Mabel
Juliana Hatfield Three Lyrics
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I can't remember your name.
Where am I?
What was I gonna say?
What's the time?
What day is it today?
I feel fine, I'll probably be okay.
Hey... hey... hey ...
Hi, banana. Hi, spaghetti, hi.
Mommy's back, he's gonna tuck you in tonight.
Mommy's sorry, she gave you such a fright.
Mommy's home, he's gonna be all right.
Check out that lady X3
She's talking to herself.
Check out that lady X3
She's gonna go to hell.
Realize she's in a different place.
Realize her lack of social grace.
She can take the smile off his face.
He wants to take her somewhere she'll be safe.
Hey... hey... hey... hey...
Set the table dancin' on the table.
Clear her place because she is unable, Mabel.
He looks at her and he wonders where she is.
She smiles a little and she tells him she is his.
Check out that lady X3
They're taking her away
Check out that lady X3
The devil made her pay.
The lyrics of Juliana Hatfield's song "Mabel" evoke a sense of confusion, disorientation, and emotional instability. The singer seems to be suffering from amnesia or memory loss, as they can't remember their name or what they were going to say. However, despite their mental state, they express confidence that they will be okay. This could be interpreted as a manifestation of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The singer then shifts their attention to a lady who is talking to herself and seems to be socially awkward. They see the lady as someone who is out of place and perhaps in danger.
As the song progresses, the singer addresses someone called Mabel. They seem to have a caring and nurturing attitude towards Mabel, as if they were a parent trying to calm a child. They assure Mabel that she'll be all right, and they seem to be worried about her well-being. However, despite their reassuring words, there is a sense of helplessness and despair in the way they describe Mabel's situation. The lyrics "She's gonna go to hell" and "The devil made her pay" suggest that Mabel has been a victim of some kind of abuse or mistreatment, and that she is being punished for something she doesn't deserve.
Overall, "Mabel" is a song that explores the themes of mental illness, social isolation, and domestic violence. It shows how people who are marginalized and vulnerable can become victims of their own circumstances, and how others may not understand or empathize with their struggles. The song's bleak and melancholic tone is contrasted with moments of tenderness and compassion, creating a complex and nuanced portrayal of human suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you?
The singer is disoriented and does not recognize the person addressing them.
I can't remember your name.
The singer is experiencing memory loss.
Where am I?
The singer is unsure of their location.
What was I gonna say?
The artist is having trouble remembering a thought or idea they had.
What's the time?
The artist is asking for the current time.
What day is it today?
The singer is asking for the current day of the week.
I feel fine, I'll probably be okay.
The singer is trying to reassure themselves that they are alright despite their confusion.
Hey... hey... hey ...
A repeated vocalization that does not convey a specific message.
Hi, banana. Hi, spaghetti, hi.
The artist is greeting inanimate objects or imaginary friends.
Mommy's back, he's gonna tuck you in tonight.
The artist is addressing a child and indicating that they will be cared for.
Mommy's sorry, she gave you such a fright.
The singer is apologizing for causing distress.
Mommy's home, he's gonna be all right.
The artist is reassuring the child that they are safe and will be okay.
Check out that lady X3
The singer is drawing attention to a woman in the vicinity.
She's talking to herself.
The woman being observed is speaking aloud to no one in particular.
She's gonna go to hell.
The singer is making a negative judgment about the woman's behavior.
Realize she's in a different place.
The artist recognizes that the woman may be experiencing a mental or emotional disconnect.
Realize her lack of social grace.
The artist is acknowledging that the woman may not be acting within the norms of social behavior.
She can take the smile off his face.
The woman's behavior is negatively impacting someone else's emotional state.
He wants to take her somewhere she'll be safe.
Another person present wants to remove the woman from the situation in order to protect her.
Set the table dancin' on the table.
The artist is describing a lively or chaotic scene.
Clear her place because she is unable, Mabel.
The artist is indicating that someone else must attend to a task or responsibility because the woman cannot.
He looks at her and he wonders where she is.
Another person present seems perplexed by the woman's behavior or state of mind.
She smiles a little and she tells him she is his.
The woman responds to the other person's gaze or confusion with affection and reassurance.
They're taking her away
The woman is being removed from the situation or location by others.
The devil made her pay.
The singer assigns blame or fault to a supernatural force or entity for the woman's situation.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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