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Dance Anthem of the 80's Lyrics
You are so sweet
Dancing to the beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
You are so sweet, so sweet
Dancing and moving to that beat, that beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
I'm walking through the city
Like a drunk, but not
With my slip showing a little
Like a drunk, but not
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
And it's only a matter of whom
And it's only a matter of when
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
Dancing to the beat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
Dancing and moving to that beat, that beat
The boys and girls watch each other eat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
Like a drunk, but not
With my slip showing a little
Like a drunk, but not
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
And it's only a matter of whom
And it's only a matter of when
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
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My friend and I were discussing this song and we think the interpretation of this song starts with the title itself. It isn't called 'Dance anthem of the 80s' for nothing. The 80s were kind of a period of decadence I believe where casual sex was kind of the 'in-thing' to do (I was born in the 80s so I don't really know for sure, but I know Brett Easton Ellis' novels are situated in the 80s and they are mostly about this kind of stuff).
So the song is about that lifestyle of decadence and casual/meaningless sex. On the surface this is fun and exciting having sex with a random stranger you pick up at a party or something (you are so sweet, dancing to that beat). This would be the first part of the song before the solo. Picking out some hot guy/girl and getting it on with him/her.
That this isn't the greatest lifestyle already filters through in the first part. She refers to a meat market, which such a scene could be compared to. Also the seeing 'each other eat' line indicates that it is only about 'consuming' someone else, nothing more. And they all really want to 'watch each other sleep' something which indicates a more substantial and deeper relationship. So, instead of the fleeting sex they want deep down a more meaningful connection.
After the solo this becomes even more apparent as the main character is walking alone on the street like a drunk, but not. The cars not stopping has a strong connotation with prostitution, but can also be interpreted as the main character saying that he/she is a normal person and just wants someone to stop and take care of him/her and get some genuine affection.
Finally, the verse with 'it's been a long time since before I've been touched' alludes to that the act of sex is nothing more than a routine and that it is more a matter of with whom it is and when it happens than whether if it happens. This indicates that all the affection and specialness of having sex is long gone. The addiction and repetition at the end indicates even more the routine that is established and maybe a sort 'it's better than nothing, I'm damaged goods anyway' attitude that the main character may have.
Long post, sorry for that. Love the song and love how Regina makes a seemingly happy song and puts in such a deep and dark meaning (at least as far as we are interpreting it).
I agree Completely with Lugon
I agree Completely with Lugon
Casual sex seems to be the theme of this song how at first it seems fun but then it loses value and all that truely matters is with whom and when.
Casual sex seems to be the theme of this song how at first it seems fun but then it loses value and all that truely matters is with whom and when.
I too am amazed by her ability to mix groove with dep meaningful lyrics
I too am amazed by her ability to mix groove with dep meaningful lyrics
I was born in 1962 and spent my 80's (aka college years) very much like this song. Life was a giant 80's Dance Anthem. Love the B-52-esque keyboard section. We were a little late to be the love children of the late 60's early 70's but it spilled over into the Disco's. So we were love children with an industrial clean groove kind of thing (and lots of polyester;)
I was born in 1962 and spent my 80's (aka college years) very much like this song. Life was a giant 80's Dance Anthem. Love the B-52-esque keyboard section. We were a little late to be the love children of the late 60's early 70's but it spilled over into the Disco's. So we were love children with an industrial clean groove kind of thing (and lots of polyester;)
Love this interpretation. Exactly what I was thinking.
Love this interpretation. Exactly what I was thinking.
Props to Lugon.
Props to Lugon.
brilliant. you're completely right! i never thought ab out this song that way
brilliant. you're completely right! i never thought ab out this song that way
Isn't it amazing how Regina buries such serious themes - decay of society's morals, sex as a means of escape from a lonely reality - into a song that seems so superficially fun, energetic and pleasant?
Isn't it amazing how Regina buries such serious themes - decay of society's morals, sex as a means of escape from a lonely reality - into a song that seems so superficially fun, energetic and pleasant?
If there's one minor nitpick that I have with your superb interpretation, it's that the "watch each other sleep" lyric doesn't necessarily imply that the dancing folks are looking for some serious relationship... to "watch each other sleep" (as romantic as the notion seems), they usually have to go through the motions of sex, which is the primary purpose of their encounters at the...
If there's one minor nitpick that I have with your superb interpretation, it's that the "watch each other sleep" lyric doesn't necessarily imply that the dancing folks are looking for some serious relationship... to "watch each other sleep" (as romantic as the notion seems), they usually have to go through the motions of sex, which is the primary purpose of their encounters at the "meat market". So, the bit about them wanting a more meaningful connection doesn't filter through until Regina's solo (which is, of course, my favorite part of the song). Just my two cents.
To me, this is a very sad song, nothing sweet about it.
I think it's about people, the dating scene I guess, everyone being so desperate for love, and not getting it. All they really get is dinner, and maybe some empty sex. This bit:
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched Now I'm getting touched all the time And it's only a matter of who And it's only a matter of when
... strikes me as tragic. To me, it reads as a girl regretting her sexual activity. She lost her virginity at an early age and sex is all she knows, but she longs for something more.
I think it's very easily about casual sex. I don't really think the prostitute argument is very consistent, but I do think it has at least some merit.
I also think that the "meat market" signifies the fast pace of the '80s (as it has carried over into modern situations), and "when they really just wanna watch each other sleep" suggests that people have become jaded with the one-night stand culture and want a stable relationship where they can watch their partner "sleep."
When she says "i'm one o you people but the cars don't stop" she is talking about prostatotes as her slip i showing just a little
i don't really care what the song means, i just know that the part after the solo is orgasmic.
A character that seems to look on the courtship of the girls and boys like David Attenborough - all knowing of their quirks and follys in love "They really just wanna watch eachother sleep", wants to be involved "I am one of your people", and not be this David Attenborough. They have lowered their inhibitions in order to fit in and wonder the streets "Like a drunk but not" - they want the 'cars' to stop and notice them. CHEESE
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched Now I'm getting touched all the time And it's only a matter of who And it's only a matter of when
An addiction to hands and feet There's a meat market down the street The boys and girls watch each other eat When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
these two stanzas are my favorite.
i think the entire world should be a nudist colony and we should all just go around screwing each other, watching each other sleep, holding each other, and saying nice things
I'm not sure if I agree with you or not. What an ideal. Unreachable of course. Though, just like communism, it looks so good on paper. I don't think it would really work out. But what an ideal.
I'm not sure if I agree with you or not. What an ideal. Unreachable of course. Though, just like communism, it looks so good on paper. I don't think it would really work out. But what an ideal.
I'm right there with you chelswild flower. Imagine how much quicker we'd get through the airport security check point. Aside from the odd cavity search we'd walk right through.
I'm right there with you chelswild flower. Imagine how much quicker we'd get through the airport security check point. Aside from the odd cavity search we'd walk right through.
damn chelswildflower if only you were the president of the world :)
damn chelswildflower if only you were the president of the world :)