Cindy Of 1000 Lives
Billy Bragg Lyrics

Blue velvet America
America, represented by the imagery of blue velvet, is mysterious and alluring, yet it conceals darker aspects within itself.

Half glimpsed in the headlights between the trees
The singer is only able to catch fleeting glimpses of America's true nature and character, much like how headlights illuminate patches of darkness while driving through trees.

Who punctured the beauty
The singer wonders who or what is responsible for tarnishing America's beauty and charm.

And invited monsters such as these
Whatever caused America's corruption has also brought forth monstrous and grotesque figures, like the pig-faced boy, corrupted clown, and other mysterious individuals.

The pig faced boy, the corrupted clown
These are examples of the grotesque and monstrous figures that have emerged in America as a result of its corruption and decay.

The grotesque figure who never comes into town
There are certain monstrous figures in America who remain hidden and unknown, perhaps lurking in the shadows or the outskirts of town.

Something broken, something stained
America is depicted as something that is damaged, imperfect, and marked with stains or blemishes.

Something waiting for the worms to claim
The decay and corruption within America is so severe that it is almost like a dying organism waiting to be consumed by worms and other scavengers.

And you can never go there again
The artist suggests that once America has been corrupted and lost its original beauty, there may be no going back to the way things were before.

Except in nightmares
The only way the artist can revisit the old, uncorrupted America is in their dreams or nightmares.

The voyeur who dares not come near
The singer describes a lurking voyeur who is afraid to approach America and observe its true nature up close, perhaps out of a mixture of fear and fascination.

Knows excitement is merely the beginning of fear
The voyeur understands that any excitement or fascination with America is soon replaced by a deeper sense of fear and unease once its true nature is revealed.

My shadow came this morning
The singer is implying that there is a sense of darkness or negativity following them, even represented by their own shadow.

And left some candy in my shoe
This could be interpreted as something sweet or appealing left behind by the dark force following the singer, but ultimately it is still a sign of the ominous presence lingering nearby.

They're always watching me
The presence of darkness and corruption in America is constantly looming over the singer, watching their every move and thought.

Watching the things I do
The monitoring presence is not just passive, but actively observing and analyzing everything the artist does or thinks.

Cindy of a thousand lives
The song shifts focus to a character named Cindy, who seems to be a representative of the many different possibilities or paths one's life could have taken.

Cindy of the Stepford Wives
This specific reference to the Stepford Wives (fictional characters in a novel about a suburban town of perfect housewives who turn out to be robots) suggests that Cindy may be a typical, one-dimensional representation of idealized femininity or domesticity.

I've looked at all the photographs
The singer has surveyed or studied various depictions of Cindy, perhaps trying to understand who she really is or what she represents.

But Cindy, which one of them was you?
Despite their efforts to uncover the true identity or essence of Cindy, the artist is left unsure which, if any, of the photographs accurately capture the real Cindy or her life experiences.