There's the part you've braced yourself against and then there's the other part
Steal up inclining northward streets with some weird sickness in the dark

Saw your name on the sidewalk saw your brave face in my mind
If you're gonna sit next to the dealer you get to bet blind

Never get away never get away I am never ever gonna get away from this place
Lay down on the streets my eyes toward the sun your star next to my face

The compasses I came into this world with never really worked so good
Gentle shadows spilling down the hills up on Mulholland at Ledgewood

Turn back turn back find someone to tell your secrets to
Dream past an old hotel on Ivy and seconds later i saw you

Never get away never get away I am never ever gonna get away from this place
Lay down on the streets my eyes toward the sun your star next to my face

Let the camera track me from the footlights to the wings
Let me set aside an hour or two in memory of sweet things

Regrind the lens again and again and again and again but still the picture fips
Anyone here mentions "Hotel California" dies before the first line clears his lips

Never get away never get away I am never ever gonna get away from this place
Lay down on the streets my eyes toward the sun your star next to my face


Lyrics submitted by mdon06

Liza Forever Minnelli song meanings
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    General Comment

    I'm fairly certain that this song is about being famous or being remembered solely from one role you played or one song you made:

    "There's the part you've braced yourself against, and then there's the other part."

    This refers to the one-hit wonder, the thing everyone wants to hear about, and how everything else is overshadowed by it.

    "Never get away never get away I am never ever gonna get away from this place"

    Applies to how you can never get away from the particular work.

    "Turn back turn back find someone to tell your secrets to"

    This is a stretch, but I feel this applies to not searching for fame, because you'll grow tired of it.

    "Anyone here mentions "Hotel California" dies before the first line clears his lips"

    This most likely applies to the song by Eagles, Hotel California. Most people will memorize the lyrics before they know the band. This can obviously stir up some conflict with the band.

    I think the title is about how if you say "Liza", people will forever think "Minnelli". I also feel that John may feel this way about "No Children" and "Dance Music". I bet Mountain Goats is always asked to play either of these songs at gigs. Of course, the songs are deserving of this respect, but it also discredits the rest of their work.

    OneTimeForAllon April 12, 2011   Link

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