The Magnetic Fields

Courtesans

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Courtesans Lyrics

Well, courtesans
shed no tears
when you leave them high and dry
They just go on,
They just go on
to the next guy

Cause courtesans
only want
compensation for their time
a few kind words
a few kind words
they need not rhyme
a sable coat, maybe a hat
Oh, I wish I could be like that

But courtesans
are not like me
They don't take love very hard
Their hearts are free
Their hearts are free
How avant-garde

if no one loves them
when they're old
they'll sit and count their chains of gold

You say you'll love them till you die
and they don't care if it's a lie
Cause courtesans
don't believe in anybody but themselves
and Santa Claus
and Santa Claus
and his twelve elves.

Submitted by

prayingmantis84 On Jan 20, 2008

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prayingmantis84

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2008-01-20 00:15:11

4 Meanings

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Cover art for Courtesans lyrics by Magnetic Fields, The

by daviebyrne

17y ago

One of my favorite songs by them. It is about prostitutes, and the music fits it perfectly. The whole song has a mellow empty feeling and that matches the ironic lyrics. The whole song sounds like someone trying to convince themselves that courtesans live happy lives, when in reality, they are sad and empty. The Magnetic Fields are one of the few bands that can pull off irony well, and this song definitely demonstrates that.

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by cutaneousenses

18y ago

It's a simple song, but so beautiful. I can't stop listening to it

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by Pippin the Mercury

17y ago

Courtesan is an old-fashioned word that means prostitute. You can listen to the song and try to think of it in that light. It makes sense in some parts that way (like "They don't take love very hard/their hearts are free", "they just go on to the next guy").

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by tngjs0

16y ago

"But courtesans are not like me..." In light of the rest of the lyrics, these two lines are all that's needed for us to hear the story.

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