31 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Ottoman Lyrics
Ottoman couch, how handsome your furniture
Lovelier now, but dressed for a funeral
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
Elegant clothes, you want to be seen with her
Under your tweeds you sweat like a teenager
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
Today's for you
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural to Peter Gabriel, too
All of the costs and all of the time it took
Soon it's all lines of red in a leather book
Begging you to wait for a minute by the door
Your creeping feet where they've never been before
Today's for you
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural Peter Gabriel, too
Lovelier now, but dressed for a funeral
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
Under your tweeds you sweat like a teenager
Begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall
To hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural to Peter Gabriel, too
Soon it's all lines of red in a leather book
Begging you to wait for a minute by the door
Your creeping feet where they've never been before
They laid it out for you
For you
There will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you
But this feels so unnatural Peter Gabriel, too
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I love the idea that he's awkward in his tweed and sweating like a teenager, but reminding himself that this would be awkward for Peter Gabriel too makes him feel reassured.
@ooube Sounds more like its inferring its a Peter Gabriel song that the music is play or singing to. Sounds like some sort of Graduation Ceremony/ Dressed for funeral referring to the graduation gowns being black
@ooube Sounds more like its inferring its a Peter Gabriel song that the music is play or singing to. Sounds like some sort of Graduation Ceremony/ Dressed for funeral referring to the graduation gowns being black
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, for the win!
LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!
LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!
to me it sounds like "all of the costs and all of the time it took" which would seem to make more sense if it is about a marriage.
actually it is CARDS not cars. it wouldnt make sense if it was cars. the lyrics show that it takes place in the 1800's if not around that time.
tweeds were used more commonly back then,
6 bells a ringin symbolizes a traditional church wedding, which was much more common, if not the only way to get married back then
sitting for portraits doesnt usually happen these days, unlike wealthy families back then.
besides, "all of the cards" is a metaphor for all of the steps (like for a wedding)
I agree with the majority of your post...EXCEPT the cards part, lol. You would have sold me on it except for the line right after that. The line about the red ink in the leather just reminds me too much of an old accounting ledger and that would make more sense with the word being COST and TIME that it took to plan the wedding.
I agree with the majority of your post...EXCEPT the cards part, lol. You would have sold me on it except for the line right after that. The line about the red ink in the leather just reminds me too much of an old accounting ledger and that would make more sense with the word being COST and TIME that it took to plan the wedding.
@tiggerme123
@tiggerme123
"the lyrics show that it takes place in the 1800's if not around that time. "
"the lyrics show that it takes place in the 1800's if not around that time. "
Except the lyrics reference Peter Gabriel.
Except the lyrics reference Peter Gabriel.
Somebody mentioned the idea that the woman he's with is of a higher up, wealthy family. This can be inferred, since the portrait is being hung in the "dark of some parliamentary hall." The speaker claims to be nervous, as he is "sweating like a teenager." He dresses in his elegant clothes because he "want[s] to be seen with her."
This correlates to the ideas referenced in Taxi Cab on Contra, where the speaker reflects his failed relationship with an aristocratic woman, because he was intimidated by her wealth.
Anyway, about Ottoman. As we discussed, he is nervous about his impending marriage with a woman of high social status. The first two verses and the chorus are discussing the moments before, and moments following the wedding. The verses discuss his anxiety, and the chorus paints a picture of the wedding scene.
That's the obvious part, the third verse is the part that hits me the hardest.
The shift is obviously post marriage. It's clear because he discusses "all of the costs, and all of the time it took." This paints an image of a family, or perhaps the wedding ceremony and preparations. However, it's all "lines of red in a leather book," perhaps an image made to show the distribution of money or possessions setting up a divorce.
The idea of this divorce is emphasized by the speaker is "Begging [her] to wait for a minute by the door, her creeping feet where they've never been before." This image is strong and truly painful. It's pretty self explanatory, as the woman leaves him.
As I said, this correlates heavily with Taxi Cab, as the themes of aristocracy and break up. I encourage avid listeners of this song to look up Taxi Cab for comparison.
I know a lot of this is off, but any corrections I'd be happy to hear! Thnaks
here's what i get:
ottoman couch, how handsome your furniture love you now but dressed for a funeral begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall to hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
elegant clothes, you want to be seen with her under your tweeds you sweat like a teenager begging you to sit for a portrait on the wall to hang in the dark of some parliamentary hall
today's for you they laid it out for you there will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you, but this feels so unnatural to peter gabriel too
all of the cards and all of the time it took soon it's all lines of red in a leather book begging you to wait for a minute by the door your creeping feet where they've never been before
today's for you they laid it out for you there will be six bells a-ringing and white women singing for you but this feels so unnatural to peter gabriel too
how great is that line, 'you sweat like a teenager' !!?? i think this is about the same thing as c.c.k.k. she's rich and he's not and he feels intimidated by this fact, and it dooms their relationship.
My interpretation seems that this is about death. A funeral, which they stated. The portrait in the hall... That would be the deceased person. Today is for the person who died. "The laid it out for you" being laid out is being killed, but in this sense it means death. The women and bells ringing, could be the choir or it could be angels. The cards and the time it took... Hallmark makes grief cards. I think sweating like a teenager is because this is the song writers first experience with death, someone he was close to is gone,...
My interpretation seems that this is about death. A funeral, which they stated. The portrait in the hall... That would be the deceased person. Today is for the person who died. "The laid it out for you" being laid out is being killed, but in this sense it means death. The women and bells ringing, could be the choir or it could be angels. The cards and the time it took... Hallmark makes grief cards. I think sweating like a teenager is because this is the song writers first experience with death, someone he was close to is gone, so unnatural etc. the connection to cape cod kwassa kwassa just was a perfect line to this song, but it means something totally different
"a portrait on the wall" reflects that the pending marriage will affix their lives permanently (i.e. paintings don’t change their depictions)
"a portrait on the wall" reflects that the pending marriage will affix their lives permanently (i.e. paintings don’t change their depictions)
In the phrase "they laid it out for you", the key word is "they". This marriage is arranged or heavily promoted. The union is not the choice of those to be married.
In the phrase "they laid it out for you", the key word is "they". This marriage is arranged or heavily promoted. The union is not the choice of those to be married.
The "soon it's all lines of red in a leather book" phrase implies when the event is over. All the family that pushed the marriage are gone, attentions turned elsewhere, these kids are on their own, left only with...
The "soon it's all lines of red in a leather book" phrase implies when the event is over. All the family that pushed the marriage are gone, attentions turned elsewhere, these kids are on their own, left only with the registry of guest - which is conveniently in red like blood from a crime. This hints at the criminality of pushing one's children to make life decisions based on parental desires.
"how handsome your furniture" and "portrait on the wall" both imply that these kids are being treated like objects - not people. There is an obvious motif of objectification. The freaking name of the song is an object that can be "arranged" — come on man, who names a song after furniture? The meaning is obvious from the name alone.
This song is chuck-full of sarcastic praise "white women singing". Funny stuff.
Also, the funeral is not literal. the lyric is simply implying that the pending marraige is bound for failure. They feel like it is the end of thier life-options. Ironically everyone at the wedding event is dresssed up - much like a funeral event.
Also, the funeral is not literal. the lyric is simply implying that the pending marraige is bound for failure. They feel like it is the end of thier life-options. Ironically everyone at the wedding event is dresssed up - much like a funeral event.
how is this not obvious?
how is this not obvious?
is anyone divorced here? Perhaps it is a life-experience issue.
is anyone divorced here? Perhaps it is a life-experience issue.
However, I have to give some credit. "They laid it out" Does also imply death. As does "lines of red."
However, I have to give some credit. "They laid it out" Does also imply death. As does "lines of red."
Good catch.
Good catch.
This implies they killed the children's futures. (i.e. the family's "furniture arrangement"/"marital arrangement" is "killing" the futures of the couple being pressured into this marriage)
This implies they killed the children's futures. (i.e. the family's "furniture arrangement"/"marital arrangement" is "killing" the futures of the couple being pressured into this marriage)
Every word in this song has been selected for a duality of meanings. This is real challenging song writing - as opposed to "like a lollypop".
Every word in this song has been selected for a duality of meanings. This is real challenging song writing - as opposed to "like a lollypop".
That's so great that they use Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa lyrics.
Lyrics sound right to me.
Love this song.
i agree with ap0theosize, the line 'you sweat like a teenager' really gets me for some reason.
becaaaaause, teenage is about the time u get rly sexed up?
becaaaaause, teenage is about the time u get rly sexed up?
nah, i love the "feels so unnatural Peter Gabriel, too" lol :D