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Courtesy Laughs
Phoenix Lyrics


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I had a fever to empty your closet
I didn't think it would be that hard
You get to do what you want now
Though we'll always have to do it apart

I'm gonna scream a hundred thousand words
Now that your fever is long gone
Your wishes I couldn't tell, see
I don't hear you talking but pretending

Ain't that enough courtesy laughs

I read my future in a fortune cookie
Without any safety procedure in mind
All of your things in the main hall
You told me to get rid of them, so

Sold an ugly necklace uptown
I found out it was Egyptian
I tied up your letters
Buried them all with delectation

Ain't that enough courtesy laughs

I hate that kind of wrong affection
I ain't ready to talk at all
It's all lies, misunderstandings
I'm all alone in the main hall

I'm gonna read every novel you read
I'm gonna learn what's Egyptian
Pretend not to talk too much too
Sacrifice all of my agenda

I had a fever to empty your closet
I didn't think it would be that hard
You get to do what you want now
Though we'll always have to do it apart

I hate that kind of wrong affection
I ain't ready to talk at all
It's all lies, misunderstandings
I'm all alone in the main hall

Overall Meaning

The song "Courtesy Laughs" by Phoenix delves into the aftermath of a breakup and the struggle to move on. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and emotions, showcasing the raw feelings of the singer.


The first stanza talks about the singer's desire to get rid of the memories of their past relationship. They had a fever to empty their ex-partner's closet, perhaps as a symbol of wanting to purge all the remnants of their time together. However, the task proved to be harder than anticipated, highlighting the difficulty of letting go.


The chorus "Ain't that enough courtesy laughs" could be interpreted as the singer putting up a facade of politeness and civility towards their ex-partner, despite the underlying feelings of hurt and betrayal. They are trying to be amicable and avoid confrontation, but deep down, they are hurt and angry.


The second stanza talks about how the singer is trying to move on, but struggling with the memories of their past relationship. They read their future in a fortune cookie without any regard for safety, suggesting that they are taking risks without much thought. They get rid of all their ex-partner's belongings as instructed, but find out that something they sold was valuable (an ugly necklace from Egypt), further emphasizing the difficulty of letting go and moving on.


The last stanza showcases the singer's desperate attempts to move on. They try to recreate the things their ex-partner liked, such as reading their favorite novels and learning about Egyptian culture. They continue to avoid talking about the breakup and the misunderstandings that led to their separation. The song ends with the repetition of the line, "I'm all alone in the main hall," further emphasizing the singer's loneliness and isolation.


Line by Line Meaning

I had a fever to empty your closet
I had a strong urge to get rid of all your things


I didn't think it would be that hard
I thought it would be easy to do


You get to do what you want now
You have the freedom to do what you please


Though we'll always have to do it apart
Although we will always be separated


I'm gonna scream a hundred thousand words
I'm going to express myself loudly and extensively


Now that your fever is long gone
Now that you no longer have that preference or desire


Your wishes I couldn't tell, see
I wasn't able to understand your desires


I don't hear you talking but pretending
Regardless of how much you pretend, I don't hear what you're saying


Ain't that enough courtesy laughs
Isn't it sufficient to just fake a laugh for the sake of politeness?


I read my future in a fortune cookie
I tried to find meaning in something insignificant


Without any safety procedure in mind
Without considering the potential consequences


All of your things in the main hall
All of your possessions in the main room


You told me to get rid of them, so
You instructed me to dispose of them, therefore


Sold an ugly necklace uptown
I sold an unattractive necklace in the city


I found out it was Egyptian
I discovered that it originated from Egypt


I tied up your letters
I bound together your letters


Buried them all with delectation
I took pleasure in burying them all


I hate that kind of wrong affection
I despise insincere displays of emotion


I ain't ready to talk at all
I'm not prepared or willing to speak


It's all lies, misunderstandings
It's all falsehoods and misinterpretations


I'm all alone in the main hall
I am completely isolated in the main room


I'm gonna read every novel you read
I am going to read every book that you have read


I'm gonna learn what's Egyptian
I am going to educate myself on Egyptian culture


Pretend not to talk too much too
I will act as if I do not talk excessively


Sacrifice all of my agenda
I will forfeit my personal plans and goals




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTIAN MAZZALAI, FREDERIC MOULIN, LAURENT MAZZALAI, THOMAS CROQUET

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Dragos Raileanu


on Ora-hora

https://www.facebook.com/TranssylvaniaPhoenixOficial/ that's the band, actually, the romanian one ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsylvania_Phoenix ... it's name is actually just Phoenix, please see their page

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