lyrics[]
There we were, thick as thieves
Frightened by shadows in the autumn leaves
We wore stolen hearts, vintage souls
Aided by lies amongst the meat eating foes
And hey ho, where did it go
When did we lose our sight
And it's a nice show
The ones we perform
Performing them day and night
See the lines upon my face
Walking in circles with the human race
And all the little people they want to be free
But I can get there 'cause I got you holding me back
And hey ho, where did it go
When did we lose our sight
And it's a nice show
The ones we perform
Performing them day and night
Let me be free
I gave you all your scars but you gave me mine
Let the light sing again
There we were, thick as thieves
Frightened by shadows in the autumn leaves
Goodbye my sweet, goodbye
Goodbye