Line Up
Elastica Lyrics
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She's got her keys, money and fags,
I know that her mind is made up,
To get rocked.
Drivel Head needs a new man,
As only a drivel head can,
He's a hormonal nightmare,
So beware.
Another victim of line up in line,
Line up in line is all I remember.
Oh, how their favours change,
You could have been kinder.
Yes, yes, line up in line,
Line up in line is all I remember.
Oh, how their favours change,
You could have been kinder.
Drivel Head knows all the stars,
Loves to suck their shining guitars,
They've all been right up her stairs,
Do you care?
Drivel Head knows all the bands,
Knows them like the back of her hands.
You can't see the wood for the trees,
On your knees.
Another victim of line up in line,
Line up in line is all I remember.
Oh, how their favours change,
You could have been kinder.
Yes, yes, line up in line,
Line up in line is all I remember.
Oh, how their favours change,
You could have been kinder.
The lyrics of Elastica's "Line Up" are a commentary on the music industry and the way it objectifies women. The singer, presumably a woman, refers to another woman as "Drivel Head," implying that she is stupid or shallow. Drivel Head wears her best clothes and carries her keys, money, and cigarettes, which suggests that she is going out to party and meet men. The singer acknowledges that Drivel Head has made up her mind to "get rocked," which could mean that she wants to have sex, but also implies that she is seeking some kind of excitement or validation.
The lyrics also suggest that Drivel Head has a history of sleeping with musicians. She "knows all the stars" and "loves to suck their shining guitars." The singer implies that Drivel Head is not the only woman chasing after musicians, but that they are all competing for the same men. The line "Another victim of line up in line" suggests that there is a kind of assembly line or conveyor belt of women waiting to meet and sleep with musicians. The repetition of "line up in line" emphasizes the dehumanizing nature of this process.
The chorus "Oh, how their favours change, you could have been kinder" suggests that the singer has been mistreated or taken advantage of by someone in the music industry. The "favors" may refer to sexual acts, but could also include more general exploitation or manipulation. The second verse reinforces the idea that musicians are often exploitative and abusive towards women. Drivel Head is seeking a "new man," but the singer warns that he is a "hormonal nightmare." The final line, "On your knees" implies that women in the music industry are expected to be submissive and deferential.
Overall, "Line Up" is a feminist critique of the music industry and its treatment of women. The lyrics challenge the objectification of women and call attention to the way they are exploited by powerful men. At the same time, the song has a catchy, upbeat melody that invites the listener to dance along.
Line by Line Meaning
Drivel Head wears her glad rags,
Drivel Head dresses up fancy and is ready to go out.
She's got her keys, money and fags,
She has her essentials - keys, money, and cigarettes.
I know that her mind is made up,
I know that she has made up her mind.
To get rocked.
To have a good time, party, and have fun.
Drivel Head needs a new man,
Drivel Head is looking for a new romantic partner.
As only a drivel head can,
As only someone foolish or naive would.
He's a hormonal nightmare,
The man Drivel Head is looking for is likely to have emotional turbulence.
So beware.
Be cautious and careful when dealing with him.
Another victim of line up in line,
Another person who fell in line and conformed to society's expectations.
Line up in line is all I remember.
Society's expectations and conformity are all that I recall.
Oh, how their favours change,
Oh, how people's behavior and attitudes can change.
You could have been kinder.
You could have been more empathetic and understanding towards those who conformed to society's expectations but may not have wanted to.
Drivel Head knows all the stars,
Drivel Head is familiar with and admires many celebrities.
Loves to suck their shining guitars,
Drivel Head likes to live vicariously through celebrities and their glamorous lifestyles.
They've all been right up her stairs,
Many celebrities have likely been to Drivel Head's home for various reasons.
Do you care?
Does it matter to you that Drivel Head is so connected to celebrities?
Drivel Head knows all the bands,
Drivel Head is knowledgeable about various music groups.
Knows them like the back of her hands.
Drivel Head is very familiar with the music bands, as if she knows them as intimately as the back of her hands.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTINE ELINOR FRISCHMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind