Sophisticated Lady
Jeremy Cohen Lyrics
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Just because you're caught in your social maze
I think it's 'bout time that you realize
Your money and your power's got you mesmerized
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
Educated lady with your college degree
Amazes me why you just can't see
Learned everything from your books on the shelf
But no one ever taught you how to think for yourself
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea, sweet thing
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady take a lesson from me
I can help you be what you want to be
Together we'll see many brighter days
If it takes forever, gonna change your ways
Pretty lady, get back
Pretty lady, yea, sweet thing
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
In 'Sophisticated Lady', Jeremy Cohen is addressing a woman or women who are trying to change him but, as he sees it, are themselves caught up in their own shallow world of social status and wealth. He tells them to put aside their airs and graces and perhaps stop trying to control him and start to think for themselves. The phrase 'Sophisticated Lady' is usually used as a term of praise or admiration, evoking the image of an elegant, cultured woman. However, in this song, the phrase is used with a sense of irony, with Cohen implying that the women are in fact shallow and superficial.
The song's chorus, 'Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on / You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone' is a reminder that, despite their wealth and social position, these women are no different from anyone else when it comes to love and relationships. By encouraging them to dress down and relax, Cohen suggests that money and power are not the key to happiness or fulfillment. He also offers to help the women change their ways and find a more authentic, fulfilling path in life.
Overall, 'Sophisticated Lady' can be seen as a critique of a certain type of privileged, status-conscious woman who values wealth and social position over personal growth and happiness. By contrast, Cohen is championing authenticity and self-discovery, urging the women (and perhaps himself) to reject superficiality and embrace a more meaningful way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sophisticated lady tryin' to change my ways
A woman who thinks she's superior is trying to change how I live my life
Just because you're caught in your social maze
You're only like this because you're trapped in your own privileged world
I think it's 'bout time that you realize
It's time for you to acknowledge and accept the truth
Your money and your power's got you mesmerized
Your wealth and status have you hypnotized and unable to see past them
Educated lady with your college degree
A woman who has gone through university to get her degree
Amazes me why you just can't see
I'm surprised you're not able to grasp the situation
Learned everything from your books on the shelf
All your knowledge is book-smart and not based on experience
But no one ever taught you how to think for yourself
You were never taught to think critically or independently
Sophisticated lady take a lesson from me
Listen up, haughty woman, I have something to teach you
I can help you be what you want to be
I have the ability to assist you in becoming the person you wish to be
Together we'll see many brighter days
If we work together, we can experience many great times in the future
If it takes forever, gonna change your ways
I'm willing to put in the time and effort to help you change your behavior, no matter how long it takes
Sophisticated lady put your blue jeans on
Stop being so pretentious and act more like a regular person
You're anybody's baby when your mama's gone
Without the protection of your wealth and status, you're just like anyone else
Pretty lady, get back
Calm down and stop acting superior
Pretty lady, yea, sweet thing
You might be attractive, but that doesn't make you better than anyone else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Kennedy Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind