Cartoon People
Billie Marten Lyrics
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It's bigger than the rest of us he'll promise you that, I'm glad, I'm glad
He's picking up the drinks and then he's knocking them back
I've never seen someone who wears a sad little mask like that, like that
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
Is busy today with someone else's plans
He chooses life and then she chooses a man
It doesn't really matter if I'm happy or sad
In any case, I look at him, my life ain't half as bad, as bad
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
Is busy today with someone else's plans
He chooses life and then she chooses a man
He's picking it up but she don't give a damn
Hold me, it's a crisis that we're pulling towards
Cartoon people fighting an American war
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe it's not going away
Maybe it's not going away
Hold me, it's a crisis that we're pulling towards
Cartoon people fighting an American war
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
Is busy today with someone else's plans
He chooses life and then she chooses a man
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe it's not going away
Maybe it's not going away
In Billie Marten's song Cartoon People, the lyrics describe a situation where someone is choosing someone else's plans over the singer, and wearing a "sad little mask" while doing so. The singer realizes that it doesn't matter whether they are happy or sad in this situation, as the person they are talking about is "bigger than the rest of us." The lyrics suggest that this person has a lot of power and influence over others, potentially at the expense of their own happiness and well-being.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Hold me, it's a crisis that we're pulling towards, cartoon people fighting an American war." This line is open to interpretation, but it may refer to the idea that people are acting like caricatures of themselves, rather than as authentic individuals, in the midst of a larger conflict or crisis. The singer seems to be calling for a deeper connection and understanding between people, rather than a superficial and performative one.
Overall, Cartoon People is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which people can be influenced and blinded by outside forces.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't really matter if I'm happy or sad
My emotional state is inconsequential
It's bigger than the rest of us he'll promise you that, I'm glad, I'm glad
He promises a grand purpose greater than ourselves that brings me comfort
He's picking up the drinks and then he's knocking them back
He's indulging in alcohol to cope with life
I've never seen someone who wears a sad little mask like that, like that
Despite his facade, I can see he's deeply unhappy
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
He has a strong hold on you
Is busy today with someone else's plans
He's preoccupied with someone else's needs
He chooses life and then she chooses a man
He prioritizes living while she chooses a romantic partner
Hold me, it's a crisis that we're pulling towards
I'm seeking comfort and stability as we head towards a disaster
Cartoon people fighting an American war
Our struggles and battles seem trivial and unreal, despite their serious nature
Maybe there's a fire today
There could be a serious problem or danger today
Maybe it's not going away
Perhaps the issue is ongoing and will not disappear easily
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Isabella Tweddle, John Congleton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Samantha Müller
Lyrics (as I hear them)
It doesn’t really matter if you’re happy or sad
It’s bigger than the rest of us I promise you that
I’m glad, I’m glad
He’s picking up the drinks
and he’s knocking them back (??)
I’ve never seen someone who has a sad little mask
like that, like that
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
Is busy today with someone else’s plans
She chooses life and then she chooses a man
It doesn’t really matter if I’m happy or sad
In any case, I look at him, my life ain’t half
as bad, as bad
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hand
Is busy today with someone else’s plans
She chooses life and then she chooses a man
He’s picking her up but she don’t give a damn
The only hints of crisis that we’re pulling toward
Cartoon people fighting an American war
Maybe there’s a fire today (X2)
Maybe it’s not going away (x2)
(I think I hear baby tho sometimes tho)
The only hints of crisis that we’re pulling toward
Cartoon people fighting an American war
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hands
Is busy today with someone else’s plans
She chooses life and then chooses a man
Maybe there’s a fire today (X2)
Maybe it’s not going away (x2)
(Still hear Baby sometimes)
Chris The Greek
It doesn't really matter if I'm happy or sad
In any case, I look at you, my life ain't half as bad, as bad
He's picking up the drinks and then he's knocking them back
I've never seen someone who wears a sad little mask like that, like that
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hands
Is busy today with someone else's plans
She chooses life and then she chooses a man
It doesn't really matter if I'm happy or sad
He's bigger than the rest of us he'll promise you that, I'm glad, I'm glad
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hands
He's busy today with someone else's plans
She chooses life and then she chooses a man
He's picking them up but she don't give a damn
The only hints of the crisis that we're pulling towards
Cartoon people fighting an American war
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe it's all going away
Maybe it's all going away
The only hints of the crisis that we're pulling towards
Cartoon people fighting an irrelevant war
The only guy that has got you in the palm of his hands
Is busy today with someone else's plans
She chooses life and then she chooses a man
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe there's a fire today
Maybe it's all going away
Maybe it's all going away
Death By Crown
Earlier this year I remember I was emotionally unwell so I climbed up to the restricted section of my school that few people are allowed, and I sat in front of this big window overlooking everyone leaving school from an area they don't even realize exists. I just listened to this on repeat as I watched them walk out under the cloudy sky. Everytime I play this song, I remember that one time haha.
fernandAaAaAa
i was just going to write that this song feels like observing life from afar
Fierro Castells
U just make me feel It, like I can imagine the sensation
Eva Kings
I did something like that earlier this year (2020) and then i got caught and people just looked at me even more as if i was crazy
Ma04
I was telling my music teacher how much I love Billie and she just went oh yeah I went to uni with her
Bratty Bitch
@Lani Fuller Billie never went there I searched it and she didn’t.
Lani Fuller
@nadja Older people go to college with younger people. People may decide to go to college at different points in their lives, so even if her teacher wasn't young it would make sense.
Bratty Bitch
@Ma04 how old is your music teacher??
Ma04
@Bratty Bitchmy music teacher is really young, they both went to RNCM look it up haha
Bratty Bitch
Fake 😂