Elegance
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
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The world around your own.
And say you want to swan, one to one
Hey kid they own the pond.
There are those who rest,
And those who make the beds,
And should you seek redress
Can't you guess?
Hey child they own this mess.
So if these star-dust memories, fail to please,
If you confuse this dinner dance with elegance,
If you suffer lack of due respect,
Take comfort from the guessing game aspect,
That she is least where you expect.
Please be ashamed that you're afraid,
Equating elegance and real estate.
When all the bullion in the world,
Cannot transform what's simply second rate.
But will yea no come assess me
Boastfully.
I'll not be bought
By your silver plated come to me.
So don't you do come try me.
Because these star-dust memories, fail to please.
They're not alike this dinner dance,
This elegance,
And if you want to swan, one to one
Kid you don't need the pond.
There are those whose time,
Is due for steep decline.
If you can't find the spot,
Where their time stops,
Just ask who built the clocks.
The song "Elegance" by Prefab Sprout criticizes society's obsession with wealth and status. The lyrics suggest that people who have money and power believe they own the world and control those beneath them. The lines "There are those who own/The world around your own" suggest an unequal society, where some people have more power and privilege than others. The chorus highlights the theme of artificiality vs. authenticity. The singer advises against equating elegance and real estate, which serves as a critique against materialism. The lyrics encourage the listener not to be fooled by facades of grandeur and to remember that happiness and satisfaction cannot be bought with money. The line "But will yea no come assess me/Boastfully" suggests that the singer is aware of their own flaws and would prefer honesty to flattery.
The verse "Please be ashamed that you're afraid/Equating elegance and real estate" can be interpreted as a call to action or warning about the dangers of the obsession with status and superficial appearances. The message is that true elegance is not simply a matter of material possessions, but rather one's character and individuality. The line "And if you want to swan, one to one/Kid you don't need the pond" suggests that true elegance comes from personal relationships, not material possessions. As the verse continues, it warns those who have had power for too long that their power may be declining.
Line by Line Meaning
There are those who own, The world around your own.
There are people who have control over everything around you.
And say you want to swan, one to oneHey kid they own the pond.
And if you want to act like you own the place, they remind you that they are in charge.
There are those who rest, And those who make the beds,And should you seek redress Can't you guess?Hey child they own this mess.
There are people who just sit back and watch others work, and if you try to fix any issues, they remind you that they are the ones in charge.
So if these star-dust memories, fail to please,If you confuse this dinner dance with elegance,If you suffer lack of due respect,Take comfort from the guessing game aspect,That she is least where you expect.
If you are not happy with romanticized memories or confusing luxury with elegance, find comfort in the unpredictable nature of life.
Please be ashamed that you're afraid,Equating elegance and real estate.When all the bullion in the world,Cannot transform what's simply second rate.
Don't be ashamed of being afraid to equate status with material possessions because money cannot change something that is inherently flawed.
But will yea no come assess meBoastfully.I'll not be boughtBy your silver plated come to me.So don't you do come try me.
Don't try to come after me with your superficial charm because I cannot be bought by fancy things.
Because these star-dust memories, fail to please.They're not alike this dinner dance,This elegance,And if you want to swan, one to oneKid you don't need the pond.
These unrealistic fantasies are not the same as true elegance and if you want to feel high-class, you don't need permission or validation from anyone else.
There are those whose time,Is due for steep decline.If you can't find the spot,Where their time stops,Just ask who built the clocks.
There are people who are on the brink of losing their power and if you can't identify when their reign will end, look at who put them in charge in the first place.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucabalbi3928
Non scherziamo, Elegance è la vera perla nascosta di Swoon e uno dei capolavori assoluti dei Prefab. Paddy is God, Martin, Wendy e Neil I suoi profeti. Viva i Prefab!
@debralarue2596
These lyrics made me burst into tears when I heard them. Their body of work is with the greatest of 80's experimental pop music...XTC, Smiths etc.
@seanie002
in songwriting terms, this is as good as it ever gets.
@vikingfortiesfaeroes
The "one-to-one" bit gets me every time. Perfect combination of melody/lyrics
@splitwun
I melt every time Paddy says “memories” 💔
@rickstill122
I consider this to be the quintessential song of my teenage bedroom. Sitting on the edge of my bed setting the needle down on the record with the twilight at the window. I'll not be bought by your silver plated come to me.
@nigelmay9020
Great song more people should listen to class like this
@eiderglast
love this album...
@FABCELLI
love everything (even but the girl, me..) of them; E V E R Y T H I N G.
@anglophiledave
I'll let you in on a secret plan I'm working on. I'm in the process of turning on my kids (ages 9 to 16) to the majesty of the Sprouts. It's quite successful thus far. Who knows...maybe a new generation of amazing songwriters will spring forth. In the meantime let's just keep this between us shall we?