Utopia
Eddie and the Subtitles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
"The madam has the cutest personality"
And think of all the books about do Barry's looks
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
She had a well-developed personality
Or Figaro in Figarette?
Or Jupiter in Juno?
You know!
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
No doubt it must have been easy to see
That she knew how to use her personality
A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well
And never sit on the boss's left knee
Unless she's got a perfect personality
A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair
Or even just a bit bowed at the knee
If she can show a faultless personality
Why are certain girls offered certain things
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
By men who wear their spats right?
(That's right!)
So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be"
Just tell me how you like my
"Rufff!
(Personality)
Baby, you've got the cutest
Personality!!
The lyrics of Eddie and the Subtitles’ ‘Utopia’ are borrowed from the 1930s song ‘Personality,’ originally sung by Johnny Mercer. The song describes how certain individuals throughout history have captivated others with their charming personalities, such as Madam Pompadour, Do Barry, Salome, and even Juliet. The song suggests that having a charming personality is more important than physical beauty or intelligence, as it can open doors to wealth and success. The lyrics convey that a perfect personality is a key to happiness and prosperity, and that it can help a woman climb the social ladder.
The song’s upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics make it easy to overlook its somewhat patronizing message. The idea that a woman needs to have a “faultless personality” to succeed is problematic, as it places a burden on women to be perfect, while excusing men from following the same rules. The song’s message also reinforces the idea that women are only valuable when they are pleasing to men. However, the song is also a reflection of the gender roles of its time, and can be read as a humorous take on societal expectations of women in the 1930s.
Line by Line Meaning
When Madam Pompadour was on a ballroom floor
When a person famous for their beauty and position was dancing
Said all the gentlemen "Obviously,"
The men standing around spoke as if the beauty's appeal was self-evident
"The madam has the cutest personality"
But really, the men were referring to the beauty's attractive qualities beyond just looks
And think of all the books about do Barry's looks
The singer speaks of famous beauties Phryne and Marion Delorme and asks why their looks were so revered
What was it made her the toast of Paree?
What was the source of their appeal in Paris?
She had a well-developed personality
It was actually due to their strong character and charm
What did Romeo see in Juliet?
The singer then asks about the appeal of other famous couples
Or Figaro in Figarette?
He names characters from an opera
Or Jupiter in Juno?
He references Greek and Roman mythology
You know!
All of these examples have one thing in common - the attraction is based on more than just looks, and it's obvious why they're together.
And when Salome danced and had the boys entranced
The singer talks about a famous seductress and how it was obvious that her charisma was what gave her power
No doubt it must have been easy to see
It was evident to everyone
That she knew how to use her personality
Her real weapon was her charm
A girl can learn to spell and take dictation well
The singer talks about how women can succeed through hard work and intelligence
And never sit on the boss's left knee
But they don't have to stoop to inappropriate behavior to get ahead
Unless she's got a perfect personality
As long as she has a strong character that shines through in everything she does
A girl can get somewhere in spite of stringy hair
Even if she doesn't fit societal beauty standards
Or even just a bit bowed at the knee
Or if she doesn't have a perfect figure
If she can show a faultless personality
As long as she has genuine charisma and charm
Why are certain girls offered certain things
The singer asks why some women are given special treatment
Like sable coats and wedding rings?
Such as fur coats and marriage proposals
By men who wear their spats right?
By wealthy and well-dressed men
(That's right!)
The reason for this special treatment is usually because they find the women charming.
So don'tcha say "I'm smart and have the kindest heart"
The singer advises women not to brag about their intelligence or kindness
Or "what a wonderful sister I'd be"
Or their familial loyalty
Just tell me how you like my
Instead, they should focus on being genuine and letting their charm be their standout quality
"Rufff!
Just like a dog's distinctive bark,
(Personality)
The singer says that genuine charm and charisma are what really make a person stand out and become attractive to others
Baby, you've got the cutest
By the end, they're telling someone whom they find attractive that they have a beautiful personality
Personality!!
Which is the most important thing of all.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind