Here Lies Love
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim Lyrics
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My dresses were all hand-me downs and scraps
I’d see the people smile
When I would sing for them
How happy they all seemed when I would dance
We lived a stone’s throw from the palace
A simple country girl who had a dream
How much it meant to me to be like these
Is it a sin to love too much?
Is it a sin to care? I do it all for you
How can it be unfair?
I know that when my number’s up
When I am called by God above
Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone
Just say: Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love just say:
Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love
The most important things are love and beauty
It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor
To prosper and to fly, a basic human right
The feeling in your heart that you’re secure
Is it a sin to love too much?
Is it a sin to care? I do it all for you
How can it be unfair?
I know that when my number’s up
When I am called by God above
Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone
Just say: Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love just say:
Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love
I know that when my number’s up
When I am called by God above
Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone
Just say: Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love just say:
Here lies love, here lies love
Here lies love
The song "Here Lies Love" is a tribute to Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines who became notorious for her lavish lifestyle and political influence during her husband’s presidency. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of Imelda, who narrates her life story as a simple country girl with big dreams who ultimately becomes a powerful figure in her own right. She reminisces about her humble beginnings and how she used her talent for singing and dancing to win over people's hearts.
The opening lines "When I was a young girl in Leyte, my dresses were all hand-me-downs and scraps" paint a picture of poverty and hardship. Imelda's desire to be like the "better class" of ladies passing by shows her ambition and determination to climb the social ladder. The lines "The most important things are love and beauty, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor" suggest that Imelda believes that everyone deserves to live a fulfilling life regardless of their circumstances.
The chorus "Is it a sin to love too much? Is it a sin to care? I do it all for you, how can it be unfair?" emphasizes Imelda's love for the people and her desire to do everything in her power to help them. The ending lines "Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone, just say: Here lies love, here lies love" suggest that Imelda's legacy should not be judged by her material possessions and political influence, but by her love for the people she served.
Overall, "Here Lies Love" is a poignant reminder of the complexity of Imelda Marcos' legacy and how love can be both a powerful motivator and a source of controversy.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young girl in Leyte
I am reminiscing about my childhood when I lived in Leyte
My dresses were all hand-me downs and scraps
I grew up with very little money and had to wear hand-me-down clothes
I’d see the people smile
When I sing for people, I see them smile and it makes me happy
When I would sing for them
I used to sing for people when I was younger
How happy they all seemed when I would dance
When I danced, people were happy and it brought them joy
We lived a stone’s throw from the palace
I lived very close to the palace when I was growing up
A simple country girl who had a dream
Despite being from a small town, I had big dreams for myself
The ladies passing by, a better class than I
I saw wealthy women walking by and wanted to be like them
How much it meant to me to be like these
It was really important to me to be like those wealthy women
Is it a sin to love too much?
I wonder if it's bad to love someone so much
Is it a sin to care? I do it all for you
I care about someone deeply and wonder if it's wrong to do so
How can it be unfair?
I don't understand why it would be unfair to love someone so much
The most important things are love and beauty
I believe that love and beauty are the most important things in life
It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor
It doesn't matter how much money you have
To prosper and to fly, a basic human right
Everyone deserves the right to succeed and be happy
The feeling in your heart that you’re secure
Feeling safe and secure in your heart is important
I know that when my number’s up
I know that when I die
When I am called by God above
When God calls me to heaven
Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone
I don't want a fancy gravestone
Just say: Here lies love, here lies love
I just want people to remember me for my love
Here lies love just say:
Remember me for my love
Here lies love, here lies love
My legacy is my love
I know that when my number’s up
I know that when I die
When I am called by God above
When God calls me to heaven
Don’t have my name inscribed into the stone
I don't want a fancy gravestone
Just say: Here lies love, here lies love
I just want people to remember me for my love
Here lies love just say:
Remember me for my love
Here lies love, here lies love
My legacy is my love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RALPH RAINGER, LEO ROBIN, FRANCOIS JOSEPH CHARLES SALABERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind