Lemon to a Knife Fight

"Lemon to a Knife Fight"
Single by the Wombats
from the album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life
Released	7 November 2017 (2017-11-07)
Recorded	2017
Genre	Indie rock alternative post-punk
Length	3:26
Label	14th Floor (UK) Bright Antenna (US)
Songwriter(s)	Matthew Murphy Matt Rad
The Wombats singles chronology
"Emoticons" (2015) "Lemon to a Knife Fight" (2017) "Turn" (2017)

"Lemon to a Knife Fight" is a song by English rock band the Wombats. It was released as the lead single from the band's fourth album, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life, on 7 November 2017.[1][2] The music video for the song was released on 29 November 2017.[3]

Conception

In an interview with Australian radio station triple J, frontman Matthew Murphy said, "I was in Los Angeles, driving along Mulholland, and I was having an argument with my now-wife and she basically just handed me my own arse on a plate. I never win an argument with her, so that's kind of what the song is about."[4]

Reception

The song was generally well received by critics. The Edge UK described it as a song "soaked in emotion". Harry Fortuna writes, "The lyrics offer a melancholy that has become deeply associated with the Wombats, but successfully aligns it with the up-tempo, dance-inducing indie beat that is fit to take this once overlooked band to mainstream stardom."[5] Rolling Stone described it as a song "full of electric buzzing guitars and firm percussion".[6] Atwood Magazine described it as "violent and mysterious" while praising Murphy's clear vocals and the band's "signature jangly riffy guitar".[7] The song was featured on BBC Radio 1's "Tune of the Week", as well as Radio 1's "Specialist Chart" in 2017.[8]

Personnel

• Matthew Murphy
• Tord Øverland Knudsen
• Dan Haggis
• Mark Crew – production
• Catherine Marks – production

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
UK Indie (OCC)[9]	24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "The Wombats give update on new album – NME". NME. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
2. "Talking new music, touring & the influence of a woman's touch in studio with Murph of The Wombats – the AU review". the AU review. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
3. The Wombats (29 November 2017), The Wombats - Lemon to a Knife Fight (Official video), retrieved 8 November 2018
4. "The Wombats premiere new track 'Lemon to a Knife Fight'". triple j. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
5. "Review: The Wombats – 'Lemon to a Knife Fight'". The Edge. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
6. Leight, Elias (8 February 2018). "See the Wombats' Cutting, Acoustic Rendition of 'Lemon to a Knife Fight'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
7. "Review: The Wombats' Triumphant Return "Lemon to a Knife Fight" - Atwood Magazine". 1 December 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
8. "Lemon To A Knife Fight - The Wombats Song - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
9. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
10. "British single certifications – Wombats – Lemon to a Knife Fight". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 January 2022.