Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songw… Read Full Bio ↴Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songwriter, and promoter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded numerous solo albums, and has also recorded with other female folk artists under the name Four Bitchin' Babes. She has also put together several compilation albums of contemporary folk artists, including On a Winter's Night.

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".

High Heel Shoes
Christine Lavin Lyrics

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Christine Lavin
"High Heel Shoes"
I'm getting dizzy way up here;
I haven't been this high in years.
Oh, whatever possessed me to
Blow eighty dollars on these high heel shoes.
"Looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker"?
Do they think we're idiots? But I bought 'em.

Now I'm standing in a subway car.
I ride because I cannot walk far.
I couldn't find an empty cab on the street;
They were filled with high-heeled women with non-functioning feet.
Twenty-six years ago I dreamed of wearing shoes like these.
Oh, the warped mind of the preteen with her strange priorities.
But this is a nightmare
Of unsteady ankles, hands waving in the air.
But the looks my legs are getting from that man across the aisle
Almost make the pain and misery and doctor bills worthwhile.
If by chance you happen to meet
This wobbly woman walking down your street,
The click of high heels on concrete
Is not the thrill of victory; it's the agony of defeat.
Oh, take pity on my vanity;
Maybe question my sanity.
Why I wear these uncomfortable things? Heaven knows,
Which make me wonder about these pierced earrings, and my pantyhose,
My control top.
Ooh, I can see you don't want me to sing about pantyhose.
You'd rather I go back to tap dancing
Like my close personal friend Paula Abdul
Who, like me, was a geek back in high school.
Oh, I'm sorry, but that's not what this song is about.
At least it wasn't when it started out.
I pray this subway ride never ends,
So I will never never have to walk again.
In high heels.
It's a different atmosphere
In high heels.
I can see your house from here

In high heels,
High heels

Overall Meaning

Christine Lavin's song "High Heel Shoes" humorously portrays the pains of wearing high heels. The singer in the song voices her regret for blowing $80 on a pair of shoes that she can barely walk in. Despite claims that the shoes "look like a pump and feel like a sneaker," she finds it difficult to walk in them and opts to take the subway instead of walking. She comments on the number of high-heeled women she sees on the subway who also seem to be struggling with their footwear. The singer's preteen self dreamed of wearing shoes like these, but now she sees it as a "nightmare of unsteady ankles." Nevertheless, the attention she receives from the man across the aisle makes the agony of wearing them worthwhile.

This song is a commentary on the societal pressure on women to wear uncomfortable clothing, such as high heels, in order to look good. The song highlights the absurdity of this expected norm and the pain and inconvenience that women have to go through to conform to it. The lyrics also reveal a hint of irony as the singer both bemoans wearing high heels and finds value in the attention she receives while wearing them.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm getting dizzy way up here;
I am feeling lightheaded from the height of my high heel shoes.

I haven't been this high in years.
I haven't worn high heels like this in years.

Oh, whatever possessed me to Blow eighty dollars on these high heel shoes.
I regret spending so much money on these high heel shoes.

"Looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker"? Do they think we're idiots? But I bought 'em.
These shoes claim to be comfortable, even though they are high heels, but I still bought them.

Now I'm standing in a subway car. I ride because I cannot walk far.
I can't walk in these shoes, so I have to ride the subway instead of walking.

I couldn't find an empty cab on the street; They were filled with high-heeled women with non-functioning feet.
There were no cabs available because other women in high heels were also struggling to walk.

Twenty-six years ago I dreamed of wearing shoes like these. Oh, the warped mind of the preteen with her strange priorities.
I had unrealistic dreams of wearing shoes like these when I was younger.

But this is a nightmare Of unsteady ankles, hands waving in the air.
Wearing these shoes is turning into a nightmare as I struggle to maintain my balance.

But the looks my legs are getting from that man across the aisle Almost make the pain and misery and doctor bills worthwhile.
Even though wearing these shoes is painful, the attention from other people makes it feel worth it.

If by chance you happen to meet This wobbly woman walking down your street, The click of high heels on concrete Is not the thrill of victory; it's the agony of defeat.
If you see me struggling in these high heels, it's not because I am victorious, but because I am in pain and agony.

Oh, take pity on my vanity; Maybe question my sanity. Why I wear these uncomfortable things? Heaven knows, Which make me wonder about these pierced earrings, and my pantyhose, My control top.
Please be understanding of my desire to look good in these uncomfortable shoes. It makes me question my own sanity, and I am even questioning my other fashion choices as well.

Ooh, I can see you don't want me to sing about pantyhose. You'd rather I go back to tap dancing Like my close personal friend Paula Abdul Who, like me, was a geek back in high school.
I can tell you are not interested in my fashion choices, but would rather hear about my personal life, like my friendship with Paula Abdul.

Oh, I'm sorry, but that's not what this song is about. At least it wasn't when it started out.
Although I am happy to talk about my personal life, this song is really about my struggles with high heel shoes.

I pray this subway ride never ends, So I will never never have to walk again. In high heels.
I am so uncomfortable in these shoes that I hope to stay on the subway forever, just so I don't have to walk in them again.

It's a different atmosphere In high heels.
Wearing high heel shoes creates a different feeling or vibe.

I can see your house from here In high heels, High heels
Wearing high heels gives me a higher perspective and I can see more from this height.

Contributed by Zachary V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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