Lady Adelaide
Benjamin Gibbard & Feist Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lady Adelaide shows no emotion,
Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean.
She waited all her years for those three words
That never reached her ears, they just went unheard.

Porcelain and frail, slender shoulders,
A breeze or gusty gail could knock her over.
She knew a handsome man, she gave her body,

But he did not take her hand, and her heart broke softly.

Now she's a bird with a broken wing,
She likes the ideas of things
More than what they are bound to bring,
Lady Adelaide.
And with her beauty in slow fade,
She is so fearful they will say
That she is a bed that's been unmade,
Lady Adelaide.

Now she's a bird with a broken wing,
She likes the ideas of things
More than what they are bound to bring,
Lady Adelaide.
And with her beauty in slow fade,
She is so fearful they will say
That she is a bed that's been unmade,
Lady Adelaide.

Lady Adelaide shows no emotion,
Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean.

She waited all her years for those three words
That never reached her ears, they just went unheard.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Lady Adelaide" by Benjamin Gibbard and Feist depict the story of a woman named Lady Adelaide who appears to be emotionless and distant. The opening line portrays her as someone who doesn't show any emotion, comparing her to a wave in the Arctic Ocean, emphasizing her coldness. It suggests that she has waited patiently for three significant words, likely "I love you," but they were never spoken to her and went unnoticed.

The second verse describes Lady Adelaide as delicate and fragile, with slender shoulders that could be easily affected by a breeze or strong wind. The lyrics reveal that she had a romantic encounter with a handsome man and gave herself to him. However, he didn't reciprocate her feelings or commitment, leaving her heartbroken. This experience turned her into a broken-winged bird, symbolizing her vulnerability and wounded state.

The chorus reinforces Lady Adelaide's fascination with the potential of things rather than their actual outcomes. It implies that she prefers the idea or concept of love, beauty, and happiness rather than the reality they may bring. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes her internal struggle and fear of being judged, especially as her beauty starts to fade. The final lines of the song reiterate her emotional detachment and her unfulfilled longing for affectionate words that never reached her ears.

Overall, the lyrics of "Lady Adelaide" present a tragic and melancholic portrayal of a woman who craves love and connection but remains distant and unfulfilled.

Line by Line Meaning

Lady Adelaide shows no emotion
Lady Adelaide remains stoic and displays no outward signs of her true feelings

Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean
She is emotionally distant and unresponsive, as cold as the freezing waves in the Arctic Ocean

She waited all her years for those three words
Throughout her lifetime, she longed for three words of love and affection

That never reached her ears, they just went unheard
Sadly, those words were never spoken to her, and her ears remained empty of their expression

Porcelain and frail, slender shoulders
She possesses delicate features and a fragile appearance, with slender shoulders

A breeze or gusty gail could knock her over
Even a gentle breeze or strong wind could easily topple and overpower her

She knew a handsome man, she gave her body
She had a relationship with an attractive man, engaging in physical intimacy with him

But he did not take her hand, and her heart broke softly
Regrettably, he did not offer her emotional support and affection, causing her heart to break silently and gently

Now she's a bird with a broken wing
She now feels wounded and unable to fully soar in life, like a bird with a broken wing

She likes the ideas of things
She is drawn to the fantasies and possibilities that things represent

More than what they are bound to bring
She values the potential of things more than the actual outcomes they may bring

And with her beauty in slow fade
As her physical beauty gradually diminishes over time

She is so fearful they will say
She is afraid of what others might say about her

That she is a bed that's been unmade
She worries that she will be seen as undesirable or used, like an unmade bed

Now she's a bird with a broken wing
She continues to feel wounded and restricted in her abilities, like a bird with a broken wing

She likes the ideas of things
She is still drawn to the possibilities and concepts that things represent

More than what they are bound to bring
She still values the potential and promise of things more than their actual outcomes

And with her beauty in slow fade
As her physical attractiveness gradually diminishes over time

She is so fearful they will say
She remains deeply afraid of the judgments and opinions others may hold about her

That she is a bed that's been unmade
She continues to worry that she will be perceived as undesirable or used, like an unmade bed