Her modest success was ultimatley short-lived, but her biggest hit, "Don't Wanna Fall in Love", has found enduring status thanks to the Shep Pettibone remix which is often considered as one of the early '90s best Popular House records. Child is currently working on a new album, having been largely unsuccessful with obscure Japanese projects and movie soundtracks throughout the 1990s.
Jane Child resurfaced in the 2001 with her third album, "Surge." It included two single, "Almost Beautiful" and "Nice Day." While the album did not gain attention from the mainstream, it was touted as a welcome return by her supporters. While it was stated her fourth album was complete, there has yet to be a date set for its release.
Mona Lisa Smiles
Jane Child Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I'm fluent in both tongues
She's got legs for miles
She could make it fun
She knows, she toys
It shows, oh boy
Will I try a little harder
She wants everything I got
She says she can almost taste it
She's that kind of girl
And she's knocking
Knocking down my front door
She could rock your world
Oh
She could take you down
Like never before
She knows, she toys
We're girls
In another life
Or maybe on another planet
We were loving life
We were lavender lovers
Yeah
She's that kind of girl
And she's knocking
Banging down my front door
She could rock your world
Oh
She could shake you down
Like never before
She knows, she toys
We're girls, oh boy
And she keeps coming back
And she keeps coming back for more
And she keeps calling me
And she keeps calling me for more
And she keeps coming back
And she keeps coming back for more
And Sappho's calling me
And Sappho screams to me
To come on
Come on, baby
Yeah
And she's knocking
Knocking down my front door
She could rock you
Oh
Shake it, shake, shake
Shake it some more
She's that kind of girl
Oh
And she's knocking
Kicking down my front door
She could
Oh
She could shake you down
And beg you for more
She knows, she toys
We're girls
Oh yeah
She knows, she toys
We're girls, oh boy
She knows, she toys
We're girls, oh boy
She knows, she toys
We're girls, oh boy
She knows, she toys
We're girls, oh boy
We're girls, we're girls
We're girls, we're girls
We're girls, we're girls
We're girls, we're girls.
The first verse of Jane Child's song "Mona Lisa Smiles" highlights the singer's proficiency in two languages, perhaps signifying her ability to communicate widely and connect with different kinds of people. The line "She's got legs for miles, she could make it fun" suggests the seductive power of a woman who can use her physical attractiveness to toy with another's emotions. The reference to "Moulabunda" is unclear, but it may be a reference to a seductive nature goddess or a potential lover. The lyrics "she wants everything I got, she says she can almost taste it" hint at the intensity of the attraction between the two individuals.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the irresistible nature of the mysterious woman, who keeps coming back for more and knocking down the singer's metaphorical front door. The line "she could rock your world, oh, she could take you down like never before" implies that the woman is capable of profound emotional connection as well as possible danger.
The final verse of the song suggests that the singer and the woman in question may have had a past romantic relationship, and contains references to a previous life or a different planet. The repeated refrain of "we're girls, oh boy" may be interpreted as a nod to the fluid and varied nature of gender identity, and the way in which individuals can identify in different ways at different times in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa smiles
The woman being sung about has a mysterious and captivating smile, like the Mona Lisa painting.
Yes, I'm fluent in both tongues
The singer is comfortable in both sexual and romantic contexts.
She's got legs for miles
Her legs are very long and attractive.
She could make it fun
The woman has a fun and playful personality that makes her exciting to be around.
She knows, she toys
The woman knows how to manipulate and tease people.
It shows, oh boy
Her manipulative tendencies are obvious to anyone interacting with her.
Moulabunda, she says
The woman speaks in a flirtatious and exotic manner.
Will I try a little harder
The woman challenges the singer to do more to impress her.
She wants everything I got
The woman is greedy and wants to extract everything she can from the singer.
She says she can almost taste it
The woman is tantalized by what the singer has to offer and wants it badly.
She's that kind of girl
The woman is a certain type of person with a particular set of qualities and characteristics.
And she's knocking
The woman is aggressively pursuing the singer.
Knocking down my front door
The woman is metaphorically trying to force her way into the singer's life.
She could rock your world
If you were with the woman, she could change your life completely.
She could take you down
The woman has the ability to completely overpower someone.
Like never before
The experience of being with the woman would be completely unique and unparalleled.
In another life
In a different time and place.
Or maybe on another planet
In a hypothetical reality that is vastly different from our own.
We were loving life
In that alternate reality, the singer and the woman were enjoying their existence.
We were lavender lovers
The two were romantically involved in that other reality, possibly in a same-sex context.
And she keeps coming back
The woman is persistent and does not give up easily.
And she keeps coming back for more
The woman wants more and more from the singer.
And she keeps calling me
The woman is actively reaching out to the singer.
And she keeps calling me for more
The woman wants more from the singer.
And Sappho's calling me
The spirit of Sappho, the Greek poet known for her romantic and sensual verses, is calling out to the singer.
And Sappho screams to me
The spirit of Sappho has a strong and forceful voice that is calling out to the singer.
To come on
The spirit of Sappho is urging the singer to engage with the woman.
Come on, baby
Sappho's encouragement is intimate and affectionate.
Kicking down my front door
The woman's aggressive pursuit of the singer is becoming violent and forceful.
She could shake you down
The woman can intimidate and control someone through fear or force.
And beg you for more
The woman is desperate for more from the singer.
We're girls
Both the woman being sung about and the singer are female.
Oh yeah
The singer is affirming or agreeing with something previously mentioned.
Contributed by Taylor J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.