This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Bad lovers face to face in the morning
Shy apologies and polite regrets
Slow dances that left no warning of
Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning
Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere
Even presidents have newspaper lovers
Ministers go crawling under covers
She's no angel
He's no saint
They're all covered up with white washed grease paint
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
Oh you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
The salty lips of the socialite sisters
With their continental fingers that have
Never seen working blisters
Oh I know they've got their problems
I wish I was one of them
They say daddy's coming home soon
With his sergeant stripes and his empire mug and spoon
No more fast buck
And when are they gonna learn their lesson
But when are they gonna stop all of these victory processions
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
But you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Shy apologies and polite regrets
Slow dances that left no warning of
Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning
Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere
Even presidents have newspaper lovers
Ministers go crawling under covers
She's no angel
He's no saint
They're all covered up with white washed grease paint
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
Oh you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
The salty lips of the socialite sisters
With their continental fingers that have
Never seen working blisters
Oh I know they've got their problems
I wish I was one of them
They say daddy's coming home soon
With his sergeant stripes and his empire mug and spoon
No more fast buck
And when are they gonna learn their lesson
But when are they gonna stop all of these victory processions
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
But you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
New Lace Sleeves Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Check out "The Right Specticle" DVD. Great video of this song. This is one of my favorites. You hit this very well. He can't stand the "socialite sisters" but he lusts for them (or wants to be in their money circle) anyway.
I think that "I want to be one of them" refers to wanting to be one of the problems afflicting the socialite sisters.