She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
Attractive Stupid People
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
appear to glide through life
watch an attractive stupid man
attract and land a stupid wife
but the problem is the kids
won't look as good as mom or dad
and they're always slightly smarter
which drives their pretty parents mad
Attractive stupid people think
talent got them where they are
sometimes it's not too good
when your good looks take you too far
to places you're not smart enough
to know you don't belong
this is the story of Franklin Pierce
this won't be a happy song . . .
Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire
in 1804
57 years before
the start of our Civil War
behind his back they called him "doughface"
a nickname for a Northern man
who had Southern leanings
slavery?
he was a fan
He became our 14th president
in 1852
he had no real credentials
but his looks sure pulled him through
he's considered the most handsome man
who's ever held the job
he was the first -- but not the last
Democratic presidential heart-throb
Historians tell us
he was an inoffensive bloke
his lack of backbone makes him
today look like a joke
with the Ostend Manifesto
he tried to steal Cuba from Spain
he wanted to make it a slave state. . .
but cooler heads derailed that train
He was much in favor
of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
which also was pro-slavery
set our progress back
in 1856
he did not get a second chance
Democrats nominated James Buchanan
to take them to the dance
Though he was born in New Hampshire
he rooted for the South
and more than once poor Franklin Pierce
put his foot in his moutha
that is when he wasn't drinking
and he was drinking day and night
his wife was a religious nut
who knew how to pick a fight
FRANKLIN!!!
He died of cirrhosis of the liver
in 1869
but with his bone structure
even sick he looked so fine
the worst president we ever had
his reign now might be ruined
all because of a hanging chad
Attactive stupid women
attractive stupid men
have led the world astray
again and again and again
as we march into the future
the thought that calms my fears
there's an attractive man and woman
in the White House
who've got brains between their ears
Christine Lavin's "Attractive Stupid People" is a satirical commentary on society's obsession with physical appearance and how attractiveness can often overshadow talent and intelligence. The lyrics describe how attractive people are often perceived as having an easier and more successful life than their less attractive counterparts. The first stanza introduces the idea of attractive people seemingly "gliding through life," attracting partners and having children who are not as good-looking as themselves but potentially smarter. This creates tension for the parents, who then struggle with the realization that their children are more intelligent than they are.
The second stanza talks about how "attractive stupid people" often attribute their success to their physical appearance and overlook the importance of talent and intelligence. This can lead them to overestimate their abilities and place themselves in situations where they don't necessarily belong. Christine Lavin then introduces the story of Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, who was popularly known for his good looks despite his lack of credentials for the job. Pierce was in favor of slavery and made several controversial decisions during his presidency, which eventually led to his downfall.
The lyrics of "Attractive Stupid People" remind us that while physical appearance may be attractive, it is not a substitute for talent and intelligence. The song highlights the dangers of superficiality and the importance of recognizing merit beyond good looks.
Line by Line Meaning
Attractive stupid people
Individuals who are pleasing to the eye but lack intelligence
appear to glide through life
They seem to have no problems due to their physical appearance
watch an attractive stupid man
Observing an unintelligent man who has good looks
attract and land a stupid wife
Attracts and marries a woman who is not very bright
but the problem is the kids
The issue arises with their children
won't look as good as mom or dad
The children may not be as attractive as their parents
and they're always slightly smarter
The children are a bit more intelligent than their parents
which drives their pretty parents mad
This fact upsets the good-looking parents
Attractive stupid people think
Individuals with good looks and low intelligence believe
talent got them where they are
Their physical appearance is the primary factor for their success in life
sometimes it's not too good
Occasionally, this belief can lead to negative consequences
when your good looks take you too far
If you rely solely on your appearance, you may surpass your ability level
to places you're not smart enough
An individual with low intellect may not belong in certain circumstances
to know you don't belong
They may be oblivious to this fact
this is the story of Franklin Pierce
The song now shifts to talk about Franklin Pierce
this won't be a happy song . . .
