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A Perfect Day Elise Lyrics
He got lucky one time
Hitting with the girl in room 509
She turned her back on him facing the frame
Said, 'Listen Joe, don't you come here again'.
White sun scattered all over the sea
He could think of nothing but her name 'Elise'
God is the sweat running down his back
The water soaked her blonde hair black
Its a perfect day Elise
He got burned by the sun
His face so pale and his hands so worn
Let himself in room 509
Said a prayer, and cried, 'It's a perfect day Elise'
Correct|full lyrics:
He got, he got lucky one time, Hitting with the girl in room 509. She turned her back on her facing the frame, Said, 'Listen Joe, don't you come here again.'
White sun scattered all over the sea, He could think of nothing but her name, 'Elise.' God is the sweat running down his back. Hm. The water soaked her blonde hair black.
It's a perfect day, A perfect day, Elise.
He got burned by the sun; (He's a lucky man) His face so pale and his hands so warm; (In the sky) Let himself in room 509; (As he turns away) Said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried. (Just tell me why)
"It's a perfect day, A perfect day, Elise."
It's a perfect day, A perfect day, Elise.
This is my favorite Polly song ever since 1998. Hands down.
Nearly 6 years later, and they STILL haven't corrected the lyrics.
Nearly 6 years later, and they STILL haven't corrected the lyrics.
Thank you, Stentorian, for mentioning Salinger. The entire song is based around "A Perfect Day for Bananafish." It's very clear if you've read the story, even at a passing listen, that this song mirrors the events in Salinger's story. The "Joe" in the song appears as a character throughout the album, but seems to be the general representation of the male figure, as the name of the character in "Bananafish" was Seymour Glass. There are a number of women in the story, as well, and it seems she could be referencing or quoting any number of them in the song. Seymour's (or Joe, in the song) mother and wife are annoyed or upset with him, but the little girl in the story is the character with whom he has the best relationship before he kills himself that afternoon. This is another of the literary references in this album, (some of the other apparent ones [IMO] are Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and Brönte's "Wuthering Heights" as well as the Bible).
Well, there is a very strong Flannery presence throughout the album. "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by Miss O'Connor inspired "No Girl So Sweet"; her story "The River" inpisred "The River"; "Good Country People" inspired "Joy", and so on...
Well, there is a very strong Flannery presence throughout the album. "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by Miss O'Connor inspired "No Girl So Sweet"; her story "The River" inpisred "The River"; "Good Country People" inspired "Joy", and so on...
By the way, this song was inspired by the short story by J D Salinger, "A perfect day for banana fish." Absolutely adore it.
O FUCK YES
O FUCK YES
I think he first kills her by drowning her ("The water soaked her blonde hair black"), then kills himself ("said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried")
Why has no one commented on this song yet? PJ Harvey rocks, and this is a great song.
I agree, I agree...
heck yeah, just was listening to this song
I friggin' love this song...
to me, it seems to be about this guy who hooks up with a girl in "room 509" but she ends it. he's devastated because he's completely in love with her. he goes down to the beach and sits on the sand, just thinking about her. then goes back to the room and... "Said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried" (i think the lyrics here they miss 'pulled the trigger') he kills her. then cries.
having sex at sea. Fatal.
"said a prayer, PULLED THE TRIGGER, and cried"
c'mon, let's not use the censored lyrics.
anyway, i think this eerie song is obviously about some kind of murderous activity. possibly a murder, possibly a suicide, maybe even both.