What Does the Arctic Monkeys Song "505" Mean?

Pop culture commentator Corey Andrew interprets this Arctic Monkeys classic

Co-authored by Corey Andrew and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: December 11, 2025 Fact Checked

• Song Interpretation
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• 505 Number Meaning
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• History
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• TikTok Trend Explained
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• Numerology
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• Video

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The Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band, most known for their catchy sound and profound lyrics. “505” is one of their most beloved songs, featuring haunting organ instrumentals that serve as the backdrop for a dark and emotionally turbulent love story. If you’re a fan of this award-winning group, you might be wondering— what does this song mean? And what exactly is “505” referring to? We talked to pop culture commentator Corey Andrew to help us break down this hit song!

“505” Meaning by Arctic Monkeys

Pop culture commentator Corey Andrew says "505" may refer to an address, hotel room, or even an emotional state. Most people think the song is about the cyclical nature of a toxic or obsessive relationship, described in the lyrics, "I’m going back to 505, whether it’s a seven-hour flight or a 45-minute drive.”

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Section 1 of 5:

What is “505” by the Arctic Monkeys about?

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   The song reflects the desire to return to a toxic relationship. From the song’s first verse, the speaker expresses that they’re “going back to 505,” whether it’s a “seven-hour flight or a 45-minute drive.” This sets a tone of longing and intention because the narrator is willing to travel any distance to be with this person. It also suggests this is not the first time the speaker has gone back to them. Other lines in the song, like “I'd probably still adore you/ With your hands around my neck,” hint at violence and volatility in the relationship.

   • The speaker says, “In my imagination, you’re waiting lyin’ on your side/ with your hands between your thighs.” This implies that he wants to maintain an image of this person that is sensual, exciting, and exactly as they were at the beginning of the relationship.
   • The line “I crumble completely when you cry” illustrates the emotional turmoil in their relationship and suggests that both people have hurt each other immensely. They may have tried to break up with each other at different times or are currently broken up.
   • Still, the pull of that intense connection keeps them coming back, restarting the vicious cycle all over again. This toxicity of the relationship is revealed in the line, “It seems like once again you've had to greet me with goodbye.”

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Corey Andrew is a pop culture commentator who co-hosts the celebrity gossip podcast “Naughty but Nice.” Corey is also a stand-up comic and songwriter.
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   The song may be about the hardships of long-distance relationships. Laced with pain and disappointment, some believe that this song is about the perils of being in a long-distance relationship. This may in part be due to the speaker’s assumed identity, which is lead singer Alex Turner. Turner toured often with the band, potentially creating issues in his personal relationships.

   • The song’s iconic line about taking a “seven-hour flight” or a “45-minute drive” to see this other person is thought to reflect the band’s chaotic tour schedule.
   • In the third verse, the line "the knife twists at the thought that I should fall short of the mark" could imply that the speaker is on his way to break up with his significant other, once and for all, after trying to end the relationship many times before.
   • In the 4th verse, the speaker seems to reference the shock that his decision to break up with his partner will cause: “I'm always just about to go and spoil the surprise.”
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   Ultimately, the song romanticizes a painful past relationship. The song revolves around a complex and potentially unhealthy obsession with a past lover. The dark and often devastating lyrics describe an intense relationship that ended badly, or hasn’t fully ended at all. The repetition of the chorus (“I’m going back to 505/ whether it’s a seven-hour flight or a 45-minute drive”) represents the cyclical and potentially toxic nature of this relationship. While “505” might indeed be a real place, it’s used as a symbol of the couple’s love as it once was.

   • Andrew says that the track is compelling because it’s so “openly romantic.” He says, “Fans often point to ‘505’ as one of the Arctic Monkeys’ first true love songs, and Alex Turner has acknowledged that it was written about a specific ex he was deeply connected to.”
   • Andrew adds that Turners’ confession “cracks the whole song open,” and “it stops being just a moody indie anthem and becomes a cinematic rush back to someone who once felt like home.”
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Section 2 of 5:

What does the number 505 mean in the song?

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   “505” might refer to a hotel room, an address, or an area code. Andrew says, “‘505 feels and sounds like that one emotional address you keep circling back to, whether it’s an actual hotel room or just the mental apartment you sublet in your brain for someone you’re not quite over.” He says that many people think the number represents a hotel room, agreeing that the interpretation makes sense.”

   • “I get why a place can feel that indelible,” says Andrew. “After my first serious heartbreak, I couldn’t even drive past a McDonald’s without dissolving into tears because that was our spot for breakfast. “505” feels like the song version of [that], like an ordinary location suddenly turned into an emotional landmine thanks to one very specific person.”
   • The speaker is “going back to 505” no matter how long it takes, how toxic it is, or how painful it might be to end the cycle, again, once it begins, again.
   • Some fans believe that “505” could be referring to the address of a home that the speaker shared with his former lover, hinting that the relationship was quite serious.
   • Others wonder if “505” refers to an area code. However, in the U.S., “505” is the area code for New Mexico, offering no real connection to the song or the band.

Section 3 of 5:

The History and Making of “505”

1. “505” was released as part of the band’s second studio album in 2007. The Arctic Monkeys released Favourite Worst Nightmare in 2007, and “505” was the closing track on the album. It was an instant fan-favorite, praised for its emotional depth and complicated themes. In an interview with NME, lead singer Alex Turner called it "the first proper love song we've done ... as in like, 'Oh, it's that one person.'”

   • Based on the timeline of when the song was written, internet sleuths have concluded that it’s probably about Turner’s ex-girlfriend Johanna Bennett. This has not been officially confirmed.
   • The song’s soulful and stirring sound was inspired by Ennio Morricone's soundtrack for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966).
   • The lyric, “the knife twists at the thought that I should fall short of the mark,” references T.S. Eliot’s poem, “Rhapsody on a Windy Night.” The poem describes a broken relationship, ending with the line, “The last twist of the knife.”
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Section 4 of 5:

Why was “505” trending on TikTok?

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   “505” began trending on TikTok in 2022 as part of a Tumblr aesthetic revival. “We can’t talk about ‘505’ without mentioning its massive second wind,” says Andrew. “Thanks to TikTok, the song has been rediscovered by a whole new generation, proving the platform is basically a time machine for music. One viral edit later, and suddenly the 2007 heartbreak hotel at ‘505’ is fully booked again.”

   • Users like @synt.rxqq posted aesthetic images of a dark winter sky along with the lyrics to the song, while others like @ellzlyrics took a more punk rock cinematic approach.
   • The song was especially popular during Tumblr’s heyday, with fans giving both the song and the indie Tumblr aesthetic a second life.
   • When asked about the mark “505” has left on pop culture, Turner called it “really quite special.”
   • Renewed interest in the song caused “505” to rise in the ranks on Spotify, becoming the band’s third most-played song in 2022. As of 2025, it’s the band’s second most-played song of all time with over 2.5 billion listens.

Section 5 of 5:

“505” in Numerology

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   The number 505 represents change and making positive contributions. It’s unclear if there’s a connection to numerology in the Arctic Monkeys song. That said, in numerology, 505 is all about staying flexible and adaptable in the face of change because change is necessary for growth. Although you may experience setbacks, you will ultimately achieve your goals as long as you don’t give up and embrace the journey. 505 reminds us to be ambitious and make positive contributions toward our own futures.

   • 5 is the number of positivity, and seeing it repeat is a sign that good things are coming as long as you’re willing to work for them.
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