People say she's lonely
Others say she's wild
Friends say she's moving on
Some say she's mine
Doesn't pay to be down and out
For too long a while
'Cause Hindley street only feels like heaven
For a little while

You drove south to Adelaide
Found feet on the passion parade
Country girl
I never would have stopped you babe
What's new to love if people don't change
Country girl
Runaway
Chasing cheap replacements
Swapping gin for vodka
While neon bars sparkle
In black leather brogues

In the those sugary few hours
You forget everything
And you know it don't fix nothing
But you just wanna get high

You drove south to Adelaide
Found feet on the passion parade
Country girl
I never would have stopped you babe
What's new to love if people don't change
Country girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kaurna Cronin's "Passion Parade" convey a sense of longing and dissatisfaction with life, particularly with regard to the titular character of the "country girl" who has presumably left her rural roots behind to find something more fulfilling in the city. There is a sense of conflicting opinions and uncertainty about her character - some say she's "lonely," others say she's "wild." It seems that the singer may have had a romantic interest in her at one point, as he says "Some say she's mine," but he also recognizes that it's not healthy to dwell on negative emotions for too long ("Doesn't pay to be down and out / For too long a while").

The second verse paints a vivid picture of the city's seedy underbelly, with references to "neon bars," "cheap replacements," and swapping "gin for vodka." The country girl seems to have gotten caught up in this lifestyle, perhaps as a way of escaping or rebelling against her past. The singer acknowledges that it's ultimately self-destructive and doesn't solve anything, but at the same time he seems to empathize with the desire to "just wanna get high."

Overall, "Passion Parade" is a poignant reflection on the search for meaning and fulfillment in life, and the ways in which people try to escape or cope with their problems. The country girl represents a universal desire for something more than what one currently has, but also the pitfalls and consequences that can arise from seeking that fulfillment in the wrong places.

Line by Line Meaning

People say she's lonely
There are those who believe she is alone

Others say she's wild
Some think she is untamed

Friends say she's moving on
Her acquaintances claim she is progressing in life

Some say she's mine
Certain people think of her as being closely attached to someone

Doesn't pay to be down and out
It is not advantageous to linger in a state of sadness and poverty

For too long a while
Especially for an extended period of time

'Cause Hindley street only feels like heaven
This is because Hindley street provides temporary happiness

For a little while
But happiness derived from Hindley street does not last

You drove south to Adelaide
She traveled to Adelaide by car

Found feet on the passion parade
She discovered new experiences in Adelaide’s vibrant culture

Country girl
She comes from the countryside

I never would have stopped you babe
I would not have prevented her from leaving the countryside

What's new to love if people don't change
In life, people experience new love when they themselves change

Runaway
She fled her old life

Chasing cheap replacements
She is searching for quick and easy happiness

Swapping gin for vodka
She is exchanging one vice for another

While neon bars sparkle
Her surroundings are nightclubs filled with bright lights

In black leather brogues
She is dressed in black leather shoes with decorative perforations

In those sugary few hours
During those sweet moments

You forget everything
She moves past her problems momentarily

And you know it don't fix nothing
She acknowledges that drinking does not solve her issues

But you just wanna get high
Nonetheless, she pursues the quick happiness of inebriation

Country girl
Once again, she is a girl from the countryside

Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sentric Music
Written by: David James Resce, Kaurna Cronin, Kiah Lindsay Gossner, Thomas Michael Kneebone

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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