Well, you're a waste of space
No natural grace
You're so bloody thin
You don't even begin

To interest me
Not even curiousity
It's not animosity
Just don't interest me

Well, you're an energy void
A black hole to avoid
No style, no heart
You don't even start

To interest me
Not even curiousity
It's not animosity
Just you don't interest me

Oh, come on!

You're a disgrace!

Tell me
Why don't you tell me?
Why don't you tell me?
Why don't you tell me?
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Oh, oh, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Oh, oh, oh, oh, tell me
Why don't you tell me?
Tell me
Why don't you tell me?
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la (la-la, oh, oh)
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Oh, oh, oh, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Last time, now
Tell me
Why don't you tell me?


Lyrics submitted by exact

Mannequin Lyrics as written by Colin Newman Bruce Gilbert

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Mannequin song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    Sorry people you're all barking up the wrong tree this song was written in '77 let's remember, back at the roots of Punk they're having a pop at the fashion industry

    Punk is (was) anti-fashion but now it has become fashion, which is why PUNK IS DEAD

    Nothing to do with when people piss you off or fake people you despise, or attacking any particular individual. Thin = shallow, btw. The clue's in the title - "Mannequin", geddit?

    guinigirlon April 02, 2011   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    This song is about people who just want to fit in a be normal. They are so thin and shallow that they just reflect other people; like a mannequin.

    MysticSnowmanon August 14, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song- one of my favorites by the band. Makes me think of a really fake girl I really despise. I know some people hide their intentions, or some people just act nice to everyone. She's a deceiving witch whose lies are almost as frightening as her weird-looking face.

    periwinklebydayon October 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Thin"...as printed on inner sleeve of the Pink Flag LP.

    Olly Stubbson March 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "you're so bloody think" should be "you're so bloody thick." thick=thick-skulled

    erratickon October 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that "you're so bloody think" should be "you're so bloody thin".. it matches the preceding verse and, you know, mannequins are not very fat...

    cippa_lippaon March 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    agreed its definitely your so bloody thin. this is a fucking perfect pop song, great to listen to when someones pissing you off

    westheadon July 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Thin"...as printed on inner sleeve of the Pink Flag LP.

    Olly Stubbson March 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    how about it's 'thin', because that's what it sounds like!

    NickEon April 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    While the idea of this being an anti-fashion song is very interesting and seems to be pretty well grounded in the lyrics and title, the idea that punk was anti-fashion is entirely wrong. The members of the Sex Pistols were chosen by their manager Malcolm McLaren who knew all of them because they were frequent customers and employees of his boutique clothing store that specialized in fetish and bondage clothing.

    rooney131on June 07, 2013   Link

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