Von Teese is well known for her fascination with 1940s cinema and classic retro style. This began at a young age and was fostered by her mother, who would buy clothes for her daughter to dress up in. Her mother was a fan of old, Golden-era Hollywood films, and it was from her that Von Teese developed a fascination with the actresses of that day, especially Betty Grable, an actress that she frequently cites as her favorite.
She was classically trained as a ballet dancer from an early age, and danced solo at age thirteen for a local ballet company. Though she originally wanted to be a ballerina, Von Teese states that "By 15 I was as good as I’d ever be".[1] She was later to incorporate this element into her burlesque shows, where she frequently goes en pointe.
At age twelve she moved from Michigan to Orange County, California with her parents and her two sisters. Von Teese attended University High School in Irvine.[2]
As a teenager, Von Teese's mother took her to buy her first bra, made from plain white cotton, and gave her a plastic egg containing a pair of wrinkly, flesh-coloured tights. Von Teese says she was disappointed as she had been hoping to receive beautiful lacy garments and stockings, of the type she had glimpsed in her father's Playboy magazines. This fueled her passion for lingerie. She worked in a lingerie store as a salesgirl when she was fifteen, and eventually as a buyer. Some people believe that this is the store where she purchased her first corset, however Dita states in her book that she purchased her first corset in a sex shop. Von Teese has been fond of wearing elaborate lingerie such as corsets and basques with fully fashioned stockings ever since.
In college Von Teese studied historic costuming and aspired to work as a stylist for period films. She is a trained costume designer.[3]
Bird of Prey
Dita Von Teese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my day
Still, on my will
Bird of prey
All your promises run away
In your crowded gorgeous rooms
I can't play
Breaking down my happiness
Flies away
Still, my wonders
In my day
Still, on my will
Bird of prey
You're a little thing, bird of prey
Dancing in my mobile bee
Shout away
You're a little thing, bird of prey
Looking for the chaos, in my decay
Still, my wonders
In my day
Still, on my will
Bird of prey
All your promises run away
In your crowded gorgeous rooms
I can't play
All your promises run away
Breaking down my happiness
Flies away
The lyrics to Dita Von Teese's song "Bird of Prey" are hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking. The song invokes a sense of a mesmerizing, elusive force, which constantly draws attention, but remains unattainable in the end. The opening lines, "Still, my wonders, in my day, still, on my will, bird of prey," refer to the persistence of an undefined, mesmerizing force in the singer's life, which continually captures their attention and imagination but never truly reveals its essence.
The chorus line, "All your promises run away, in your crowded gorgeous rooms, I can't play, all your promises run away, breaking down my happiness, flies away," seems to express the futile search for something that is unattainable or illusory. The idea of broken promises, the inability to play and broken happiness, all hints to the idea of the unfulfilled promises and the desire to be free from it.
Towards the end, the lines "You're a little thing, bird of prey, looking for the chaos in my decay," portrays the idea of this elusive, mesmerizing power being a destructive force, searching for and thriving in chaos and decay. In conclusion, the lyrics of "Bird of Prey" convey a deep sense of fascination and longing for something unknown but also acknowledge a sense of danger that lies within it.
Line by Line Meaning
Still, my wonders
Despite everything happening around me, I am still in awe of the world and its mysteries.
In my day
In my lifetime, while I am alive and present in this moment.
Still, on my will
I remain determined in my goals and desires despite any obstacles that come my way.
Bird of prey
A metaphorical description of the person or situation that is causing harm or destruction to the artist's life.
All your promises run away
The pledges of help and support from the bird of prey have been futile and are now gone, leaving the artist unsupported.
In your crowded gorgeous rooms
While surrounded by opulence and extravagance, the singer is still unfulfilled and unsatisfied.
I can't play
The singer is unable to indulge in superficial activities like others because of the bird of prey's actions.
Breaking down my happiness
The bird of prey's actions have caused the artist's joy and contentment to erode away, leading to sadness and despair.
Flies away
Just like a bird that takes flight, the artist's happiness is fleeting and quickly disappears because of the bird of prey's influence.
You're a little thing, bird of prey
The artist is now looking down upon the bird of prey as a insignificant and powerless being.
Dancing in my mobile bee
The bird of prey is moving around restlessly and trying to cause chaos in the singer's life.
Shout away
The artist is urging the bird of prey to leave and stop causing harm.
Looking for the chaos, in my decay
The bird of prey is searching for additional destruction and malice while the singer's life is falling apart.
Writer(s): sébastien tellier
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Doe Deer Wonderland
Saw Dita perform to this just yesterday on her tour and I'm so glad I found it!
It sounds bomb
NinjaWizard45
This is great man! Great job!
Noah Bird
I'll buy the vinyl if Dita signs it. :)
Sissy
Love it!!!
Lucia Carrizo
Love it 🖤🖤🖤🖤💎💎💎💎
Felicity McLaughlin
Love this song
amparito limon
Que oinche rolota!!. Saludos desde méxico
Gabriel Kristen Buche
Sounds good.
Lorna Varney
Fuck. Yes. Love this
AJ
🥰✨💋