Lush Life
Chris Connors Lyrics
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Those come what may places
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
To get the feel of life...
From jazz and cocktails.
The men I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
With distant gay traces
By too many through the day...
Twelve oclock tales.
Then you came along with your siren of song
To tempt me to madness!
I thought for a while that your poignant smile was tinged with the sadness
Of a great love for me.
Ah yes! I was wrong...
Again,
I was wrong.
Life is lonely again,
And only last year everything seemed so sure.
Now life is awful again,
A troughful of hearts could only be a bore.
A week in paris will ease the bite of it,
All I care is to smile in spite of it.
Ill forget you, I will
While yet you are still burning inside my brain.
Romance is mush,
Stifling those who strive.
Ill live a lush life in some small dive...
And there Ill be, while I rot
With the rest of those whose lives are lonely, too..
Chris Connor's song, Lush Life, is a melancholy reflection on life's fleeting moments and lost loves. The singer reminisces on past experiences of frequenting lively, exciting places where jazz and cocktails flowed freely. They describe the men they used to know in these places, who had "sad and sullen gray faces" with "distant gay traces" that had been "washed away by too many through the day." However, the singer's life is transformed when they meet someone who tempts them to madness, believing their "poignant smile was tinged with sadness" due to a great love for the singer. But alas, the singer realizes that they were wrong and that life is lonely once again, even though everything seemed so sure just a year before. The singer resolves to forget this person while still burning inside their brain and to live a lush life in some small dive as they rot with the rest of those whose lives are lonely.
The lyrics of Lush Life describe the feelings of emptiness, isolation, and longing that exist at the heart of many people's lives. By juxtaposing the vibrant, exciting experiences of the past with the bleakness of isolation in the present, the song highlights life's fleeting nature and the uncertainties that come with it. The lyrics also touch on themes of disillusionment and unfulfilled desires, as seen in the singer's tale of failed romance. Finally, the song offers a glimpse into the coping mechanisms that people use to survive when their dreams are crushed and their lives are lonely.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to visit all the very gay places
I used to go to all the lively and exciting places
Those come what may places
Those places where anything goes
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
Where one takes a break to enjoy life
To get the feel of life...
To experience life to the fullest
From jazz and cocktails.
Listening to jazz and having cocktails
The men I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
The men I knew looked sad and unhappy
With distant gay traces
With remnants of their joyful past
That used to be there you could see where theyd been washed away
Their happiness was gone and it showed
By too many through the day...
By too many struggles throughout the day
Twelve oclock tales.
Late-night stories
Then you came along with your siren of song
Then you appeared with your captivating singing voice
To tempt me to madness!
To drive me crazy with desire
I thought for a while that your poignant smile was tinged with the sadness
I believed for a moment that your bittersweet smile showed a deep love for me
Of a great love for me.
Of a strong romantic feeling for me
Ah yes! I was wrong...
Ah yes, I was mistaken
Again,
Once more,
I was wrong.
I was incorrect
Life is lonely again,
Life is bleak once more
And only last year everything seemed so sure.
Last year, everything seemed certain
Now life is awful again,
Now life is dreadful once more
A troughful of hearts could only be a bore.
Meeting many people to date seems tedious
A week in paris will ease the bite of it,
A week in Paris will help me forget about it
All I care is to smile in spite of it.
All I want to do is to keep smiling and remain optimistic
Ill forget you, I will
I will forget about you
While yet you are still burning inside my brain.
Even though you are still on my mind
Romance is mush,
Love is overrated
Stifling those who strive.
Hindering those who seek success
Ill live a lush life in some small dive...
I will live a pleasurable life in a small and dingy place
And there Ill be, while I rot
And there I will be, while I deteriorate
With the rest of those whose lives are lonely, too..
With the other people whose lives are also lonely
Lyrics © K SMITH MUSIC CO., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Billy Strayhorn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind