| The Lumineers – Flapper Girl Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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After breaking down the lyrics I think this song is about a soldier returning home after WWI and finding the girl he returns to is not the same girl he left behind. he wants her back the way she was not the way she is. "Cut-off all of your hair. Did you flinch, did you care? Did he look did he stop and stare at your brand new hair" Pre WWI women wore their hair quite long and traditional. the women of the 20's were freer, more daring and most sported cute little bob-style haircuts--cutting off your hair represented a non conforming, risk taking, free spirit who doesn't care what people think. The He could be reference to another man but it could just be men in general--in other words it's a sarcastic comment like do you really think that looks good? "Local Boy, Local News. Power Lines hanging boots. Firemen in the trucks cut loose a local boys shoes." Many nowadays think that shoes on power lines is a sign that drug or gang activity is nearby. However, back in the early part of the 20th century it was a symbol of a soldier's return home from combat service--ie, his boots are back and there was frequently a big to-do an celebration in town. "Cadillac, cadillac. Businessmen dressed in slacks. I'm a buy one for us when I get back, a big cadillac." Cadillac's were one of the most luxurious cars of that time aimed a very high end market. the army also used them to transport their officers both domestically and abroad so it was a desirable symbol of affluence. So this is the soldiers promise to his girl for the future he hopes to have with her. "And you can wave to all of your friends. And I'll never leave you again. Would you write would you call back baby if I wrote you a song. I've been gone but your still my lady and I need you at home." this is the soldier recognizing his girl has changed in his absence but still wanting to fix it. He doesn't want to lose her but he's having a hard time accepting this new life she leads--wants her to go back to what she was. the girls of the early 20's were very independent compared to the previous generation. These girls (Flapper girls) had to enter the workforce, they drank and smoked openly, they danced wildly and had to take care of themselves while their men were abroad fighting. It was one of the earliest examples of women busting free of societal norms. Many found return to the previous version of themselves very difficult once the war was over and thus the women's movement was born. "Romeo, Juliet. Balcony silhouettes. Makin' o's with her cigarette. It's Juliet" romeo and Juliet--starcrossed lovers, so romantic but they never really had a chance. the makin o's is a reference to the 20's girl bucking society's traditional image by not only smoking in public but blowing smoke rings in it's face. "Flapper girl, flapper girl, Prohibition in curls, Hair of gold and a neck of Pearls, It's flapper girl" Prohibition was obivously in full swing then but curly hair was also seen as wild and untamed so Flappers frequently curled their hair to maintain this image. They also typically wore these super long pearl necklaces with their fringy dresses. When the chorus comes back this is him trying again to convince her to come back and he gives the ultimatum. "If you ain't behind my door. Then I ain't got a home anymore" and it backfires. She chooses her new life over him. "Lovers come, lovers go, Lovers leave me alone, She'll come back to me" He lets her go but holds onto a bit of hope that someday she will come to her senses. or something like that. |
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