Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Belle and Sebastian released their first two albums in 1996 at the peak of the chamber pop movement.
The Model
Belle & Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because you made me think about the times
You turn the picture on to me and I'll turn over
The vision was a masterpiece of comic timing
But you wouldn't laugh at all
And I wonder what the boy was thinking
The picture was an old collage of something classical
Because without a doubt he'd given up the fight
The ghost of somebody at his side
I will confess to you
Because I didn't think about the message
As I walked down the alleyway it was a Sunday
And all my friends deserted me because you painted me
As the fraud I really was
And if you think you see with just your eyes you're mad
'Cause Lisa learned a lot from putting on a blindfold
When she knew she had been bad
She met another blind kid at a fancy dress
It was the best sex she ever had
I'll send a dress to you
Because it's needing badly taken in
But I was so embarrassed when I missed your party
It was me that paid for it eventually
Because you know how much I wanted
To meet your friend the star of stage and local press
The dream of all the bowlie boys that hang around here
And I'm no different from the rest
I'm not too proud to say that I'm okay with
The girl next door who's famous for showing her breasts
You're not impressed by me
But it's a funny way for you to tell me
A whisper in a choir stall
The man was talking about you simultaneously
Frankly, I let my heavy eyelids flutter
Because I have been sleeping badly lately
I know you were historical from all the books I've read
But I thought you could be bluffing
And with this chance I've missed I feel remiss
It's days and months before I see you again
The song The Model by Belle & Sebastian can be interpreted in different ways. However, at the heart of it is the story of a person who is confessing their feelings to another person. The opening line sets the tone for the song as the singer confesses to the person they are talking to. They explain how they were reflecting on past times and how the other person features prominently in their thoughts. The picture mentioned in the lyric might represent a moment or experience that the singer shared with the other person, which left a significant impact on them. The singer likens this picture to a masterpiece, accentuating the magnitude of its significance.
Although the singer finds the picture funny, the other person does not share their sentiments. The model in the picture, who is supposed to look tragic, might symbolize the singer's emotions or life experiences. The singer feels exposed and vulnerable as they try to share their feelings with the other person, who seems indifferent to their confession. The second half of the song moves away from the singer's confession and unveils a series of loosely connected stories.
In summary, The Model is a song about unrequited love, past experiences, and missed opportunities to connect with someone who is important to the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I will confess to you
I'm admitting something to you that I haven't told anyone else
Because you made me think about the times
You made me reminisce about the past
You turn the picture on to me and I'll turn over
I'll look at what you're showing me and then show you something in return
The vision was a masterpiece of comic timing
What I saw was funny and well-timed
But you wouldn't laugh at all
You didn't find it humorous
And I wonder what the boy was thinking
I'm curious about the boy's thoughts
The picture was an old collage of something classical
The image was a collection of classical pieces
The model with a tragic air
The model had a melancholy presence
Because without a doubt he'd given up the fight
It was clear that he had surrendered to his problems
The ghost of somebody at his side
Someone who was no longer alive was with him
I will confess to you
Again, I'm revealing something to you
Because I didn't think about the message
I wasn't paying attention to the underlying meaning
As I walked down the alleyway it was a Sunday
This event happened on a Sunday while I was walking in an alley
And all my friends deserted me because you painted me
My friends left me because you portrayed me in a certain way
As the fraud I really was
I realized I was acting fake
And if you think you see with just your eyes you're mad
If you believe that sight is the only way to view things, you're mistaken
'Cause Lisa learned a lot from putting on a blindfold
Lisa gained insight from limiting her sight
When she knew she had been bad
Once she realized she made a mistake
She met another blind kid at a fancy dress
She encountered another visually impaired person at a formal event
It was the best sex she ever had
They had great intimacy despite their lack of sight
I'll send a dress to you
I'll mail a garment to you
Because it's needing badly taken in
It requires significant alterations
But I was so embarrassed when I missed your party
It was shameful for me when I didn't attend your event
It was me that paid for it eventually
I suffered the consequences of my absence
Because you know how much I wanted
Because you're aware of how much I desired
To meet your friend the star of stage and local press
I wanted to meet your famous friend
The dream of all the bowlie boys that hang around here
It was every boy's dream who frequented this place
And I'm no different from the rest
I'm exactly the same as the others in that regard
I'm not too proud to say that I'm okay with
I'm not too ashamed to admit that I'm satisfied with
The girl next door who's famous for showing her breasts
I'm content with the neighboring woman who's known for exposing herself
You're not impressed by me
You don't find me remarkable
But it's a funny way for you to tell me
Humorously, you're indicating that you're not impressed
A whisper in a choir stall
A quiet conversation that happened in a religious building
The man was talking about you simultaneously
This person was discussing you in tandem with something else
Frankly, I let my heavy eyelids flutter
Honestly, I let my tired eyes close a bit
Because I have been sleeping badly lately
I haven't been getting good rest recently
I know you were historical from all the books I've read
I know your significance from literature that I've consumed
But I thought you could be bluffing
Despite this knowledge, I suspected you might be deceiving
And with this chance I've missed I feel remiss
I regret missing this opportunity
It's days and months before I see you again
I won't have the chance to see you for a while
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMPBE, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind