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Dead and Lovely Lyrics
She was a middle class girl
She was in over her head
She thought she could stand up in the deep end
He had a bullet-proof smile
He had money to burn
She thought she had the moon in her pocket
But now she's dead
She's so dead
Forever dead and lovely now
I've always been told to remember this
Don't let a fool kiss you
Never marry for love
He was hard to impress
He knew everyone's secrets
He wore her on his arm just like jewelry
He never gave but he got
He kept her on a leash
He's not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at
But now she's dead
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
Come closer, look deeper
You're falling fast
Just like a plane on a stormy sea
She made up someone to be
She made up somewhere to be from
This is one business in the
World where that's no
Problem at all
Everything that is left
They will only plow under
Soon every one you know
Will be gone
And now she's dead
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
But now she's dead
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
I've always been told to remember this
Don't let a kiss fool you
Never marry for love
Everything has it's price
Everything has it's place
What's more romantic than dying in the moonlight?
Now they're all watching the sea
What's lost can never be broken
Her roots were sweet
But they were so shallow
And now she's dead
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
And now she's dead
Forever dead
And she's so dead and lovely now
She was in over her head
She thought she could stand up in the deep end
He had money to burn
She thought she had the moon in her pocket
She's so dead
Forever dead and lovely now
Don't let a fool kiss you
Never marry for love
He knew everyone's secrets
He wore her on his arm just like jewelry
He kept her on a leash
He's not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
You're falling fast
Just like a plane on a stormy sea
She made up somewhere to be from
This is one business in the
World where that's no
Problem at all
They will only plow under
Soon every one you know
Will be gone
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
Don't let a kiss fool you
Never marry for love
Everything has it's place
What's more romantic than dying in the moonlight?
What's lost can never be broken
Her roots were sweet
But they were so shallow
Forever dead
Forever dead and lovely now
Forever dead
And she's so dead and lovely now
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Seems like it's about a naive girl who thought married a rich, powerful man for money, thinking she could make a play for his money. At some point they had a falling out and rather than divorce her he pushed her overboard on his yacht. That's what it sounds like to me at least.
"Seems like it's about a naive girl who thought married a rich, powerful man for money, thinking she could make a play for his money. At some point they had a falling out and rather than divorce her he pushed her overboard on his yacht. That's what it sounds like to me at least."
I agree with what you said, but I also think the part where he says she's dead it's like in a psychological / emotioal way. That she belons to him and that she cannot express what she feels or thinks. She's just there, like an ornament and that's it, like the "perfect wife" that's why it is lovely as well. "She's so dead and lovely now". She looks better that way.
Just my opinion, not arguments and murders, just in a deep emotional sense.
@LucySky oh I like that theory
@LucySky oh I like that theory
This song makes me think so much of the Corpse Bride, it could have been written about the bride herself...
What do you think of this song with the gender pronouns switched? I sort of like it.
My wife came up with this interpretation. Naive girl falls in with a rich man who spends money on her, and she loves the elegance of the lifestyle, but lyrics like "he knew everyone's secrets" and "he's not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at" hint at something sinister.
"She made up someone to be. She made up somewhere to be from. This is one business in the world where that's no problem at all. Everything that is left they will only plow under..." She created a new persona and completely destroyed the rest. My wife pointed out that this is often done by sex workers as a regular practice and is practically expected. Strippers, Porn stars, and prostitutes all use fake names and back stories. "This is one business in the world where that's no problem at all."
The death that it mentions is an internal death. As this man is pimping her out, she's disillusioned and dead inside but she looks so lovely. This could also be backed up by "...He kept her on a leash. He's not the kind of wheel you fall asleep at". It's pretty clearly telling us that he's controlling, demanding, and possibly manipulating.
The artist's intention was likely more along the lines of a gold digger marries a mobster and is killed for making a play for the money, but I found this to be an interesting interpretation.
@RichC123 @richc123 your wife nailed it
@RichC123 @richc123 your wife nailed it
I can't believe no one commented yet on this song. It's just so haunting and beautiful, it lingers in your head after you listen to it.
Not sure on it's precise meaning but the overall feeling is that it is describing a girl who is in over her head with someone who isn't good for her.
gorgeous song. storytelling at its best.
The line should be, "This is one business in the world where there's no profit at all," not "that's no problem at all".
Ack, I was wrong -- it is "problem" and not "profit". Damn. I have to say I like my version better. :P
Check out the strange story of the death of Carol Wayne who gained some fame as a bit player in Johnny Carson skits. She was in Mexico with a shady businessman when she drowned. Lots of websites about this incident, but try this one: http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/w/Carolwayne/CarolWayne.htm
Tom Waits referred to her in this interview at http://www.tomwaitslibrary.com/interviews/05-febr-coolivories-americanroutes.html