Liezah

I can't believe this song has no comments! Clearly the song is about a woman, whether a real woman or an invented one for the purpose of the song I'm not sure. I think the chirpy, upbeat melody hides the fact that this is not a happy song. The simple first like "I had a girl her name was Liezah" makes this seem like a generic love song. However "Liezah" as a name is a misspelling of "Liza" come from "Eliza". Clearly this is done on purpose to give the pun on "Lie".

"With Crowley as her close companion His diaries went hand in hand with All the men that she has known She leaves their silver but keeps their gold" I love this verse most of all. I think what's interesting is that "Crowley" has strong associations with occult and "dangerous" ideas. In a Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman novel (Good Omens) Crowley is the name of a devil, there was also an occultist known as "The Beast" who called himself Crowley. So clearly this woman is not as good and innocent as she seems. Leaving their silver yet keeping their gold is also a clear image of a woman who wants money and knows how to get money. "All the men she's ever known" gives a clear indication of her knowing lots of men and of getting "gold" off them.

So lawyers, doctors please beware Of that girl with wavy hair For she will cut you down to size Reveal the truth behind your disguise I get the impression of her as a charismatic and powerful woman, similar to Nero's mother Agrippina in her ability to manipulate yet still somehow seem likable. She puts these lawyers and doctors (the professions stereotyped as middle-class and arrogant) in their places and makes them realise their inadequacies and shows them up to the world as living behind "disguises" and actually not being as good as they make themselves out to be.

Liezah Just passed by yer Now you're standing Empty handed Liezah Can't despise her She'll change your look She'll have you hooked Liezah has apparently pickpocket this person who she has "just passed by". Yet they "can't despise her" and are soon going to be "hooked" or fall in love with her. Whether Liezah is some kind of witch (remember "Crowley" and connotations of black magic) of is just a genuinely fascinating person is unclear.

The city sleeps as she's arriving Tongue tied and twisted was her timing Her eyes are glazed in deep despair Those crocodile tears they don't care I'm not sure about the first two lines but in the second Liezah is crying and putting on a show of "despair" perhaps to get sympathy but people don't care. Perhaps this is what "the city sleep as she's arriving" means, Liezah is used to a fanfare and people being "hooked" but here they're all asleep. Perhaps this causes her to be "tongue tied" and uncomfortable.

Don't turn your back cos she'll be gone Chasing shadows in the sun All along the dusty road Where she goes well we'll never know I think this is just to demonstrate that the singer himself is "under her spell" or in love with her. The idea may also be that she uses people for her own ends and then leaves when they "turn [their] back"

And everytime I think of Liezah I break down and I start crying Although she tore me apart There's still a place for that girl in my heart Just reiterating the idea that he loved her and she "tore [him] apart" she used him, perhaps for "gold" or perhaps for the thrill or making people love her.