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Lazy Line Painter Jane
Belle and Sebastian Lyrics


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Working the village shop
Putting a poster up
Dreaming of anything
Dreaming of the time when you're free
From all the trouble you're in

In the mud, on your knees
Trying hard not to please
Anyone, all the time
Being a rebel is fine
But you go all the way to being brutal

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the first bus out of town
On the first bus out of town

Let's see your kit for games
All the girls look the same
You are challenging style for running miles
You're running miles in some boy's jumper

Boo to the business world!
You know a girl who's tax free
On her back and making plenty cash
While you are working for the joy of giving

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the last bus out of town
On the last bus out of town
You will have a boy tonight
You will have a girl tonight
And you hope that they will see
And you hope that they will see

You are in two minds
Tossing a coin to decide
Whether you should tell your folks
About a dose of thrush you got
When were licking railings

But you read in a book
That you got free in Boots
There are lotions, there are potions
You can take to hide your shame
From all those prying eyes

Lazy Jane, all the time
Painting lines
You are sleeping at bus stops
Wondering how you got your name
And what you're going to do about it

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the last bus out of town
On the last bus out of town
You will have a boy tonight
Maybe you will have a girl tonight
And you hope that she will see
And you hope that she will see

Overall Meaning

The song "Lazy Line Painter Jane" by Belle and Sebastian is a compelling narrative about a young woman named Jane who is struggling to find her place in the world. The lyrics create a vivid portrait of her life, with the opening lines depicting her working at a village shop, daydreaming about a time when she will be free from the troubles that surround her. The song goes on to describe Jane's rebellious nature and her willingness to go to extremes to assert her independence, despite the risks involved.


The song's title refers to Jane's job, which is painting lines on the road. However, the lyrics suggest that she often falls asleep at bus stops instead of doing her job, indicating her general lack of direction and purpose. The verses also convey a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the world, as Jane is depicted as being stuck in a dead-end job with no prospects for a better future. However, the chorus suggests that she is still hopeful, wishing for a boy or a girl who will see her for who she is.


Overall, "Lazy Line Painter Jane" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that captures the struggles and uncertainties of young adulthood. It paints a vivid picture of a young woman who is trying to find her way in the world, despite the obstacles and setbacks she faces along the way.


Line by Line Meaning

Working the village shop
Engaged in a mundane, low-paying job in a small town


Putting a poster up
Adding a decoration, perhaps a small escape from the drudgery of daily life


Dreaming of anything
Yearning for a life beyond current circumstances and limitations


Dreaming of the time when you're free
Hoping for a future in which one is not constrained by present realities


From all the trouble you're in
Desiring to escape a difficult or challenging situation


In the mud, on your knees
Hard at work, potentially in a hands-on, unglamorous job


Trying hard not to please
Resisting the urge to conform or win approval from others


Anyone, all the time
Not catering to any particular person's desires or expectations


Being a rebel is fine
Preferring an unconventional, non-conforming lifestyle


But you go all the way to being brutal
Taking rebellion to an extreme or harmful degree


You will have a boy tonight
Anticipating a romantic encounter


On the first bus out of town
Leaving town to seek adventure or escape boredom


Let's see your kit for games
Inspecting one's athletic attire or equipment


All the girls look the same
Noticing a lack of individuality among female peers


You are challenging style for running miles
Forging one's own style in physical activities like running


You're running miles in some boy's jumper
Wearing a male partner's sweater during exercise, perhaps symbolizing intimacy or ownership


Boo to the business world!
Expressing disdain for the capitalist, corporate world and its values


You know a girl who's tax free
Aware of someone who earns income under the table or through illicit means


On her back and making plenty cash
Working in the sex industry in a profitable capacity


While you are working for the joy of giving
Working a low-paying, service-oriented job out of a sense of altruism or mission


On the last bus out of town
Escaping one's current location late at night


You will have a girl tonight
Anticipating a romantic encounter with a female partner


And you hope that they will see
Desiring recognition or validation from a romantic partner


You are in two minds
Feeling torn or conflicted about a decision or situation


Tossing a coin to decide
Leaving one's fate up to chance or luck


Whether you should tell your folks
Considering sharing personal information with one's family


About a dose of thrush you got
Sharing a personal medical issue, perhaps with some embarrassment


When were licking railings
Revealing a potentially unhygienic or risky behavior that led to the medical issue


But you read in a book
Discovering or learning about a solution or prevention technique


That you got free in Boots
Referring to a popular pharmacy chain where one might seek medical advice or information


There are lotions, there are potions
Describing the variety of products or remedies available for a medical issue


You can take to hide your shame
Offering a possible solution to the embarrassment or discomfort of a medical issue


From all those prying eyes
Seeking privacy or a sense of independence or autonomy


Lazy Jane, all the time
Peddling a nickname for oneself that may or may not be entirely accurate or fitting


Painting lines
Potentially engaging in art, writing, or some other creative expression


You are sleeping at bus stops
Experiencing homelessness or an unstable living situation


Wondering how you got your name
Reflecting on one's self-identity and the origins of their nickname or reputation


And what you're going to do about it
Contemplating taking action to change one's circumstances or self-concept


Maybe you will have a girl tonight
Anticipating a romantic encounter with a female partner


And you hope that she will see
Desiring recognition or validation from a romantic partner




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Geddes, Isobel Campbell, Michael Cooke, Monica Queen, Richard Colburn, Sarah Martin, Stephen Jackson, Stuart Murdoch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Irfansyah.2

Working the village shop
Putting a poster up
Dreaming of anything
Dreaming of the time when you're free
From all the trouble you're in

In the mud, on your knees
Trying hard not to please
Anyone, all the time
Being a rebel is fine
But you go all the way to being brutal

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the first bus out of town
On the first bus out of town

Let's see your kit for games
All the girls look the same
You are challenging style for running miles
You're running miles in some boy's jumper

Boo to the business world!
You know a girl who's tax free
On her back and making plenty cash
While you are working for the joy of giving

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the last bus out of town
On the last bus out of town
You will have a boy tonight
You will have a girl tonight
And you hope that they will see
And you hope that they will see

You are in two minds
Tossing a coin to decide
Whether you should tell your folks
About a dose of thrush you got
When were licking railings

But you read in a book
That you got free in Boots
There are lotions, there are potions
You can take to hide your shame
From all those prying eyes

Lazy Jane, all the time
Painting lines
You are sleeping at bus stops
Wondering how you got your name
And what you're going to do about it

You will have a boy tonight
You will have a boy tonight
On the last bus out of town
On the last bus out of town
You will have a boy tonight
Maybe you will have a girl tonight
And you hope that she will see
And you hope that she will see



All comments from YouTube:

Paul Davidson

My favourite female vocal of all time. Simply sublime.

Braulio Calderon

x2

Gaurav

Probably the greatest song ever recorded.... Shame it's got only 15k views

Val

The Jeepster channel got hundreds of thousands of views

M M

Probably not lol, why only 17K views, but good gets better as nears the end !!

Alby Rod

Crazy..

Stephen Jones

Completely agree

Aware*Wolves

One of the greatest, I agree with you there. As for number of views, you know how that goes....

4 More Replies...

Shona

Her vocals tho πŸ’ž

Steven Fraser The Dog Daddy

You know ❀️❀️

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