In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Belladonna's on the high street
Her breasts upon the offbeat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana's old clothes
And yes, her jeans are tight now
She gotta travel light now
She got to turn up all her roots now
She got to turn up for the boots now
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And Belladonna lingers
Her gloves they got no fingers
Yeah, the blind man sing in Irish
He get his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Upon a time he could have made her, made her
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Yes, and the barrow boys are hawking
And the parakeet is squawking
Upon a truck there is a rhino
She get the crying of a wino
And then she hear the reggae rumble
Belladonna's in the jungle
But she is no garden flower
There is no distress in the tower
Belladonna walks
Belladonna taking a stroll
She don't care about your window box
Or your button hole
Yes, and she sing a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Her breasts upon the offbeat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana's old clothes
And yes, her jeans are tight now
She gotta travel light now
She got to turn up all her roots now
She got to turn up for the boots now
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And Belladonna lingers
Her gloves they got no fingers
Yeah, the blind man sing in Irish
He get his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Upon a time he could have made her, made her
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Yes, and the barrow boys are hawking
And the parakeet is squawking
Upon a truck there is a rhino
She get the crying of a wino
And then she hear the reggae rumble
Belladonna's in the jungle
But she is no garden flower
There is no distress in the tower
Belladonna walks
Belladonna taking a stroll
She don't care about your window box
Or your button hole
Yes, and she sing a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
Lyrics submitted by Dasch, edited by doccolinni
Portobello Belle Lyrics as written by Mark Knopfler
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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