Waterloo Lily
Caravan Lyrics


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The view – Sixth Avenue
The legs of Waterloo Lily
Black tights for dark nights
On a trip through Picadilly
If you knew the kind of glue
She gums her eyelids with
Realise, on those eyes
That's a gum you'd rather not use
From a jar, in the house of Waterloo Lily
Painted red, the double bed
The biggest in the city
Especially sprung, hung undone
To stimulate delight
Sex machines seem but clean
She does things, you call her true

Waterloo Lily's got enough to turn us all on
Got a bra to fit a car
A port upon her back you warm your feet on
A corset keeps her in
So when you pull a string it lets it all out
Lily Waterloo, Piccadilly blue

Pint of white on Lily's lip
The daily upper door
Down the caff, a cup of char
Double dogwalk, brown and British
Imagine you and Lily too
Aboard a double bunk
Riding two, it's out of view
All the things your sister won't...

Waterloo Lily's got enough to turn us all on
Got a bra to fit a car
A port upon her back you warm your feet on
A corset keeps her in




So when you pull a string it lets it all out
Lily Waterloo, Piccadilly blue

Overall Meaning

The song "Waterloo Lily" by Caravan is a whimsical and playful account of the character of Waterloo Lily, a mysterious woman who is glamorous, sexual and eccentric. The lyrics describe her as a leggy woman on Sixth Avenue, wearing black tights for dark nights, with a jar of gum for her eyelids that one wouldn't want to use. She has a bright red double bed, the biggest in the city, that is especially sprung to stimulate delight. The bed is also where she does things that make her "true." Waterloo Lily is depicted as a sexual being with a bra that fits a car and a corset that keeps her in, but when pulled, it allows everything to come out.


The lyrics go on to describe Waterloo Lily's peculiarities, such as having a port on her back to warm her feet on and a pint of white on her lip. She frequents a café for a cup of char, and she enjoys walking her "double dogwalk, brown and British." The song suggests that being with Waterloo Lily is an adventure that one's imagination can run wild with, as they ride a double bunk that is out of view, imagining all the things that one's sister won't do.


This song is a fun and indulgent celebration of a fictional character that represents the freedom and flamboyance of the 1970s. It's a glimpse into a time where sexual liberation and exploration were at the forefront of the cultural conversation. Waterloo Lily embodies this spirit, and the lyrics are a tribute to her.


Line by Line Meaning

The view – Sixth Avenue
Looking out over Sixth Avenue


The legs of Waterloo Lily
Waterloo Lily's legs


Black tights for dark nights
Wearing black tights for nighttime outings


On a trip through Picadilly
Going on a journey through Piccadilly


If you knew the kind of glue She gums her eyelids with
If you knew what kind of adhesive she uses to stick her eyelids together


Realise, on those eyes That's a gum you'd rather not use
You would realize that it's not a type of glue you would want to use on your own eyes


From a jar, in the house of Waterloo Lily
The glue comes from a jar, in Waterloo Lily's house


Painted red, the double bed The biggest in the city
The large double bed is painted red and is the biggest in the city


Especially sprung, hung undone To stimulate delight
It is specially designed for comfort and is not made up, meant to give pleasure


Sex machines seem but clean She does things, you call her true
Compared to Lily, devices used for sexual stimulation are simple and almost spotless, and she is considered true to herself


Waterloo Lily's got enough to turn us all on
Waterloo Lily has many attractive qualities


Got a bra to fit a car
She has a bra that is large enough to fit a car


A port upon her back you warm your feet on
There is a port on her back you can use to warm your feet


A corset keeps her in So when you pull a string it lets it all out
She wears a corset to keep everything in, but when you loosen the strings, everything comes out


Lily Waterloo, Piccadilly blue
Waterloo Lily is wearing blue and is associated with Piccadilly


Pint of white on Lily's lip The daily upper door
There is a white drink on her lip, and she goes to the upper floor daily


Down the caff, a cup of char Double dogwalk, brown and British
She goes down to the cafe to get a cup of tea and then goes on a walk with two dogs


Imagine you and Lily too Aboard a double bunk Riding two, it's out of view All the things your sister won't...
Imagine being on a double bed with Lily, riding together; it's something that your sister wouldn't do




Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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