Hanging Around
Hazel O 'Connor Lyrics

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Big girl in the red dress
She's just trying to impress us
And she's got the barley fever
But she doesn't make a sound
She's just hanging around
She's just hanging around

Down the court road early

With the Hustlers big and burly
There's a million of 'em selling
And the buyers can be found
They're just hanging around
They're just hanging around

[Chorus]
Christ he told his mother
Christ he told her not to bother
Cos he's alright in the city
Cos he's high above the ground
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around (hanging around)

One of 'em comes over
Got a monkey on his shoulder
And the monkey's getting grinner
But his eyes are on the ground
He's just hanging around
He's just hanging around

I'm moving to a coleheme
With the leather all around me
And the sweat is getting steamy
But their eyes are on the ground
They're just hanging around
They're just hanging around

[Chorus: x2]

He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He's just hanging around

Overall Meaning

The song "Hanging Around" by Hazel O'Connor describes the lives of people who are simply existing without any purpose or direction. The first verse talks about a woman in a red dress who is trying to impress others but is suffering from the "barley fever" which indicates alcoholism or drug addiction. She is just hanging around without any motivation or drive. The second verse talks about a group of people, the Hustlers, who are selling things and the buyers who are just as aimless, hanging around without any real purpose.

The chorus then shifts to a religious reference, with "Christ" telling his mother not to bother because he is high above the ground and just hanging around. This could be interpreted as a condemnation of those who are content with simply drifting through life without any deeper meaning or purpose. The third verse introduces a man with a monkey on his shoulder, who is also just hanging around with no real purpose. The final verse describes the singer moving to a new place with leather and sweat but still surrounded by people who are hanging around, never truly living.

Overall, the lyrics seem to be a commentary on the monotony and meaninglessness of life when one is only focused on existing rather than truly living and finding a purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

Big girl in the red dress
There is a woman wearing a red dress

She's just trying to impress us
She wants to make a good impression on those around her

And she's got the barley fever
She is feeling unwell

But she doesn't make a sound
She is not complaining or drawing attention to herself

She's just hanging around
She is staying in the same place without any particular purpose or activity

Down the court road early
Early in the morning, walking down a street

With the Hustlers big and burly
With large, strong, and possibly intimidating people

There's a million of 'em selling
There are many people selling something

And the buyers can be found
People interested in buying can also be found in the area

They're just hanging around
They are spending time without any particular goal or activity

Christ he told his mother
Jesus spoke to his mother

Christ he told her not to bother
Jesus asked his mother not to interfere

Cos he's alright in the city
He is comfortable and safe in the city

Cos he's high above the ground
He is elevated above the ground, possibly metaphorically

He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He has no particular activity or goal in mind

One of 'em comes over
One person walks over to the artist

Got a monkey on his shoulder
He is carrying a monkey on his shoulder

And the monkey's getting grinner
The monkey is smiling or laughing

But his eyes are on the ground
He is looking at the ground and possibly avoiding eye contact

He's just hanging around
He is spending time without any particular goal or activity

I'm moving to a coleheme
The artist is relocating to a new place

With the leather all around me
The surroundings are covered in leather material

And the sweat is getting steamy
The singer is perspiring and feeling hot

But their eyes are on the ground
People around the artist are looking at the ground and possibly avoiding eye contact

They're just hanging around
They are spending time without any particular goal or activity

He's just hanging around (hanging around)
He has no particular activity or goal in mind

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN JOHN DUFFY, DAVID GREENFIELD, HUGH ALAN CORNWELL, JEAN JACQUES BURNEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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