Cleopatra
Adam The Ants Lyrics
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Now that a wide mouth
Cleopatra gave a service with a smile
She was a wide mouthed girl
A wide mouthed girl
Cleopatra did a hundred Roman Centurions
For after dinner mints
Cleopatra used a suction oh so unheard of
A wide mouthed girl (believe it)
Show me a bigger mouth
Show me a bigger mouth
Show me a bigger mouth
Show me a bigger mouth
What a weak distorted image
Elizabeth and Richard gave you the screen
Of the wide mouthed girl
Wide mouthed girl
The lyrics of Adam Ant's "Cleopatra" are intriguing and controversial at the same time. The song depicts Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, as a promiscuous and sexually liberated woman. The line "Cleopatra did ten thousand in her lifetime" suggests that the queen had several sexual partners throughout her lifetime. The reference to the "wide mouth" could imply that Cleopatra's sexual prowess was widely known, and she was not afraid to express it.
The lyrics continue to describe Cleopatra as a woman who provided "service with a smile" and satisfied "a hundred Roman Centurions for after dinner mints." These lines seem to suggest that the queen engaged in sexual activities with Roman soldiers for entertainment or to gain favor. The reference to her using a suction device could refer to either a sexual act or an actual medical device.
The final lines of the song, "what a weak distorted image, Elizabeth and Richard gave you the screen of the wide-mouthed girl" suggest that the portrayal of female sexuality in movies, specifically Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's portrayal of Cleopatra, was tame and less accurate.
Overall, the song portrays Cleopatra as a sexually liberated woman who was unapologetic about her desires. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be seen as either empowering or vulgar.
Line by Line Meaning
Cleopatra did ten thousand in her lifetime
Cleopatra had numerous sexual partners throughout her life.
Now that a wide mouth
This is a reference to Cleopatra's supposed physical feature of having a large mouth.
Cleopatra gave a service with a smile
Cleopatra was known for providing sexual services with a pleasant demeanor.
She was a wide mouthed girl
This is a reiterated statement about Cleopatra's physical features.
Cleopatra did a hundred Roman Centurions
Cleopatra allegedly had sexual relations with one hundred Roman Centurions.
For after dinner mints
This line suggests that Cleopatra was not necessarily motivated by love or desire but may have engaged in sexual behavior for monetary gain.
Cleopatra used a suction oh so unheard of
This line is also a reference to Cleopatra's supposed talent for oral sex.
Believe it
This is an affirmation of the previous lines and that these alleged sexual feats of Cleopatra are to be believed.
Show me a bigger mouth
This is a challenge to find someone with a larger mouth than Cleopatra.
What a weak distorted image
This is a commentary on how Cleopatra has been depicted throughout history, as a sexual object rather than an intelligent queen.
Elizabeth and Richard gave you the screen
This is a reference to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who played Cleopatra and Mark Antony in a popular film.
Of the wide mouthed girl
This is a final affirmation about Cleopatra's physical traits and sexual prowess.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind