According to their biography by David Browne, Thurston wrote it after he got a letter from Coco's school called a "disconnection notice", basically stating that she was alienated from the rest of the kids and whatnot. Thurston himself was extremely alienated in school because of his conservative looks and strange taste in music so he felt a connection with his daughter after receiving the letter.
So personally, I think that the lyrics are from the perspective of Coco towards her father. The first part of the third stanza kind of gives it away. Coco is often with them on tour, at least she was during her earlier days. From what I can remember I think she was 8 when Murray Street was released, so she probably would have been on tour, which explains the:
"Hurry up, the stage awaits you
Don't forget to memorize your lines
Can you hear them congratulate you?"
You know...helpful advice to her father before a show.
Also, "A secret Mona Lisa hides behind her smile" I think is too affectionate to be directed at anyone but his daughter
According to their biography by David Browne, Thurston wrote it after he got a letter from Coco's school called a "disconnection notice", basically stating that she was alienated from the rest of the kids and whatnot. Thurston himself was extremely alienated in school because of his conservative looks and strange taste in music so he felt a connection with his daughter after receiving the letter.
So personally, I think that the lyrics are from the perspective of Coco towards her father. The first part of the third stanza kind of gives it away. Coco is often with them on tour, at least she was during her earlier days. From what I can remember I think she was 8 when Murray Street was released, so she probably would have been on tour, which explains the:
"Hurry up, the stage awaits you Don't forget to memorize your lines Can you hear them congratulate you?"
You know...helpful advice to her father before a show.
Also, "A secret Mona Lisa hides behind her smile" I think is too affectionate to be directed at anyone but his daughter