I just finished rereading The Great Gatsby for the 3rd time the other day and today I came across this song. I didn't make the connection at first, but after listening to it a few times and reading the lyrics, I have realized this song has strong ties to Fitzgerald's classic. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll share my thoughts anyway. Obviously set in the "roaring" 1920s, I believe the Lumineers are portraying the fast-paced short-lived time period that Fitzgerald captures so beautifully. The "flapper girl" to me is Daisy Buchanan, and the song is sang through the perspective of the desperately romantic Gatsby who, after being separated from his beloved through five years of war, holds onto blind hope. Even though Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan- or really, his money, Gatsby's wasted heart holds onto the impossible.
Now, it could just be the love story of a random 20s couple, but the song makes specific references that I can't ignore. For instance, "Cadillac, Cadillac. Businessmen dressed in slacks. I'm gonna buy one for us when I get back. A big Cadillac." Gatsby was from humble beginnings, and Daisy was born into old money. Gatsby throughout the novel has a desire to achieve the wealth that people such as Daisy and Tom simply inherited. When he does get "back" (from war), he works his way up to extravagant wealth, but does not win Daisy. Another direct reference is the "neck of pearls," though on this site it reads "curls." If the correct lyric is "pearls," this would be referencing the necklace that Tom gave Daisy as a wedding gift-the one he essentially tries to "buy" her with and the one we find in the trash can the day before their wedding. The repeated line, "Would you write, would you call back baby if
I wrote you a song? I been gone but you're still my lady and I need you at home" shows Gatsby's undying love for Daisy and how lost in the past he is. Until finally, "Lovers come, lovers go. Lovers leave me alone. She'll come back to me." Perhaps this is the last glint of hope we see in Gatsby before his tragic ending. Still, he refuses to see the unbelievable goal of the American dream and the impossibility of him having a future with Daisy...which further goes into American culture, capitalism and human nature, et cetera.
Oh, my heart goes out to you, Jay Gatsby.
Perhaps this isn't even remotely what Flapper Girl is about, but I thought it was worth a shot.
Interesting and well described interpretation. I came to the same conclusion myself. Like you say they might not have written this song with Jay Gatsby in mind, however, the references are uncanny.
Interesting and well described interpretation. I came to the same conclusion myself. Like you say they might not have written this song with Jay Gatsby in mind, however, the references are uncanny.
After reading this, I really do think this song sounds just like The Great Gatsby. It just sums up Gatsby's undying hope that he can win Daisy and his striving to win her back. It's perfect! Thanks for sharing your interpretation. I love The Great Gatsby and I love this song and I think they add to each other very nicely. This song should have been in the movie!
After reading this, I really do think this song sounds just like The Great Gatsby. It just sums up Gatsby's undying hope that he can win Daisy and his striving to win her back. It's perfect! Thanks for sharing your interpretation. I love The Great Gatsby and I love this song and I think they add to each other very nicely. This song should have been in the movie!
I just finished rereading The Great Gatsby for the 3rd time the other day and today I came across this song. I didn't make the connection at first, but after listening to it a few times and reading the lyrics, I have realized this song has strong ties to Fitzgerald's classic. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll share my thoughts anyway. Obviously set in the "roaring" 1920s, I believe the Lumineers are portraying the fast-paced short-lived time period that Fitzgerald captures so beautifully. The "flapper girl" to me is Daisy Buchanan, and the song is sang through the perspective of the desperately romantic Gatsby who, after being separated from his beloved through five years of war, holds onto blind hope. Even though Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan- or really, his money, Gatsby's wasted heart holds onto the impossible. Now, it could just be the love story of a random 20s couple, but the song makes specific references that I can't ignore. For instance, "Cadillac, Cadillac. Businessmen dressed in slacks. I'm gonna buy one for us when I get back. A big Cadillac." Gatsby was from humble beginnings, and Daisy was born into old money. Gatsby throughout the novel has a desire to achieve the wealth that people such as Daisy and Tom simply inherited. When he does get "back" (from war), he works his way up to extravagant wealth, but does not win Daisy. Another direct reference is the "neck of pearls," though on this site it reads "curls." If the correct lyric is "pearls," this would be referencing the necklace that Tom gave Daisy as a wedding gift-the one he essentially tries to "buy" her with and the one we find in the trash can the day before their wedding. The repeated line, "Would you write, would you call back baby if I wrote you a song? I been gone but you're still my lady and I need you at home" shows Gatsby's undying love for Daisy and how lost in the past he is. Until finally, "Lovers come, lovers go. Lovers leave me alone. She'll come back to me." Perhaps this is the last glint of hope we see in Gatsby before his tragic ending. Still, he refuses to see the unbelievable goal of the American dream and the impossibility of him having a future with Daisy...which further goes into American culture, capitalism and human nature, et cetera. Oh, my heart goes out to you, Jay Gatsby. Perhaps this isn't even remotely what Flapper Girl is about, but I thought it was worth a shot.
Interesting and well described interpretation. I came to the same conclusion myself. Like you say they might not have written this song with Jay Gatsby in mind, however, the references are uncanny.
Interesting and well described interpretation. I came to the same conclusion myself. Like you say they might not have written this song with Jay Gatsby in mind, however, the references are uncanny.
After reading this, I really do think this song sounds just like The Great Gatsby. It just sums up Gatsby's undying hope that he can win Daisy and his striving to win her back. It's perfect! Thanks for sharing your interpretation. I love The Great Gatsby and I love this song and I think they add to each other very nicely. This song should have been in the movie!
After reading this, I really do think this song sounds just like The Great Gatsby. It just sums up Gatsby's undying hope that he can win Daisy and his striving to win her back. It's perfect! Thanks for sharing your interpretation. I love The Great Gatsby and I love this song and I think they add to each other very nicely. This song should have been in the movie!