Edith Wharton's lovely figurines
Still speak to me today
From their mantelpiece in time
Where they wrestle and they play
With passions and with prudences
Finances and fears
Her face - what it's worth to her
In the passing of the years

See the portrait come to life
See the vanity behind
'Cause in the struggle for survival
Love is never blind

Now Olivia lies under anesthesia
Her wit and wonder snuffed
In a routine operation
Her own beauty not enough
Her passions and her prudences
Finances and fears
Her face - what it's worth to her
In the passing of the years

See the portrait come to life
See the vanity behind
'Cause in the struggle for survival
Love is never blind

Edith Wharton's lovely figurines
Still speak to me today
From their mantelpiece in time
Where they wrestle and they play
We lie under anesthesia
Our wit and wonder snuffed
In our routine operations
Our own beauty not enough


Lyrics submitted by tonightwefly

Edith Wharton's Figurines Lyrics as written by Suzanne Vega

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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Edith Wharton's Figurines song meanings
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    General Comment

    this makes me glad to be alive. and how she says we at the end is amazing and 'routine operations' is a perfect phrase that conveys two meanings- for olivia of wharton's novel, and those of us who are 'under anaesthesia', who don't live each day to it's potential and- these are incredibly poignant and humane lyrics by the way- with 'our wit and wonder snuffed' and 'our own beauty not enough'. God thats beautiful. im so happy that music is still so vibrantly alive.

    Jballer32on October 07, 2007   Link

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