Fat Boys And Ugly Girls
Elton John Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fat boys cry when ugly girls sing
About the way the world would be if they were thin
And ugly girls turn their heads when fat boys laugh
About the handsome kid next door who broke their heart
Who broke their heart
Broke their heart

And fat boys lie when ugly girls ask
About the size an apple pie looks through a magnifying glass
And ugly girls dream at night when fat boys sleep
About the way the mirrors lie when beauty's only skin deep
Beauty's only skin deep
Skin deep

But it's the fat boy's world for an ugly girl
And ugly girls love that fat boy joy
Who needs the worries of a perfect world
Hear the early birds make that spring time come
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl

Fat boys dance when ugly girls shout
That a waltz is not the dance for the boy who's stout
And ugly girls dream at night when fat boys sleep
About the way the mirrors lie when beauty's only skin deep
Beauty's only skin deep
Skin deep

But it's the fat boy's world for an ugly girl
And ugly girls love that fat boy joy
Who needs the worries of a perfect world
Hear the early birds make that spring time come
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl

But it's the fat boy's world for an ugly girl
And ugly girls love that fat boy joy
Who needs the worries of a perfect world
Hear the early birds make that spring time come
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl
When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl

Fat boys and ugly girls
I'm talking about fat boys and ugly girls




Fat, fat, fat boys and ugly girls
I'm talking about fat boys, fat boys and ugly girls

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Fat Boys And Ugly Girls" by Elton John explore themes of body image, relationships, and societal expectations. The song describes the insecurities and struggles of "fat boys" and "ugly girls," who constantly feel judged and inferior because of their appearances. The first verse talks about how both fat boys and ugly girls are affected by societal pressure to conform to beauty standards. Fat boys cry when ugly girls sing about the way the world would be if they were thin, while ugly girls turn their heads when fat boys laugh about the handsome kid next door who broke their heart. The second verse talks about how both fat boys and ugly girls lie to each other to avoid their insecurities, but ultimately dream of finding someone who can love them for who they are.


The chorus highlights the unconventional beauty of fat boys and ugly girls while also recognizing the societal power dynamics that favor fat boys over ugly girls. The song suggests that in a world obsessed with perfection, it's the fat boys who hold the power and can provide the joy that ugly girls crave. The bridge continues this theme of rejecting societal expectations and finding beauty in unexpected places. "Who needs the worries of a perfect world / Hear the early birds make that spring time come" suggests that happiness is found in embracing imperfections and letting go of unrealistic expectations.


Overall, "Fat Boys And Ugly Girls" is a poignant exploration of the struggles faced by those who do not conform to societal beauty standards. The song underscores the importance of self-love and acceptance, as well as the need to recognize and challenge societal pressures that contribute to poor body image.


Line by Line Meaning

Fat boys cry when ugly girls sing
Overweight boys are upset when unattractive girls sing about the ideal world they envision if they were thin


About the way the world would be if they were thin
Ugly girls imagine a different world that they could experience if they were not unattractive


And ugly girls turn their heads when fat boys laugh
Unattractive girls ignore when overweight boys laugh about a handsome boy who caused them heartbreak


About the handsome kid next door who broke their heart
Overweight boys joke with unattractive girls about the boy next door that caused them heartbreak


Who broke their heart
The boy next door that unattractive girls reference broke their heart and the fat boys find it amusing


And fat boys lie when ugly girls ask
Overweight boys are dishonest with unattractive girls about their perception of pastries viewed through magnifying lenses


About the size an apple pie looks through a magnifying glass
Unattractive girls ask how a dessert would appear under magnification, but overweight boys tell them a falsehood


And ugly girls dream at night when fat boys sleep
Unattractive girls dream of what they could look like while overweight boys slumber


About the way the mirrors lie when beauty's only skin deep
Unattractive girls realize that mirrors can be deceptive when it comes to judging beauty, which is only skin-deep


Beauty's only skin deep
True beauty lies beneath the surface and is not just about physical appearance


But it's the fat boy's world for an ugly girl
Overweight boys hold power in the realm of unattractive girls, so they are attracted to them


And ugly girls love that fat boy joy
Fat boys can bring happiness and pleasure to unattractive girls


Who needs the worries of a perfect world
The fat boy and unattractive girl are content with each other and don't need the trappings of a perfect world


Hear the early birds make that spring time come
The natural world can provide an optimistic feeling, such as watching the birds return for spring


When a fat boy falls in love with an ugly girl
When an overweight boy is smitten with an unattractive girl, it is a sweet and tender connection


Fat boys dance when ugly girls shout
Overweight boys will dance when unattractive girls shout that their stout frame won't prevent them from enjoying the dance


That a waltz is not the dance for the boy who's stout
Unattractive girls remind overweight boys that the waltz is not the only dance and they can still dance despite their size


Fat boys and ugly girls
The song is about the bond between overweight boys and unattractive girls


I'm talking about fat boys and ugly girls
The singer is emphasizing that the song is specifically about the relationship between overweight boys and unattractive girls


Fat, fat, fat boys and ugly girls
An exaggeration to emphasize the point that the song is specifically about the connection between overweight boys and unattractive girls




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD J.P. TAUPIN, BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

not like todays crap

Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....