Tight toy night, streets so bright
The room looked so thin between my bones and skin
There stood another person who was a little surprised
To be face to face with a world so alive

How I fell (did you feel low?)
No (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo

You know it's all like some new kind of drug
My senses are sharp and my hands are like gloves
And Broadway looked so medieval
It seemed to flap, like little pages
I fell sideways laughing
With a friend from many stages

How I fell (did you feel low?)
Not at all (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo

Suddenly, my eyes went so soft and shaky
I knew there was pain, but pain is not aching
Then Richie, Richie said
"Hey man, let's dress up like cops, think of what we could do"
But something, oh, something
It said, "Hey, you'd better not"

And I fell (did you feel low?)
Nah (huh?)
I stood up, walked out of the arms of Venus de Milo


Lyrics submitted by exact

Venus de Milo Lyrics as written by Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Venus de Milo song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

38 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    You know, I'm not sure that anyone here has this completely yet, so here are my thoughts. I may be reading too much into the lyrics, but if I'm not, this is a really excellent bit of poetry by Verlaine.

    Basically, I see this as a fleeting teenage romance / coming of age story. I get a lot of this from the refrain: "Falling into the arms of Venus de Milo." Venus is the god of love, so falling into her arms seems like a pretty obvious metaphor for falling in love. However--and this is where things get really cool--the statue Venus de Milo doesn't have arms. So I submit that this is actually a metaphor for falling in love when there's really nothing there.

    Sounds depressing, right? Well, not at all, actually. To the shock of the backup singers, the speaker did not "feel low" about this. In the end, he "stood up and walked out the arms" of Venus without much of a problem. So this failed romantic experience didn't hurt him really, and the tone of these lyrics is not bleak. But the experience did change him, as I think the verses show. This is also where the "coming of age" part comes in.

    The first two verses seem like a depiction of falling in love for the first time set against the grandeur of New York City. The world is alive, it's "thin" and waiting to be grasped, the feeling has a druglike effect, and it's all shared with another person. Sounds like a first love to me. But as we know from the chorus, this is going to come to an end soon. The statue has no arms.

    The third verse is the really interesting one here. I think the first two lines basically describe the relationship ending. Things change quickly. It hurts, but it doesn't really HURT. His heart doesn't really ache. And now, along comes "Richie." It seems probable that this is Richard Hell, but what really matters is that this is a good pal of the speaker. Richie wants to go out, hit the town, dress up like cops, have some fun. But something's holding the speaker back, namely the profundity of the emotional experience he has just had. He doesn't have the same taste for immature antics he once did. A turning point has been reached in his life, and he can't go back. He's just been in and out of the arms of Venus de Milo! How could he return to playing dress-up? So that's the coming of age bit.

    This is already a remarkable song. The guitar parts are ridiculously cool, as we always see in Television songs, Tom Verlaine just oozes swagger in his vocals, and the rhythm section is tight. But if I'm right about the lyrics, and I think there's a good chance I am, this song becomes almost transcendent. It's a relatable story, extremely well-told, with a brilliant central metaphor (the arms of Venus de Milo). Where did this come from? I'm just in awe.

    tyler11on December 31, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I went to Brighton today w. parents and a couple of mates. We were looking in an old record shop because I love vintage music and I was looking (in vain, sadly) for a New York Dolls CD. My Dad showed this to me and said, "Buy this. I think you'd like it. It's sort of Indie/Punk." I liked this description, took a risk and bought it. Listening to it for the first time now. Loved all so far, which is so unusual for me. It's incredible. Well, another band nobody else aged fourteen will have ever heard of. So annoying, the best bands were from the 70s/80s.

    Strangleron March 29, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Am I the only person who thinks this is a love song? I've never really thought about the venus de milo reference but the way he describes shakey and his hands like gloves. He seems to be describing some incredible feeling and the fact that he says it's like a new drug means surely it isn't about drugs. What he's describing to me perfectly describes the feeling of first realising you love someone and how amazing it feels. Even if that's not what it means it will always mean that to me.

    SuperstarTradesman.on October 16, 2009   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    Amazingly written song. As many others have said, it's primarily about Tom's friendship with Richard Hell. It sets itself up as this recalling of memories about when they were young, hanging out in New York and how he felt in those days with each verse progressively getting more negative.

    At first everything is "bright" and "Alive" then Tom talks about laughing with a friend and feeling "like" he's on a drug. The drug line ironically means that the song has nothing to do with drugs since he's basically saying that hanging out with his friend makes him feel like he's high. Then the final verse talks about how he no longer holds the illusions he had in the first two verses and he turns down his friend when he tells them he wants to impersonate cops. The implication is that he's just grown out of the immature behavior while his friend has not.

    The chorus is brilliant to this song. It's basically Tom being asked if he is saddened that he no longer is friends with Richard Hell. To which he replies that it doesn't mean anything to him and claiming he fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo. Venus de Milo is a famous statue that has no arms... So essentially he is lying to these people because he wants everyone to think he's okay even though he's really not.

    Really neat song about keeping losing a friendship and keeping a poker face even though you really feel like shit.

    Whittonon October 13, 2016   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i read somewhere that the richie in the song was richard hell, who used to play bass in the band.

    i don't know what this song is about either but it sounds like a nice way to spend the evening.

    Boss Manon July 05, 2005   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    Amazingly written song. As many others have said, it's primarily about Tom's friendship with Richard Hell. It sets itself up as this recalling of memories about when they were young, hanging out in New York and how he felt in those days with each verse progressively getting more negative.

    At first everything is "bright" and "Alive" then Tom talks about laughing with a friend and feeling "like" he's on a drug. The drug line ironically means that the song has nothing to do with drugs since he's basically saying that hanging out with his friend makes him feel like he's high. Then the final verse talks about how he no longer holds the illusions he had in the first two verses and he turns down his friend when he tells them he wants to impersonate cops. The implication is that he's just grown out of the immature behavior while his friend has not.

    The chorus is brilliant to this song. It's basically Tom being asked if he is saddened that he no longer is friends with Richard Hell. To which he replies that it doesn't mean anything to him and claiming he fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo. Venus de Milo is a famous statue that has no arms... So essentially he is lying to these people because he wants everyone to think he's okay even though he's really not.

    Really neat song about keeping losing a friendship and keeping a poker face even though you really feel like shit.

    Whittonon October 13, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    no comments for this song?? cmon!! it's easily the best song on marquee moon. anyway, i really have no idea what it's about. television lyrics aren't the easiest to understand.

    misirlouon June 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    no comments for this song?? cmon!! it's easily the best song on marquee moon. anyway, i really have no idea what it's about. television lyrics aren't the easiest to understand.

    misirlouon June 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is about Richard Hell and Tom Verlaine hanging out as kids. They were childhood friends and came to New York together..The irony of this song is it's beauty - " I fell right into the arms of Venus de Milo" - have you seen the statue? notice what she is missing??? So I guess he fell into nothing...

    bazmegon August 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like how Tom pronounces the wrod 'Milo. I guess he says it so it rhymes with "feel low."

    timothyrealon September 24, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.