The Jangling Man
Cleaners From Venus Lyrics

I am just a jangling man
The singer feels fragmented and unsettled, having been exposed to too much trauma and harshness.

Been in the cold too long-along-along
The singer has been subjected to some type of hardship or trouble for a long period.

They're breaking glass and burning buildings
Chaos and mayhem have taken over.

In the early greenhouse sun
The issues are occurring at a time when the situation appears to be optimistic and things should be going well.

The powers-that-be will blame extremists
Those in charge will lay the blame on someone they regard as a culprit rather than acknowledging the real problem.

And I may well be one
The singer worries that they may be blamed for the issues, or for being involved in it in some way.

And all you kids in Cardboard City
The children living in poverty and homeless are also affected by this hullabaloo.

I hope you're having fun
The artist is sarcastic and unfair because the children are struggling with the situation at hand.

And all you voters everywhere
This situation, whatever it is, should not be taken lightly.

Will remember what you've done
The citizens must take responsibility for their choices and decisions, as well as those who hold office.

The velvet glove, the iron rod and a bridle for your tongue
The government employs both caring and punishing methods to persuade citizens to comply.

The tanks which trundle through the square
The real necessities of the country, like safety and security, are neglected by the people in power in the midst of turmoil.

When the old have killed the young
Amanda was not sure about this line.

The wind feels all the colder now that the summer's on the run
The natural world appears to reflect the current situation of tensions and hardship.

The old man sees the wall come down and he reaches for his gun
People are becoming more and more irrational and violent.

When we dream
The artist is switching to a new topic of their subconscious thoughts and desires.

Dream of a feeling
They desire a state of being or situation that is more pleasant or fulfilling.

To wake one day and find that you are gone
Perhaps daydreaming of a circumstance where the issues at hand no longer plague them.

And will we dance?
The singer describes being jubilant after the terrible situation is resolved, so much as to dance on the ones whom they held responsible for it.

Dance by your gravesides
Being pleased is so great that celebrating it on top of the people who were supposed to sort it out is an act of triumph.

So glad, so glad, so glad that you are gone
The people who were at the root of the issue are gone and now there is help to aid the affected people.

So wander dimly through the past
The artist speaks metaphorically suggesting that people should explore and understand the past thoroughly and unbiasedly in order to avoid any problematic happenings in the present and future.

Of the England that you knew
The past of England may have influenced current situations and will most likely influence future ones too.

These dispossessed and homeless children
The artist continues on the same topic of plight and misery that people face due to certain situations.

They all belong to you
The responsibility of taking care of the people who are suffering, directly or indirectly, in such situations is owned by everyone and it is a collective effort.

And I live with a Raggedy-Ann
The singer is not affluent and lives with someone who is also not well off.

We never had any money, is it really so wrong?
The singer is now reflecting on their own situation and justifying their lack of wealth.