In a 2016 interview with Consequence of Sound, Ó Cíosóig explained how the musical composition differed from his and Hope's other bands, "It's not that our other bands have restrictions, but there's a certain sound in those bands. Hope and I have a sound, but it's always changing and morphing into different things while still carrying a similar thread".
Charlotte
Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions Lyrics
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She says she knows and she does
And her mind aches
And her heart breaks
Cause she's silly (?)
Gonna teach her to sin
Livin' on the wrong side of the tracks
And you know she's never
Coming back
She's got a smile like a flower
She looks so fine by the hour
But her mind aches
And her heart breaks
Cause she's silly (?)
Gonna teach her to steal
Cause I'm always knowing
How she feels
Livin' on the wrong side of the tracks
And I know she's never
Coming back
Oh no...
And her mind aches...
And her heart breaks...
Cause she's silly...
To me (2x)
The lyrics in "Charlotte" by Hope Sandoval describe a girl who is portrayed as innocent and naive, but with a hint of darkness lurking beneath the surface. She is depicted as having a rose in her smile, which suggests a certain level of beauty and grace, yet she is also described as having a mind and heart that ache and break. The singer in the song seems to have some sort of power over her, as he claims that he knows where she's been and that he's going to teach her to sin and steal. The last line of the song, "To me," suggests that the singer feels some sort of possessive attachment to her.
One interpretation of the song is that it's about the corrupting influence of power and how it can be used to manipulate others. The singer in the song represents someone who's been around the block and has seen the dark side of life, while Charlotte represents someone who's young and innocent. The singer takes advantage of her vulnerability, knowing that he can lead her astray and that she won't be able to resist him. The references to the wrong side of the tracks suggest that they come from different worlds, and that Charlotte is easily swayed by someone who has more experience and knowledge than she does.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a rose in her smile
She displays a happy attitude, but deep down she may be hiding something.
She says she knows and she does
She claims to have knowledge and proves that she does.
And her mind aches
She experiences mental pain and distress.
And her heart breaks
She feels emotional pain and sadness.
Cause she's silly (?)
Perhaps she is foolish, naive or lacks insight.
Gonna teach her to sin
The singer intends to encourage her to commit immoral or illegal acts.
Cause I'm always knowing where she's been
The singer is well-informed of her whereabouts and activities.
Livin' on the wrong side of the tracks
She lives in a part of town that is considered undesirable, poor or dangerous.
And you know she's never
It's highly unlikely that she will
Coming back
Return or change her current lifestyle.
She's got a smile like a flower
She has a lovely, gentle and natural-looking smile.
She looks so fine by the hour
She appears to be attractive and appealing, especially for a brief period of time
Gonna teach her to steal
The singer intends to encourage her to take something that doesn't belong to her.
Cause I'm always knowing
The singer is confident in their knowledge of her actions and intentions.
How she feels
The singer is aware of her emotions and is willing to exploit them.
Oh no...
An expression of concern, worry, or anxiety
To me (2x)
The artist seems to want to keep her close or win her affection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GERARDO MANZOLI, MAURIZIO PICCOLI, VARO VENTURI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind