“A Hunger in Your Haunt” by Biffy Clyro

Simon Neil has described this song as being akin to “a self-motivating mantra” – a personal call to get off his butt and do something with his life. This may sound like a strange sentiment coming from a successful musician boasting a 20+ year discography and multiple industry awards. But once again based on Neil’s own description, feeling as if life has lost its purpose is an existential crisis that apparently doesn’t only affect laymen.

Verse 1

The first verse of this song doesn’t really relay that feeling per se. Instead, it may give off the impression to many listeners that this song is based on a troubled romance. But the existential side comes across well in subsequent the pre-chorus, which sounds like it was inspired by the ‘you can’t take anything with you when you leave’ doctrine. 

Said adage is usually applied to the concept of death, and it may be such that Simon and Johnston brothers are speaking to. Or perhaps, considering the nature of the first verse, the vocalist is rather alluding to relationships.

Verse 2

The second verse does a better job of relaying what is intended to be the thesis sentiment of this piece. Yes, the last line of the passage may imply an interpersonal undertone, i.e. insinuating that the vocalist may have destroyed his relationship with the same individual(s) alluded to in the first verse. 

But by this point in the song, it becomes more obvious that what he is truly suffering from a serious case of boredom which, dear reader, can in fact have harrowing (mental) health consequences. 

I Need to Change

So by this stage in the game, the vocalist is ready to cast “wisdom” and “eloquence” aside in the name of achieving fulfillment. Or rather, let’s say that it can be ascertained that the singer has concluded that it is his own mind which lies at the source of the aforementioned problem. Simply put, his way of thinking and behavior are to blame. And why? Because they are actually proving an impediment to achieving satisfying “stimulation”.

The Conclusion of “A Hunger in Your Haunt”

Despite the above, this piece is not only about the vocalist beating up himself. He is also challenging the listener, as revealed in the chorus, not to grow content living in less-than-ideal circumstances. 

That is where the “hunger in your haunt” originates from. The “hunger” can be defined as the unquenchable desire to do something better with your life. The “haunt” can be said to be the hell, if you will, in which you’re currently settled. Yes, sometimes it may take “a slap across the jaw”, or a fire lit under our ass as some would say, to effectively counteract inertia. And once again referring to the chorus, that is the purpose which this song is intended to fulfill.

Biffy Clyro

Biffy Clyro is a trio of musicians from Scotland who have actually been operating as a unit since 1995. The group’s first project entitled Blackened Sky came out in 2002. The reason they’re still together going on three decades now would likely be at least partially due to the fact that Biffy Clyro is one of those rare stories of a professional musical act that has actually experienced greater success later than sooner. 

This is particularly true as far as the UK Albums Chart goes. On this chart, the band’s last three studio albums – 2013’s Opposites, 2016’s Ellipsis and 2020’s A Celebration of Endings – unlike any they had dropped prior all topped said listing. Throughout the 2010s Biffy Clyro also took home many awards, including:

• four NME Awards
• four Kerrang Awards
• three Q Awards

The members of this group consists of lead vocalist Simon Neil, drummer Ben Johnston and his twin brother, bassist James Johnston.

To note, the unique name of this band doesn’t appear to have any type of origin specific story.  Instead, it is apparently “a stupid name” they put together, seemingly out of the blue that stuck.

Facts about “A Hunger in Your Haunt”

This song was issued as a single from Biffy Clyro’s The Myth of the Happily Ever After project. The project in question is their ninth studio album. 

As with the entirety of The Myth of the Happily Ever After, this song was written by Simon Neil. And Biffy Clyro, as a unit, produced the album with Adam Noble.

“A Hunger in Your Haunt” was officially released on the 20th of September, 2021. It was one of the most popular songs that came out during the said month.