Cinderella Undercover

Oingo Boingo

When I was young, my mind would always wander away
I couldn't talk, never had nothin to say
But now I'm grown, nothing much seems to have changed
I think I'm going insane yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Is this a fairy tale, are you the seven dwarves
Did Snow White really die while fighting in the war?
They were the only friends I ever trusted
Now they're scattered, and livin' in the city
Unlisted numbers, Huh

Cinderella undercover
I say, better alive than dead

The war is coming, but there's nothing much that we can do
Stuck in a pay-phone, but the operator won't let me through
I close my eyes, but the memories burn in my brain
I think I'm going insane yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I heard a rumor, they said it's gone nuclear
I stockpile cigarettes, and double bold the door
A sanctuary for all my friends
We'll stay in bed until the world ends
So please don't wake me, I gotta get some sleep

Cinderella Undercover
I say, better alive than dead
I think I'm going insane, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Is this a fairy tale, this can't be real
There's fighting all around, they're shooting in the fields
They say that values change when hunger or ambition strikes
Survival is essential, at any cost or any price
The cartoon animals on Old McDonald's farm
Are nodding off in hotel rooms with needles in their arms
The seven dwarves, HA!, there's only four alive today
Cinderella's working for the CIA

Cinderella, the fairy tale's over
You should know, you got the scars to prove it
And your skin isn't as soft as it used to
But I don't care, come on you said it baby

Cinderella undercover
I say, better alive than
Cinderella undercover
I say, better alive than dead


Lyrics submitted by Golgotha

Cinderella Undercover song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentChildhood is being sold out and torn away by war, strife and political agendas. And we as adults have to fight losing that glimmer of innocence in the face of all we see and hear in the world. We can't let our belief in and wonder at fairytales disappear.
    mysterixon July 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    Song MeaningThe song is about how when we were a child the characters were happy and everything,but when we grow up,we figure out whats really going on,and the title Cinderella undercover,not only means she works for the CIA,but shes undercover as this disney princess that is happy and everything
    harley quinon December 27, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHelp

    I'm really disappointed that there aren't any posts on this song. I am really curious about origin and intent of Elfman on this one. I really enjoy the feel of the song though. It is a great example of the strange genius that I find in lots of Elfman's work.
    lasmusicafineon March 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSeems it's prettymuch about losing innocence, I guess. Just as mysterix put it. Instead of wondering about our childhood stories we're instead drawn to the yellow newspaper rags. Also may be about how life in this world is just as messed up as in the fairytales, if not moreso: People putting needles in their arms and injecting things, wars and the fact that we kill each other and don't care, and our minds and skin get tough to it, even though it is in fact really odd if you think about it all. ...and then compare it to a fairytale or fiction story. Not much difference really..
    mister_zeroon September 29, 2006   Link

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