The upcoming story will not have a positive outcome
Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire
The birthplace of the 14th US President was New Hampshire
in 1804
He was born in the year 1804
57 years before
Just over 5 decades before the start of the American Civil War
the start of our Civil War
The beginning of the American Civil War
behind his back they called him "doughface"
People called Franklin Pierce the nickname "doughface"
a nickname for a Northern man
This is a nickname for a man from the North
who had Southern leanings
However, they have opinions that align more with those from the South
slavery?
This refers to the topic of slavery in the United States
he was a fan
Franklin Pierce supported the continuation of slavery
He became our 14th president
Franklin Pierce was the 14th US President
in 1852
He held this position in the year 1852
he had no real credentials
He did not have significant qualifications for the job of President
but his looks sure pulled him through
However, his physical appearance was a significant factor in his election victory
he's considered the most handsome man
Franklin Pierce is typically seen as the most attractive US President
who's ever held the job
Compared to all US Presidents, he is considered the most good-looking
he was the first -- but not the last
He was the first of many Presidents who people felt were physically attractive
Democratic presidential heart-throb
Women were drawn to him, making him a heart-throb
Historians tell us
The following information is based on historians' accounts
he was an inoffensive bloke
People generally did not take offense to Franklin Pierce's actions
his lack of backbone makes him
However, his lack of decisiveness, or backbone, is an issue today
today look like a joke
His leadership, even for his time, was not successful
with the Ostend Manifesto
The Ostend Manifesto was a letter sent by US officials to support Spain's acquisition of Cuba
he tried to steal Cuba from Spain
Franklin Pierce attempted to acquire Cuba for the United States
he wanted to make it a slave state. . .
Additionally, he wanted Cuba to be a slave state
but cooler heads derailed that train
However, rational individuals prevented this from happening
He was much in favor
Franklin Pierce strongly supported
of the Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act proposed that the decision of whether to allow slavery should be made by the States, which was favorable for Pierce
which also was pro-slavery
This legislation would also support slavery
set our progress back
This law was a step backward for the nation's overall progress
in 1856
This event took place in the year 1856
he did not get a second chance
Franklin Pierce did not receive a second nomination for the Presidency
Democrats nominated James Buchanan
James Buchanan was selected to receive the Democratic nomination
to take them to the dance
This was the way of describing James Buchanan's candidacy
Though he was born in New Hampshire
Despite being born in New Hampshire
he rooted for the South
Franklin Pierce supported the Confederacy during the Civil War
and more than once poor Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce made many unfortunate comments that people took issue with
put his foot in his moutha
This idiom means that he said something foolish that embarrassed himself
that is when he wasn't drinking
This usually occurred when he was not consuming alcohol
and he was drinking day and night
Franklin Pierce was known to be an alcoholic
his wife was a religious nut
His wife was described as having extreme religious views
who knew how to pick a fight
She was not afraid to start an argument
FRANKLIN!!!
This is a cry of frustration
He died of cirrhosis of the liver
Franklin Pierce passed away from a liver disease
in 1869
This occurred in the year 1869
but with his bone structure
Despite his liver disease, his facial features maintained their handsome appearance
even sick he looked so fine
This is a fact about his physical appearance even during his illness
the worst president we ever had
Franklin Pierce is not considered to have been a successful US President
his reign now might be ruined
Even his physical attractiveness cannot save his reputation as President
all because of a hanging chad
A reference to the 2000 US Presidential Election where votes were not counted due to indented chads on ballots. This caused significant political unrest in the United States
Attactive stupid women
Women who are pleasing to the eye but lack intelligence
attractive stupid men
Men who are good-looking but not very intelligent
have led the world astray
Individuals like this have caused problems or misguided the world
again and again and again
This is a repetitive, ongoing issue
as we march into the future
As we move forward in time
the thought that calms my fears
What brings comfort or solace
there's an attractive man and woman
The current President and First Lady are physically appealing
in the White House
They are currently living in the White House
who've got brains between their ears
However, they are also intelligent and capable people
Contributed by Josiah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.