In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Do you still keep paper flowers in the bottom drawer with your belgian lace
Taking them out every year to watch the colors fade away?
Do you still believe in fairy tales, in battlements of shining castles
Safe from the dragons that lie beneath the hill?
Are you still a russian princess rescued by a gypsy dancer
To anyone who'll listen is that a story you tell?
You live a life of fantasy, your diary romantic fiction.
Can't you see it's hard for me, can you see what I am trying to say?
It's a gentleman's excuse me so I'll take on step to the side.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
For every one step forward we're taking two steps back.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
I know you still like old fashioned waltzes
Your reflection in the mirror that you flirt with as you glide across the floor
But if I told you the music's over would you want to hear
That your dance card is empty that there's no-one really there?
Do you still believe in santa claus, that there's a millionaire
Looking at your front door with a key to a life that you'd never understand?
All I have to offer is the love that I have, it's freely given
You'll see it's value when you see what I've tried to say.
It's a gentleman's excuse me so I'll take on step to the side.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
For every one step forward I'm taking two steps back.
Can you get it in your head that from this one step forward
There's no turning back?
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
We're finished dancing.
Taking them out every year to watch the colors fade away?
Do you still believe in fairy tales, in battlements of shining castles
Safe from the dragons that lie beneath the hill?
Are you still a russian princess rescued by a gypsy dancer
To anyone who'll listen is that a story you tell?
You live a life of fantasy, your diary romantic fiction.
Can't you see it's hard for me, can you see what I am trying to say?
It's a gentleman's excuse me so I'll take on step to the side.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
For every one step forward we're taking two steps back.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
I know you still like old fashioned waltzes
Your reflection in the mirror that you flirt with as you glide across the floor
But if I told you the music's over would you want to hear
That your dance card is empty that there's no-one really there?
Do you still believe in santa claus, that there's a millionaire
Looking at your front door with a key to a life that you'd never understand?
All I have to offer is the love that I have, it's freely given
You'll see it's value when you see what I've tried to say.
It's a gentleman's excuse me so I'll take on step to the side.
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
For every one step forward I'm taking two steps back.
Can you get it in your head that from this one step forward
There's no turning back?
Can you get it in your head I'm tired of dancing?
We're finished dancing.
Lyrics submitted by BitterBosh
Gentleman's Excuse Me Lyrics as written by Mike Simmonds Derek William Dick
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I wish this song had more comments.
@Foxiego It has now. Sorry I am almost 11 years too late for the party
He loves this girl, but she lives a life of fantasy. He cant cope with this anymore. He wants to end it even though he loves her.
Sad and beautiful song :(
A beautiful song...this girls he is in love with is constantly waiting for someone else, a Prince,her Ideal partner a soul mate....while just using him as amusement until he arrives and ignoring his love.
This track basically pertains to the love that dare not speak its name, love for old age pensioners. Namely “Granny sex” (for short). All the indications and hallmarks are clearly there, the song protagonist in this track loves 'old fashioned waltzes, arranging paper flowers and lace'. Who does that sound like, even back in 1989? That's right, your great aunt Ermintrude! The female character in this track is not a day under 80. The singer, Derek Dick, (aka Fish former marillion vocalist) is finally ending his affair with a lonely old spinster, because she has undeniably lost her mind and become senile. He is tried of watching her dance around the room like a deranged old bat, staring at herself in the mirror and jabbering on about Tolkien novels in her dementia. The dancing is also a metaphor for the relationship istelf. The soft overly sentimental nature of this ballad is a tip-of-the-hat towards Bing Crosby musical classics, such as Singing In The Rain. Fish had clearly lost the plot at this point in his career and Marillions new singer were making him look like a fool who secretly harboured old-age pensioner fetishes. This entire album is testament to Fish running out of creative ideas and trying, even more than usual, to pump out mainsteam Genesis cash spinners.
^ Apologies for all the spelling errors & typos in my comment, I had hoped we could edit stuff here but obviously can not. I will be more diligent in future with my grammar.
@SimonCowell is that you Mr Hogarth? I have to disagree wholeheartedly, raingods with zippos is better than anything post fish marillion have pumped out, marbles is a maste3in itself but it doesn't touch raingods. The song is about a rough period in Derek's marriage.
According to Fish himself it's about a very rough patch in his marriage: youtu.be/aoxCAFQZj0U