Rigby makes terrific, all-too-overlooked roots-pop records that nail the likes of class, men and "middlescence" with wit, grace and self-deprecating charm. At her quotidian best, though, she sings the song of herself, conveying the blues, as lived by urbanites and suburbanites, like a certified niece of Loretta Lynn.
As Is
Amy Rigby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buy it, don't like it, they can take it back
We got to head for the rear of the store
Because we can't afford perfect anymore
As is, must go
Nobody has to know
As is, for less
Paying full price would be happiness
Some people dress in the latest of styles
Strut up and down the department store aisles
We make do with the dregs and the dross
Cost so cheap that the shop takes a loss
As is, must go
Nobody has to know
As is, for less
Paying full price would be happiness
How do we get so poor
Is this what we're working for
Dreaming of merchandise
That hasn't been marked down...twice
As is
The lady is rich but she's lacking in taste
All that Versace is really a waste
I'd wear the heck out of something so chic
Have to eat mac and cheese for three months and a week
As is, must go
Nobody has to know
As is, for less
Paying full price would be happiness
The lyrics of Amy Rigby's song "As Is" present a critical perspective on consumer culture and the illusion of luxury. The opening lines of the song contrast people who can afford to purchase new clothes without a second thought with those who have to search for discounts and flaws within shopping centers. The lines “We got to head for the rear of the store / Because we can't afford perfect anymore” reflect how poverty influences people's choices and behaviors, as they can only afford what is within their reach. The chorus “As is, must go / Nobody has to know / As is, for less / Paying full price would be happiness” further evokes this theme of searching for deals and trying to make ends meet.
Moreover, the third verse references how people are constantly pressured by society to attain material goods and how they are defined by what they own. The lines “How do we get so poor / Is this what we're working for / Dreaming of merchandise / That hasn't been marked down...twice” suggest that people may be willing to compromise their financial stability in the pursuit of the latest trends and popular items. Finally, the song tackles the pretentiousness of the wealthy, the idea of "priceless" luxury, and how it's not always worth it if it means having to sacrifice basic necessities, like food.
Line by Line Meaning
Some folks shop off the regular rack
There are people who shop from the normal section of the store
Buy it, don't like it, they can take it back
They can return the product if they are not satisfied
We got to head for the rear of the store
We have to go towards the back of the store
Because we can't afford perfect anymore
We cannot purchase perfect items due to financial constraints
As is, must go
We have to purchase the product as it is, no alterations
Nobody has to know
No one needs to know that we had to settle for a cheaper item
As is, for less
We can purchase the product as it is, but for a cheaper price
Paying full price would be happiness
If we could afford to pay full price, it would make us happy
Some people dress in the latest of styles
There are those that wear the most modern, trendy clothing
Strut up and down the department store aisles
They parade around the store to show off their new clothes
We make do with the dregs and the dross
We have to settle for the leftover and undesirable items
Cost so cheap that the shop takes a loss
The products are so affordable, the store loses money
How do we get so poor
We question how we became so financially unstable
Is this what we're working for
We wonder if this is what we are striving for in life
Dreaming of merchandise
We dream about having nice things
That hasn't been marked down...twice
We dream of having full-priced merchandise, not discounted
The lady is rich but she's lacking in taste
The wealthy woman is not fashionable
All that Versace is really a waste
We think that purchasing expensive clothing is a pointless expense
I'd wear the heck out of something so chic
We would love to wear a fashionable item
Have to eat mac and cheese for three months and a week
We would have to sacrifice our meals for a long time to be able to afford the expensive item
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: AMY RIGBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark W
Who gets to have a HOUSE CONCERT from Amy Rigby?? Damn. Musta won some kind of contest?
Steve Kirschenbaum
Amen to that!
ulpana
What an existential zen koan for our consumer society!
Sure is where I'm living nowadays when Goodwill hasn't got that certain something that NW hip-hopper Macklemore and his collaborators finally moved up to retail with after this 21st C. follow-up "poppin' tags at Goodwill" to Amy's masterpiece MIDDLESCENCE that broke the ground for...
The Gig E-CON and even union jobs at Kroeger\Fred Meyers can't cover slum rent and food (much less public transportation...). Welcome to Working Class Homeless Family Food Stamp nation!
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis THRIFT SHOP FEAT WANZ (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8mJJJvaes
Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Shifters
Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa
Media Discussion List
Jim Hoenscheid
Did she say she loves NASCAR?