Mona Lisa
Herman Schmerdley Lyrics

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Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there

Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.

Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?

Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.

Overall Meaning

The song "Mona Lisa" by Herman Schmerdley is an ode to the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The lyrics suggest that the subject of the painting, Mona Lisa, is a mysterious and lonely figure. The first verse questions why men have named her, and compares her to the lady with the mystic smile, likely referencing the enigmatic smile that Mona Lisa wears in the painting. The second verse asks whether Mona Lisa's smile is meant to seduce a lover or hide a broken heart, implying that the subject is complex and layered.

The chorus repeats these questions, suggesting that Mona Lisa may be both warm and real, but also cold and lonely. The line "They just lie there, and they die there" speaks to the idea that many dreams and desires have been projected onto Mona Lisa, but they cannot be fulfilled because she is merely a painting. Overall, the song is a meditation on the nature of beauty and perception, and how we assign meaning to art and the people depicted in it.

Line by Line Meaning

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa men have named you
You, Mona Lisa, have been given your name by men.

You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Your appearance is similar to the lady with a mysterious expression.

Is it only cause you're lonely they have blamed you
Are people only accusing you of being strange because you're lonely?

For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Is your enigmatic smile the cause of your Mona Lisa weirdness?

Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa?
Are you Mona Lisa smiling to lure a romantic partner?

Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Or is this just a tactic to conceal a heart that has been shattered?

Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Many people have come to you with their hopes and aspirations.

They just lie there, and they die there
But sadly, they haven't been fulfilled and have perished.

Are you warm, are you real Mona Lisa?
Are you a Mona Lisa who is warm, authentic and true?

Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art.
Or are you only a beautiful masterpiece, abandoned and solitary?

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa.