Stopwatch Hearts
Delerium Lyrics


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Not that I'm that hard to Please
But lately when I hit the street
It's hum-de-dumb
(Hum-de-dumb-de dum)
When the hard times hit
They Hit the biz
The hardest hit make the best of it
Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom
Sink down with your boomtown
High water realtors arrive
With numbers over their eyes
Stopwatch hearts

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
(They tick)
They don't beat
(They tick)

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
They don't beat

'Round that corner
Down the street
There's a dive where working girls retreat
From their hum-de-dumb
(Hum-de-dumb-de-dum)
So tilt that felt hat to the side
Thrift store 3 for .99
Gonna get me one
Gonna get me one
(And Get it every night)

Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom
Sink down with your boomtown
High water realtors arrive
With numbers over their eyes
Stopwatch hearts

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
(They tick)
They don't beat
(They tick)

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
They don't beat

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
(They tick)
They don't beat
(They tick)

Good God I love the party-starved
Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don't beat
They don't beat

(They tick)

So tilt that felt hat to the side
Thrift store 3 for .99





Gonna get me one
(And Get it every night)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Delerium's song Stopwatch Hearts seem to critique and satirize the lifestyle of wealthy businessmen. The singer seems to empathize with working girls who retreat to dives after a hard day's work on the streets. The song's title, Stopwatch Hearts, refers to the unemotional and cold behavior of businessmen who only seem to care about money and time. The singer's admiration for the party-starved businessmen is ironic since their behavior is a far cry from a life of passion and celebration.


The lyrics also reference the stock market, business investments, and real estate, with lines like "strong dollar stockbroker," "sink down with your boomtown," and "high water realtors arrive with numbers over their eyes." These references reinforce the idea that the song is a critique of the wealthy who value material possessions over human relationships and emotions.


The chorus repeats the phrase "good God I love the party-starved businessmen with stopwatch hearts, they don't beat, they tick." The line "they don't beat, they tick" enforces the idea that these men are not capable of deep emotions or empathy, only practical thoughts and ticking off issues on their checklist.


Line by Line Meaning

Not that I'm that hard to Please
I'm not particularly hard to please, but...


But lately when I hit the street
Recently, when I'm out and about...


It's hum-de-dumb
...it's just boring and monotonous.


(Hum-de-dumb-de dum)


When the hard times hit
During tough economic times...


They Hit the biz
...businesses really feel the impact.


The hardest hit make the best of it
Those who are hit the hardest often find ways to adapt and thrive.


Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom
Even those who are wealthy and successful can be affected by a downturn in the economy.


Sink down with your boomtown
The city or town that was once prosperous and booming is now struggling.


High water realtors arrive
Despite the tough times, some people are still looking to profit from real estate.


With numbers over their eyes
They are solely focused on the financial figures and not on the people affected by the market.


Stopwatch hearts
Refers to the businessmen mentioned earlier who are just focused on their work and making a profit, without any real emotions or heart.


Good God I love the party-starved
This line is sarcastic and implies that the author finds it amusing that people who are party-starved, or lacking in entertainment, are drawn to these businessmen.


Businessmen with stopwatch hearts
Repeating this chorus drives home the message of the song, that these businessmen are emotionally vacant.


They don't beat
Their hearts don't really beat with emotion.


(They tick)
But instead tick like the hands on a stopwatch.


Round that corner
Referring to the scene on the street.


Down the street
Further describing the location.


There's a dive where working girls retreat
Describing a place of respite for women who work in difficult circumstances.


From their hum-de-dumb
This refers to the monotony of their work and life.


(Hum-de-dumb-de-dum)


So tilt that felt hat to the side
This could be an instruction to a character, telling them to act cool or to mimic these businessmen in some way.


Thrift store 3 for .99
A reference to purchasing a hat, perhaps secondhand, for a good price.


Gonna get me one
The author will also get a hat like this.


(And Get it every night)
The author will wear it frequently or use it as a symbol of their own financial struggles, like the businessmen with stopwatch hearts do.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CARMEN RIZZO, EMILY HAINES, JAMIE MUHOBERAC, WILHELM LEEB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@05Gamerboy

‘Round that corner
Down the street,
There’s a dive where working girls retreat from their hum-de-dum. (Hum-de-dum-de-dum.)
So tilt that felt hat to the side,
Thrift store, 3 for .99,
Gonna get me one.
(And get tied up, yeah)

Strong dollar stockbroker right to the bottom,
Sink down with your boomtown
High water realtors arrive with numbers over their eyes
Stopwatch hearts

Good God, I love the party-starved businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don’t beat (they tick)
They don’t beat (they tick)
Good God, I love the party-starved businessmen with stopwatch hearts
They don’t beat
They don’t beat

~~~

So tilt that felt hat to the side,
Thrift store, 3 for .99,
Gonna get me one.
(And get tied up, yeah)



All comments from YouTube:

@planetdancerkh

"Business men with stopwatch hearts. they dont beat (they tick)" i absolutely love that line. this song is amazing.

@ghostlyinsomniac7342

Less than thirty seconds in, I knew that I found my new favorite song.

@judyepierson9517

Such an abscure song but I could repeat for hours!

@scrollingdownonlytofindcom2663

@judye pierson Same here.

@1487.

If this would have been released it would have gone number ONE!!!

@livenitjs

This song brings back memories. I remember getting is cd when it came out and playing this song over and over. :)

@marshalll9257

Delerium is one of the rare music groups that keeps getting better and better with age.

@Wormdude42

its too bad this song does not have more likes or views. The vocals are incredible and the music amazing! Love it!

@dashaslens

Naturally an Emily Haines song...love her

@bobtis

That old wow.

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