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The Mermaid Parade Lyrics
In New York this morning; it was 8 am LA time,
and I could be there by this evening
said the girl on the airline line.
So I bought that ticket, and I got in that cab,
but I didn't make it babe
to the airport like that.
No I wound up walking
out by the ocean today
and there were naked women
dancing in the Mermaid Parade.
And oh Amanda did you see me today
watching those women dancing
in the Mermaid Parade?
And oh Amanda were you with me today
watching those women waltz by
in the Mermaid Parade?
Now our hearts were on fire
only two weeks ago,
and our bodies were like live wires
down on the beach in Mexico.
I came back to this city,
and you stayed home in LA,
and our two years of marriage
in two short weeks somehow just slipped away.
I know all about your new man–
your new, older, old man–
and I heard that he's married;
oh, you be careful Amanda.
Yeah, I found a new friend too,
and yeah she's pretty and she's small,
but god damn it, Amanda;
oh, god damn it all.
and I could be there by this evening
said the girl on the airline line.
So I bought that ticket, and I got in that cab,
but I didn't make it babe
to the airport like that.
out by the ocean today
and there were naked women
dancing in the Mermaid Parade.
And oh Amanda did you see me today
watching those women dancing
in the Mermaid Parade?
And oh Amanda were you with me today
watching those women waltz by
in the Mermaid Parade?
only two weeks ago,
and our bodies were like live wires
down on the beach in Mexico.
I came back to this city,
and you stayed home in LA,
and our two years of marriage
in two short weeks somehow just slipped away.
your new, older, old man–
and I heard that he's married;
oh, you be careful Amanda.
Yeah, I found a new friend too,
and yeah she's pretty and she's small,
but god damn it, Amanda;
oh, god damn it all.
Song Info
Submitted by
drawrof On May 22, 2010
More Phosphorescent
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"goddamn it amanda. goddamn it all."
boom. what a concise statement of exasperation.
I read an interview with Matthew and he was talking about this song, and I kinda got the impression that it was just a good story (link to interview: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2010/05/phosphorescents.php)
But then I read a few old interviews which made me think that it's most likely autobiographic (at least some of it) with him having lived in LA, where he was seeing a girl, and then moved to New York: http://gothamist.com/2007/11/07/matthew_houck_p.php http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:CtOMe2D7q7wJ:www.theredalert.com/features/phosphorescent.php+phosphorescent+interview+los+angeles&cd=2&hl=da&ct=clnk&gl=dk&client=firefox-a
Just some useless info, it's a great song no matter what :)
Non google cache link: http://www.theredalert.com/features/phosphorescent.php
Non google cache link: http://www.theredalert.com/features/phosphorescent.php
great song, great story. my eyes watered a bit when i first heard it.
i had originally assumed the mermaid parade was referencing the "plenty of other fish in the sea" sentiment, but then found out that there is an actual Mermaid Parade on Coney Island that often features partially-naked women. how do you think this parade relates to the story? why did he go to the mermaid parade rather than the airport?
It could be both though. The mermaids and the parade could be a metaphor for "plenty of other fish in the sea".
It could be both though. The mermaids and the parade could be a metaphor for "plenty of other fish in the sea".
I guess he figured it wouldn't make a difference if he went back. Both of them have already moved on. Even if this saddens him, he realizes he must let go.
I guess he figured it wouldn't make a difference if he went back. Both of them have already moved on. Even if this saddens him, he realizes he must let go.
I got the impression that he was suggesting that Amanda should be jealous because he is looking at other women, who are naked - hence "did you see me today?" he wants her to see him and feel jealous
I believe the song is a metaphor for the distraught singer's suicide by drowning. I don't think it is related to the Coney Island event, in anyway other than it fit in the song meaning. I gotta tell ya, I love Matthew's writing, the covers he has chosen, his voice, instrumentation. This is a talented guy, and if he keeps writing like this, and not change his style, I will be around, and around, and around and......