Big Romantic Stuff
Bob Geldof Lyrics


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Did they never tell you 'bout it baby
Did they never say it's tough
Are you never going to give up on that
Big romantic stuff

That French song playing on the radio at noon
The singer's name was Jean Michel and he's singing 'bout la lune
And she shivers as she comes awake
And remembers how to think
And she shakes the hair out of her eyes
But the daylight makes her blink
And the song it whispers in her mind like a half forgotten sigh
Of times of love the longest days and youth and endless skies
And ooh la la la
Ooh la la la

Did they never tell you 'bout it baby
Did they never say it's tough
Are you never going to give up on that
Big romantic stuff

To ease the pain of it, to fill the empty void
She stores up ancient souvenirs like ravens with their hoards
It's not the getting old she minds, it's the meaningless of being
She thinks about all this while Jean sings about la vie
And accordions and violins take her back in time
When the only explanation was a kiss and love and life...

Did they never tell you 'bout it baby
Did they never say it's tough
Are you never going to give up on that
Big romantic stuff

_________________________________________________




*Written by Bob Geldof
*Taken from the album entitled "The Vegetarians of Love"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Geldof's song "Big Romantic Stuff" speak of a woman who is yearning for a time when love was simple, pure and true. While listening to a French song on the radio, she is reminded of times when the only explanation for everything was a kiss and love and life. The song takes her on a trip down memory lane reminding her of times when she was young, in love and carefree, times which have passed and will never come back. She struggles with the idea of getting old, but what really scares her is the thought of living a meaningless life. The last line of the chorus, "Big romantic stuff," implies that the world has lost its way with love and relationships and that love isn't as easy as it used to be.


The song also paints a picture of how music has the power to transport people to different times and places, to evoke powerful emotions and memories that remain ingrained in our hearts, and how music can be a source of comfort and solace in difficult times.


In conclusion, "Big Romantic Stuff" is a poignant reflection on love, memory, and the passing of time, all wrapped up in a powerful ballad that showcases Bob Geldof's brilliance as a songwriter.


Line by Line Meaning

Did they never tell you 'bout it baby
Wondering if anyone has ever warned you, my dear


Did they never say it's tough
Tough love, that is. A warning that the ways of love might be difficult.


Are you never going to give up on that
Asking if the quest for love, romance and passion will ever be abandoned.


Big romantic stuff
Love, passion, and romance are enormous concepts and experiences that require a brave heart and undying commitment.


That French song playing on the radio at noon
The song in question was a French pop song that was being broadcast on the radio station.


The singer's name was Jean Michel and he's singing 'bout la lune
Jean Michel was the name of the singer who was singing about the moon.


And she shivers as she comes awake
The woman wakes up and shivers from an unknown reason.


And remembers how to think
She remembers how to engage her mind and contemplate her thoughts.


And she shakes the hair out of her eyes
She shakes her head to move her hair otherwise it will cover her face.


But the daylight makes her blink
The bright light of day makes her blink her eyes several times.


And the song it whispers in her mind like a half forgotten sigh
The song continues to move her and whispers softly in her mind like an old memory.


Of times of love the longest days and youth and endless skies
The song stirs warm memories of long, languorous summer days, the exuberance of youth and a horizon without limit.


And ooh la la la
Ooh la la la - a passionate expression aimed at lovers.


To ease the pain of it, to fill the empty void
To make it less painful, and to fill the emotional gap, she stores souvenirs she has collected over the years.


She stores up ancient souvenirs like ravens with their hoards
Just like how ravens store shiny objects in their nests, she has collected memories and keepsakes in her own nest, her home.


It's not the getting old she minds, it's the meaningless of being
She is not scared at the prospect of aging but she fears the idea of living a meaningless existence.


She thinks about all this while Jean sings about la vie
She thinks deeply about life and its meaning while Jean continues to sing about it.


And accordions and violins take her back in time
The sound of music takes her back to the past.


When the only explanation was a kiss and love and life...
In the past, love, passion and romance were enough to explain everything in life.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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