Romano's 2011 album Sleep Beneath the Willow was a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, and his 2013 album Come Cry With Me was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.
If I've Only One Time Askin' was nominated for a 2016 Juno Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
On January 4, 2018, Romano released two simultaneous surprise albums, Human Touch and Nerveless.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Romano released several new albums of both newly recorded and archival material in quick succession. He then recorded a series of albums with a band as Daniel Romano's Outfit.
The Pride of Queens
Daniel Romano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many babies can you kiss?
How many lords can you undress?
As you sit misquoting silence
Oh
Have you seen the Royal Canal?
As Luke is raped by dust and gored by vultures
You bought your way into the culture
Yes you did
No not you
Not you too
Oh
You couldn't know what that miracle means
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
Not about the pride of Queens
Yeah
The pride of Queens
Oh
Hey that's a nice poem don't let it get away
Though Verlaine may disagree that it's a beautiful day
Gabba gabba hey
I saw the ghost of Joey answer to your sound
I'm sure that you were so busy when they lowered him down
Busy busy
In the end when Ronnie lost all of his hair
I couldn't help but notice that you were there
And Hank was home working that night in LA
Instead of some kind of brilliance that sucked him away
Yes you did
No not you
Not you too
Oh
You couldn't know what that miracle means
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
Not about the pride of Queens
Yeah
The pride of Queens
Oh
Remember when you violated every living ear
With that little magic trick
That made your garbage just appear
Tell me do you ever stop to wonder why
The rats get fat while brave men die
Yes they do
No not you
Not you too
Oh
You couldn't know what that miracle means
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
Not about the pride of Queens
Yeah
At the end of your century what have you done?
As the dead in your history rattle in hum
The pride of Queens
The pride of Queens
The pride of Queens
I wanna feel you
Impossible dream
I wanna feel you
Impossible dream
I wanna feel you
Impossible dream
I wanna feel you
Impossible dream
The lyrics of Daniel Romano's song "The Pride of Queens" tell a story of a character who has bought their way into the culture and is misquoting silence while being challenged on their knowledge and understanding of certain topics. The opening lines "Another forward from the prince / How many babies can you kiss? / How many lords can you undress? / As you sit misquoting silence" suggest that this character is receiving messages from someone of higher class or importance and is trying to impress them but lacks substance. The following questions challenge their knowledge and understanding of certain topics and suggest that they lack the depth or understanding to comment on them.
The lyrics then move on to references of places and people such as the Royal Canal, Luke, and Verlaine. These references may be symbolic and have deeper meanings but remain open to interpretation. The lyrics then mention the pride of Queens and how the character couldn't understand what that miracle means in their hollow scenes. This line implies that the character lacks the ability or genuine interest to understand the importance or beauty of the pride of Queens.
The song then talks about the dead in history rattling in hum, suggesting a heavy theme of mortality, and ends with the repeated phrase "I wanna feel you / Impossible dream." These lines may be interpreted in various ways, but they suggest a longing to connect with something deeper or to be understood.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Pride of Queens" challenge the concept of superficiality and the importance of genuinely understanding and appreciating culture, history, and people.
Line by Line Meaning
Another forward from the prince
The song starts with a message from someone important.
How many babies can you kiss?
A question is posed asking how many innocent things could be ruined by someone.
How many lords can you undress?
Further questioning is done about someone's capabilities, but with a more powerful force.
As you sit misquoting silence
Someone is being accused of not speaking the truth, despite them not saying anything.
Oh
An interjection with no particular meaning.
Have you seen the Royal Canal?
Someone asks about a specific location.
Is that somewhere that you know of well?
The person is asked if they are familiar with the place mentioned earlier.
As Luke is raped by dust and gored by vultures
A reference to a biblical story is made where one of the apostles faced a lot of difficulties.
You bought your way into the culture
Someone is being accused of using their wealth or status to gain success in their profession.
Yes you did
Confirmation of the fact that someone used their power to get what they want.
No not you
Someone else is being addressed now.
Not you too
Disappointment is expressed on finding out that someone else has also acted in a similar manner.
You couldn't know what that miracle means
Someone is being told that they wouldn't be able to appreciate something as valuable as a miracle.
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
The person is being told that they live a shallow and unappealing life.
Not about the pride of Queens
The person is being told that they wouldn't understand the importance of representing Queens in a good light.
Hey that's a nice poem don't let it get away
Someone offers a compliment on a poem or piece of writing that they just heard or read.
Though Verlaine may disagree that it's a beautiful day
Reference is made to a poet known for his melancholic work, suggesting that not everyone can appreciate beauty in the same way.
Gabba gabba hey
An interjection with no particular meaning.
I saw the ghost of Joey answer to your sound
A reference is made to Joey Ramone, the lead vocalist of the band Ramones, who passed away.
I'm sure that you were so busy when they lowered him down
The person is being accused of not paying their respects to the late Joey Ramone.
In the end when Ronnie lost all of his hair
A reference is made to Ronnie Spector, a musician who had a difficult time in the industry.
I couldn't help but notice that you were there
The person is being accused of profiting from someone else's misfortune.
And Hank was home working that night in LA
A reference is made to Hank Williams, a musician known for his struggles in the music industry. The suggestion is that this person is not working on their craft and simply profiting off of others.
Instead of some kind of brilliance that sucked him away
The person is being accused of being selfish and not helping out fellow musicians in need.
Yes you did
Confirmation that this person did act inappropriately and selfishly.
No not you
A new person is being addressed now.
Not you too
Disappointment is expressed that someone else acted inappropriately as well.
You couldn't know what that miracle means
Someone is being told that they don't have the capability to appreciate something as valuable as a miracle.
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
Someone is being accused of living a shallow and meaningless life.
Not about the pride of Queens
The person is being told that they wouldn't understand the importance of representing Queens in a good light.
Yeah
An interjection with no particular meaning.
Remember when you violated every living ear
The person is being accused of creating something unpleasant that everyone had to endure.
With that little magic trick
The reference is made to the way this unpleasant thing was created, as if done so lightly or carelessly.
That made your garbage just appear
Further description is given on how this unpleasant thing was created.
Tell me do you ever stop to wonder why
A question is posed, asking if the person ever thinks about something specific.
The rats get fat while brave men die
A comparison is drawn between rats (or those who don't contribute to society) and brave men (who do contribute but may not be rewarded as much).
Yes they do
Confirmation that the person being addressed does, indeed, wonder about this concept.
No not you
A new person is being addressed now.
Not you too
Disappointment is expressed that someone else holds the same views on this concept.
Oh
An interjection with no particular meaning.
You couldn't know what that miracle means
Someone is being told that they wouldn't be able to truly appreciate something as valuable as a miracle.
No, not in your kind of hollow scenes
This person is being accused of living a shallow life.
Not about the pride of Queens
This person is being told that they wouldn't understand the importance of representing Queens in a good light.
Yeah
An interjection with no particular meaning.
At the end of your century what have you done?
A rhetorical question is posed, asking what this person has accomplished with their lifetime.
As the dead in your history rattle in hum
A statement is given that the past accomplishments of the people of Queens will be remembered and this person is urged to make a difference before it's too late.
The pride of Queens
Reference is made to the importance of representing Queens positively.
I wanna feel you
An expression of desire.
Impossible dream
The desire is described as seemingly unobtainable.
I wanna feel you
An expression of desire.
Impossible dream
The desire is described as seemingly unobtainable.
I wanna feel you
An expression of desire.
Impossible dream
The desire is described as seemingly unobtainable.
I wanna feel you
An expression of desire.
Impossible dream
The desire is described as seemingly unobtainable.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Daniel Romano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind