The Laughing Song
Charlotte Church Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

From "die fledermaus"

My dear marquis, why must you be,
So loyal throughout your hours?
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And close this road to lies.
My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection,
She'll polish to perfection.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.

I marvel how a man like you,
Could fail to see my match burns for you.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Information, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis I want to like you.

Proof as they say,
Gave the game away.
Quaint fold with closing grace.

If the head on you,
Isn't much to you,
Then who can't face thine face.

What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at suarees at your feet.
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.

As want to you that I'm afraid
Because you love a parliament.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha

What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh ahhh aaahhh aahhh
Ahhhhh aaaaahhhhhh aaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaa




Ahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Overall Meaning

The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus showcases the playful and flirtatious nature of the character Rosalinde, who is singing the song. Although the lyrics might seem ambiguous, the melody and catchy nature of the tune make it a favourite among opera aficionados. The song begins with Rosalinde addressing the Marquis, who she thinks is too loyal and perhaps too serious. She suggests that he shouldn't believe everything he hears and should be more careful.


The next lyric involves Rosalinde admiring her own body, expressing how shapely and petite she is, and how she has mastered both accent and inflection. The repeated ha ha ha ha ha throughout the first two stanzas represents her flirtatious laughter, highlighting the playful nature of the song. The tone changes when she wonders how any man can fail to see that she burns with love for them, in this case, the Marquis. The song then returns to a lighthearted tone again, with Rosalinde revealing how at parties, she sings at the Marquis's feet, bestowing him with her attention and condescension.


The last stanza of the song is the most complicated. Rosalinde refers to a parliament, which is a reference to the British government. She then repeats the phrase "what a friendly situation" and "what a startling revelation," which further emphasizes her playful nature. The song ends with her laughter and the repetition of the words "ahh" and "ha," which reinforce the character's light-hearted and carefree attitude.


Line by Line Meaning

My dear marquis, why must you be,
Oh Marquis, why must you be so loyal all the time?


So loyal throughout your hours?
Why do you always have to be loyal?


When you stop and stare
When you pause and look at me


Take a lot more care
Be more cautious and thoughtful


And close this road to lies.
Stop being dishonest and deceitful


My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
I am confident about my appearance


Ha ha ha ha ha
I am laughing and being playful


How shapely and trim and petite.
I am happy about my body shape and size


Both accent and inflection,
The way I talk and pronounce words


She'll polish to perfection.
I have a perfect manner of speaking


Such graces,
I have perfected certain skills and qualities


Are the traces of her old elite.
These skills and qualities come from my elite heritage and upbringing


I marvel how a man like you,
I wonder how someone like you


Could fail to see my match burns for you.
Can't you see that I am interested in you?


What a friendly, ha ha ha
This is such a friendly situation


Situation, ha ha ha
It's funny how friendly this is


What a startling, ha ha ha
This is quite a surprising situation


Information, ha ha ha ha ha
I am surprised and amused by this revelation


Marquis I want to like you.
I am attracted to you and want to get to know you better


Proof as they say,
As the saying goes, proof is important


Gave the game away.
The truth was revealed


Quaint fold with closing grace.
A charming and graceful way of ending things


If the head on you,
If you are not interested


Isn't much to you,
If I am not important to you


Then who can't face thine face.
I will accept rejection and move on


What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
This insignificant meeting in a small cafe is not enough evidence


I sing at suarees at your feet.
I perform at your social events


Bestowing my attention
I am giving you my attention and affection


With lofty condescension.
I am being patronizing and superior


Such graces,
These skills and qualities that I have perfected


Are the traces of a pedigree.
They come from my superior social status


As want to you that I'm afraid
I am afraid that I want you


Because you love a parliament.
Because you are interested in politics


What a friendly, ha ha ha
This is such a friendly situation


Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha
This is a surprising and amusing revelation




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ROSE, DAVID D. ROSE, JOHANN (JUN) (+1899) STRAUSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

MermaidCalledSummer

The Laughing Song

Charlotte Church

From "die fledermaus"

My dear marquis, why must you be,
So loyal throughout your hours?
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And close this road to lies.

My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection,
She'll polish to perfection.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.

I marvel how a man like you,
Could fail to see my match burns for you.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Information, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis I want to like you.

Proof as they say,
Gave the game away.
Quaint fold with closing grace.

If the head on you,
Isn't much to you,
Then who can't face thine face.

What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at suarees at your feet.
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.

As want to you that I'm afraid
Because you love a parliament.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha

What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh ahhh aaahhh aahhh
Ahhhhh aaaaahhhhhh aaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaa
Ahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh



Liz Fletch

My dear marquis, why must you be,
So loyal throughout your hours?
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And close this road to lies.
My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection,
She'll polish to perfection.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
I marvel how a man like you,
Could fail to see my match burns for you.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Information, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis I want to like you.
Proof as they say,
Gave the game away.
Quaint fold with closing grace.
If the head on you,
Isn't much to you,
Then who can't face thine face.
What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at suarees at your feet.
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
As want to you that I'm afraid
Because you love a parliament.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh ahhh aaahhh aahhh
Ahhhhh aaaaahhhhhh aaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaa
Ahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh



All comments from YouTube:

geraldine becher

At one time we heard her on so many programs. I really missed her and am very glad I found her music again. Her voice calms and relaxes me. We love you sweetie.

Silvergirl379

She has such a lovely warm voice.

DandelionFunky

Someday, I want to rent a Victorian ballgown, then sing the song on a stage. Karaoke, family barbecue, doesn't matter. I want to do it.

MermaidCalledSummer

The Laughing Song

Charlotte Church

From "die fledermaus"

My dear marquis, why must you be,
So loyal throughout your hours?
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And close this road to lies.

My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection,
She'll polish to perfection.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.

I marvel how a man like you,
Could fail to see my match burns for you.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Information, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis I want to like you.

Proof as they say,
Gave the game away.
Quaint fold with closing grace.

If the head on you,
Isn't much to you,
Then who can't face thine face.

What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at suarees at your feet.
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.

As want to you that I'm afraid
Because you love a parliament.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha

What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh ahhh aaahhh aahhh
Ahhhhh aaaaahhhhhh aaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaa
Ahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Robinson Robinson

Simply amazing!!!

Liz Fletch

My dear marquis, why must you be,
So loyal throughout your hours?
When you stop and stare
Take a lot more care
And close this road to lies.
My fingers, my ankles, my feet.
Ha ha ha ha ha
How shapely and trim and petite.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Both accent and inflection,
She'll polish to perfection.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
Such graces,
Are the traces of her old elite.
I marvel how a man like you,
Could fail to see my match burns for you.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Information, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh
Marquis I want to like you.
Proof as they say,
Gave the game away.
Quaint fold with closing grace.
If the head on you,
Isn't much to you,
Then who can't face thine face.
What evidence, small cafe meet, ha ha ha ha ha
I sing at suarees at your feet.
Bestowing my attention
With lofty condescension.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
Such graces,
Are the traces of a pedigree.
As want to you that I'm afraid
Because you love a parliament.
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha
What a startling, ha ha ha
Revelation, ha ha ha ha ha
What a friendly, ha ha ha
Situation, ha ha ha haaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Ahhhh aaahhhhhh ahhh aaahhh aahhh
Ahhhhh aaaaahhhhhh aaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaaahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh
Ahhhhhaaaa
Ahhhhhhaaaaahhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh
Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Fernando Zabala

Hermoso Charlotte !! :D

Daniela Costa

What a funny charming song. . .beautiful

Kristen Lamprecht

I wish o could sing as good as her :3

Peter J. Read

Oh God, can you imagine?

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