2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
How I (Learned My Lesson) Lyrics
How I, how I, how I, how I, how I learned my lesson
Mine is a big pink house
A preacher knocking on the door
With a self-righteous preacher going in
But he is just an old flame
I'll never want him again and again and again
How I, how I, how I, how I, how I learned my lesson
I didn't, I kept on trying
I didn't listen, I looked up to you
I call you on the phone but you tell me you're not home
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
So I never want to see you again
I'm wrecking the kitchen carefully
But I'm keeping your dinner warm
How I, how I, how I, how I, how I learned my lesson
I didn't, I kept on trying
I didn't listen, I looked up to you
At the soul market on Sunday
Here's what I put in your collection basket
In front of the congregation
I stood up and called your name
When I walked out, you just shook my hand
How I, how I, how I, how I, how I learned my lesson
Mine is a big pink house
A preacher knocking on the door
With a self-righteous preacher going in
But he is just an old flame
I'll never want him again and again and again
I didn't, I kept on trying
I didn't listen, I looked up to you
I call you on the phone but you tell me you're not home
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
So I never want to see you again
I'm wrecking the kitchen carefully
But I'm keeping your dinner warm
I didn't, I kept on trying
I didn't listen, I looked up to you
At the soul market on Sunday
Here's what I put in your collection basket
In front of the congregation
I stood up and called your name
When I walked out, you just shook my hand
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
oh come on people give me a fucking break this is in my opinion in the top 10 greatest punk songs! pshhh w.e
Unless the symbolism is hiding the true meaning of the song, this seems to indicate the story of a young, impressionable Exene being led on and taken advantage of (perhaps molested) by a silver-tongued preacher or congregation leader. She wanted to have a true and open relationship with the clergyman, but he wanted to keep it on the sly. "When I walked out you just shook my hand" sounds like wouldn't acknowledge whatever "relationship" they had.
With songs like this and "Universal Corner" you have to wonder at what happened to Exene to led her to abandon Catholicism.