I met him one night while I lived in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. I was at the bar at a popular night spot in old Palm Beach called Chuck and Harold's. They featured a sidewalk-side eating area and a black and white checkered terrazzo floor that went past an elegant bar that led to an open-air dancing floor. Booths were arranged around the dancefloor and the richest of the rich drank their martinis and swooned to the music of a full orchestra. And there he was, Billy Butterfield, at the end of his career but still playing a number or two as the featured entertainer with the house orchestra. He thanked me for his drink, played "Rosalie", from the Conniff album and then sort of disappeared, as though he only a few of these songs left in him. But he was as great as Al Hirt, Bobby Hackett and Doc Severenson, all rolled into one. Catch him on Conniff Meets Butterfield, you won't be sorry.
Sophisticated Lady
Billy Butterfield Lyrics
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Just because you're caught in your social maze
I think it's 'bout time that you realize
Your money and your power's got you mesmerized
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
Educated lady with your college degree
Amazes me why you just can't see
Learned everything from your books on the shelf
But no one ever taught you how to think for yourself
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea, sweet thing
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady take a lesson from me
I can help you be what you want to be
Together we'll see many brighter days
If it takes forever, gonna change your ways
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea, sweet thing
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
In Billy Butterfield's song "Sophisticated Lady," the singer is addressing a woman who he believes is too caught up in the materialistic and societal expectations of her privileged upbringing. He is urging her to shed her sophisticated exterior and embrace a more down-to-earth, authentic persona. He believes that her education and upbringing have failed to teach her to think independently, and that this has left her lost and unable to truly connect with others.
The repeated refrain of "pretty lady, get back" is a call for her to remove the layers of pretense that she has built up around herself and rediscover the inner beauty that she has buried beneath. The chorus also urges her to "put your blue jeans on" and be more casual and approachable, rather than being so concerned with putting up a sophisticated façade.
Overall, the song is a plea for the woman to embrace authenticity and let go of the need to impress others with her sophistication and education. The singer believes that this will allow her to form deeper connections with people and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sophisticated lady tryin' to change my ways
Addressing a woman who is trying to change the singer's behavior due to her sophistication and social status.
Just because you're caught in your social maze
Implying that the woman's high social standing has trapped her into a certain lifestyle.
I think it's 'bout time that you realize
The singer believes it is time for the woman to recognize her obsession with money and power.
Your money and your power's got you mesmerized
The woman is obsessed with money and power, which has blinded her to other aspects of life.
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
The artist is telling the woman to dress down and be more approachable.
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
The woman is vulnerable and approachable when she is not surrounded by her wealth and status.
Educated lady with your college degree
The singer acknowledges the woman's education and intellectual abilities.
Amazes me why you just can't see
The artist is surprised that someone with the woman's intellect cannot see past their social status.
Learned everything from your books on the shelf
The artist acknowledges the woman's academic achievements and her reliance on formal education.
But no one ever taught you how to think for yourself
The artist implies that the woman lacks critical thinking skills and is unable to think beyond her social status and wealth.
Sophisticated lady take a lesson from me
The singer offers to teach the woman an alternative way of thinking and living that goes beyond wealth and status.
I can help you be what you want to be
The artist believes that he can assist the woman in becoming the person she wants to be, beyond her social status.
Together we'll see many brighter days
The singer believes that if they work together, they can create a better future for the woman that goes beyond her wealth and status.
If it takes forever, gonna change your ways
The singer is committed to helping the woman change her perspective, regardless of how long it may take.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Kennedy Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind