Parties
Henrik Berggren Lyrics


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Get your kicks and hit the ritz
The world is full of hypocrites
Babbledibo bang gobbelty gook
All the caesars rule the pie
And the chairman ate his tie
Now I'm gonna die

Here's to the parties
They'll be the end of me
My time is waning
But I'm going out blazing

Herod thrived, Jesus died
Cortés got rich and Schubert poor
Sobriety is such a bore
Home of Virgil, Donald Duck
And Napoleon lost his sock
Come on let's rock around the clock

Here's to the parties
They'll be the end of me
I'm going to hell
But I do it well

Philistine, grand smuggery
Bigoted arch bigotry
Nothing's new in history
Nero may have killed his mom




And burned Rome for his hall
But he sure could throw a ball

Overall Meaning

The song "Parties" by Henrik Berggren is a commentary on the decadence and excesses of society. The first verse references the wealthy elite, represented by the "caesars" and the "chairman," who are out of touch with the struggles of everyday people. The second verse highlights the disparity between those who thrive and those who suffer throughout history, with references to Herod and Jesus, as well as Cortés and Schubert. The chorus, "Here's to the parties / They'll be the end of me / My time is waning / But I'm going out blazing," suggests that the singer is living it up despite the inevitable consequences.


In the final verse, Berggren turns his critique inward, calling out his own tendencies towards "smuggery" and "bigotry." He notes that history repeats itself, with each generation facing the same struggles and falling into the same patterns of excess and self-destructive behaviors. The reference to Nero is perhaps ironic, as he is both a notorious historical figure and a representation of society's obsession with entertainment and distraction.


Overall, "Parties" is a satirical commentary on the pitfalls of hedonism and self-indulgence, as well as a cautionary tale about the dangers of repeating history's mistakes.


Line by Line Meaning

Get your kicks and hit the ritz
Have fun and enjoy life by indulging in lavish parties.


The world is full of hypocrites
People are not true to themselves and pretend to be someone else.


Babbledibo bang gobbelty gook
A nonsensical expression that conveys the meaninglessness of life.


All the caesars rule the pie
The people in power control everything and enjoy the benefits.


And the chairman ate his tie
An absurd act that symbolizes how even respected figures can lose control.


Now I'm gonna die
Acceptance of death as the inevitable end of life.


Here's to the parties
Cheers to the excessive, wild, and self-destructive party lifestyle.


They'll be the end of me
Parties will ultimately ruin and destroy me.


My time is waning
I am running out of time, and my end is near.


But I'm going out blazing
I will go out with a bang and make an impact.


Herod thrived, Jesus died
Even the most important people in history suffer and die.


Cortés got rich and Schubert poor
Life is unfair, and success does not always come to the most deserving people.


Sobriety is such a bore
Being sober is dull and uneventful compared to the excitement of partying.


Home of Virgil, Donald Duck
A contrasting pair of figures, one representing high culture and the other popular culture.


And Napoleon lost his sock
Even the most powerful people have silly and embarrassing moments.


Come on let's rock around the clock
Let's have fun and keep partying all night long.


I'm going to hell
Condemning oneself to eternal damnation for living a sin-filled life.


But I do it well
Acknowledging one's skill and excellence in the self-destructive party lifestyle.


Philistine, grand smuggery
Criticism of the pretentiousness and lack of creativity in the art world.


Bigoted arch bigotry
Irony in the existence of closed-mindedness within groups fighting against discrimination.


Nothing's new in history
Patterns and cycles of events repeat throughout time and history.


Nero may have killed his mom
Alluding to the stories of Nero's cruelty, but highlighting his athleticism and skill in sports.


And burned Rome for his hall
An exaggeration of Nero's actions, but also a commentary on the dangers of political power.


But he sure could throw a ball
One's talents and skills can be overshadowed by their faults and vices.




Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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