The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
When you knelt by my mattress, and asked for my hand
But I was sad you asked it, as I laid in a black dress
With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah
And I left the footprints, the mud stain on the carpet
And it hardened like my heart did when you left town
But I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant
Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah, yeah
While the church discouraged, any lust that burned within me
Yes my flesh, it was my currency, but I held true
So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me
From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you
But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time
And the only gifts from my Lord were a birth and a divorce
But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I'll play my part
I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters
But that's all in the past love, gone with the wind
Now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom
It's a bed and a bathroom
And a place for the end
I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life
And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time, ah
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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”Cleopatra made me cry in the studio and I had to stop the take. It’s inspired by a true story about a female taxi driver who, when she was younger, was proposed to. But her father had just passed away, so she didn’t give her boyfriend an answer. So he left the village broken-hearted and rejected and never returned again. He was her great love and she wouldn’t wash the footprints off the floor after he had left. I knew immediately that I wanted to write a song about the story because it was so haunting and poetic.”
@flori39455 is that a quote from the writer??
@flori39455 much.com/the-lumineers-cleopatra-video/
It's a song about remembering a turning point in one's life where they could have said yes to love but didn't because of other factors. (The story that inspired this song is not Cleopatra's specifically, but has many parallels so she's used in the lyrics.)
The woman's father had just died (she's still wearing black/mourning) and in her grief from that major life event, didn't say "yes" or any answer, necessarily, when proposed to. As a result, her lover left, broken-hearted.
As time went on and she healed from her grief and loss, looks back at that time. In every couple, every stranger, anyone and anywhere she's reminded of her lover. She's reminded of the person she misses, loves, and may never see again-- but if she did, she'd say "yes."
This has got to be one of the most depressing songs ever. Geesh. Beautiful though.
Too much of a pedophile feel my parents can see