It was a tight toy night, streets so bright
The world was so thin between my bones and skin
There stood another person who was a little surprised
To be face to face with a world so alive

How I fell (did you feel low?)
No (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo

You know it's all like some new kind of drug
My senses are sharp and my hands are like gloves
Broadway looked so medieval
It seemed to flap like little pages
And I fell sideways laughing
With a friend from many stages

How we felt (did you feel low?)
Not at all (huh?)
I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo

Suddenly, my eyes went so soft and shaky
I knew there was pain but pain is not aching
Then Richie, Richie said
"Hey man, let's dress up like cops, think of what we could do"
Something, something said "you better not"

And I fell (did you feel low?)
Nah (huh?)
I stood up, walked out of the arms of Venus De Milo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Television's song "Venus" are about a surreal, dream-like experience in New York City. The singer describes the night as "tight" and the streets as "so bright," suggesting a feeling of being wound up or tense. The world feels thin "between my bones and skin," as if the singer is aware of their own fragility. They encounter another person who is also surprised by the intensity of the city.

The singer then describes falling, but it's unclear what this means. They ask, "How I fell (did you feel low?)" but answer themselves with a simple "No." They then say that they fell into the arms of Venus De Milo, which could be interpreted literally as falling into the arms of the famous Greek statue, or figuratively as falling in love or surrendering to a powerful force. The next verse suggests that the experience is like a drug, heightening the singer's senses and making them feel invincible.

The singer and a friend walk down Broadway, which looks "medieval" and "like little pages." They fall over laughing and feel a deep sense of camaraderie. Suddenly, the singer's eyes go "soft and shaky," but they don't feel pain as an ache. Their friend Richie suggests they dress up like cops and cause trouble, but something inside the singer warns them against it. They stand up and walk away from the intense, fantastical experience of Venus.

Overall, the lyrics to "Venus" paint a picture of a wild, surreal night in New York City. The singer feels both exhilarated and scared, and the experience leaves them with a sense of unease.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a tight toy night, streets so bright
The night was exciting and the streets were lively.

The world was so thin between my bones and skin
The singer felt exposed and vulnerable.

There stood another person who was a little surprised
Someone else was also amazed by their surroundings.

To be face to face with a world so alive
They were confronted with a vibrant and energetic world.

How I fell (did you feel low?) No (huh?) I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo
The artist is enamored with Venus De Milo and fell under her spell.

You know it's all like some new kind of drug My senses are sharp and my hands are like gloves
The experience is exhilarating and all-encompassing.

Broadway looked so medieval It seemed to flap like little pages And I fell sideways laughing With a friend from many stages
The singer and their friend found the setting ridiculous and laughed about it.

How we felt (did you feel low?) Not at all (huh?) I fell right into the arms of Venus De Milo
The other person is also charmed by Venus De Milo and unaffected by any negative feelings.

Suddenly, my eyes went so soft and shaky I knew there was pain but pain is not aching
The artist experienced a shift in their perception of pain.

Then Richie, Richie said "Hey man, let's dress up like cops, think of what we could do" Something, something said "you better not"
One person suggested mischief, but another advised against it.

And I fell (did you feel low?) Nah (huh?) I stood up, walked out of the arms of Venus De Milo
The singer broke free from the allure of Venus De Milo and moved on from the experience.

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