Victoria
The Fall Lyrics
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And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Golden lawns, village green
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
I was born, lucky me
In the land that I love
Though I'm poor, I am free
When I go I shall fight
For this land I will die
Let her sun never set on
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
The song "Victoria" by English post-punk band The Fall was released in 1988 as a single and later included in their album "The Frenz Experiment." The song has been interpreted in different ways, with some considering it a tribute to the British Empire and others as a critique of nationalism and imperialism. The lyrics "stately homes for the Lords, golden lawns, village green" are a reference to the wealthy and privileged lifestyle of the aristocracy in the Victorian era, while "village green" represents the pastoral idyll associated with rural England. However, the opening lines "It was bad, called obscene, and the rich were so mean" suggest a darker underbelly of the Victorian era, alluding to issues of poverty, class inequality, and exploitation.
The singer of the song is a working-class person who claims to love his country despite his own humble circumstances, as reflected in the lines "I was born, lucky me, in the land that I love, though I'm poor, I am free." At the same time, he expresses a willingness to fight and die for his country, although the ultimate goal or cause of this conflict is not specified. The chorus repeats the name "Victoria" three times, personifying the notion of "queen and country." The final lines "From the rich to the poor, Victoria loved them all" can be read as either a genuine sentiment of national unity or a cynical take on the self-interest of the ruling class.
Line by Line Meaning
It was bad, called obscene
The things people did or said were considered indecent and offensive
And the rich were so mean
Wealthy people were often unkind and cruel
Stately homes for the Lords
The nobility lived in grand houses and estates
Golden lawns, village green
Large, beautifully-landscaped lawns and public spaces were a common feature of affluent areas
Victoria was my queen
Queen Victoria was highly respected and admired by the singer
I was born, lucky me
The singer considers themselves fortunate to have been born in their home country
In the land that I love
The singer has great affection for their homeland
Though I'm poor, I am free
Despite being financially disadvantaged, the singer values their freedom and independence
When I go I shall fight
If necessary, the singer is willing to defend their country through military service
For this land I will die
The singer is deeply committed to their country and its protection
Let her sun never set on
May this country always be recognized as a place of importance and power around the world
Canada to India
The territories under British Empire rule are far and wide
Australia to Cornwall
British colonies span across the globe, from Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
Important trading ports and cities remain under British control
From the West to the East
The empire dominates over vast stretches of land, from the Western lands of America to the Eastern reaches of China
From the rich to the poor
The British Empire welcomes all forms of inhabitants, from the wealth to the poverty-stricken
Victoria loved them all
The Queen cared for and held in high regard all those under British rule
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
A repeated affirming of the singer's devotion and admiration for Queen Victoria
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ian Robson
It was bad, called obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Golden lawns, village green
Victoria was my queen
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
I was born, lucky me
In the land that I love
Though I'm poor, I am free
When I go I shall fight
For this land I will die
Let her sun never set on
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the West to the East
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Syd McCreath
Long ago, life was clean
Sex was bad, called obscene
And the rich were so mean
Stately homes for the Lords
Croquet lawns, village greens
Victoria was my queen
Victoria
Victoria
Victoria
‘toria
I was born, lucky me
In a land that I love
Though I'm poor, I am free
When I grow, I shall fight
For this land, I shall die
Let her sun never set
Victoria
Victoria
Victoria
‘toria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Land of hope and gloria
Land of my Victoria
Victoria
‘toria
Canada to India
Australia to Cornwall
Singapore to Hong Kong
From the west to the east
From the rich to the poor
Victoria loved them all
Victoria
Victoria
Victoria
‘toria .
Comentários e Idéias
Foi ruim, chamado de obsceno
E os ricos foram tão má
paços para os senhores
gramados dourado, verde aldeia
Vitória era minha rainha
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
eu nasci, sorte minha
Na terra que eu amo
Embora eu sou pobre, eu sou livre
Quando eu vou vou lutar
Por esta terra que eu will morrer
Deixe seu sol nunca se punha no
Victoria, Victoria, Victoria
Canadá para a Índia
Austrália para Cornwall
Cingapura para Hong Kong
do Ocidente para o Oriente
dos ricos para os pobres
Victoria amei todos eles
Alan Strom
The Fall played a gig in Sydney in the late 80's at a Sylvania Hotel where they didn't play any of their well known popular songs.
The crowd were not happy and the Band couldn't care less about it.
It was probably meant to be some kind of Punk attitude.
Personally, I think it is extremely rude and arrogant of the Band.
Mark E. Smith was probably making a point.
" Oh, if you'd bought our albums then you'd know the songs we played tonight"
He was right, I only bought a few Singles.
When was Mark E. Smith not right?
Probably never.
I'm fairly certain that he and I shared the same political views.
Mark Sutphin
RIP Mark E. Smith, a true pioneer and unwavering genius of music!!
James Wilbraham
Mark Sutphin 😂😂😂😂😂😂 You have got to be joking! He had zero talent. 😂😂😂😂
Jim O
@James Wilbraham you stick to ariane grande mate, leave the genius' to the rest of us, okay?!
Edson Hernández
@James Wilbraham bots don't have opinions
Will Thornton
To feckin right
Mike Wilson
Covers can be terrible. This is absolute brilliance. It adds something new to the original.
STRIKER CJ
Thanks to The Kinks and The Fall, i loved both versions.
John Maskell
Top song, I met him once and chatted in a pub near the studio I worked in, we got to the pub at opening 11am and he had already polished off 8 cans of Stella in the studio, I fancy he did well to last so long, my abiding memory is he just treated me like anyone else and he was a very funny bloke, proper down to earth.
John Rogers
I've heard the same. Lucky you, what a memory.
CounterCulture Wrestling
Wow that’s a real great story. Thanks for sharing ❤️