Found a Penny
Kim Fox Lyrics
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An hour of makeup to go to the grocery store
The man down the street has caviar to eat
Are you gonna go knockin' on his door?
My brush with fame is now a picture I've framed for the kitchen
But now that it's over, am I still the main you adore?
The old song and dance is like a Harlequin romance
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
If blue sharkskin suits and old white snakeskin boots get the women
Then the only true love that I've known was a kiss from my mom
'Cause fashion's a tease, an air-polluted breeze
The 2 A.M. lightning you think is dawn
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
In my sleep, I hear a call
Down the stairway and through the hall
Anywhere that we can go
So harmonies can echo
Honey, you've not been the same since the rain swelled the gutters
And all of our treasure washed up on the New Jersey shore
The kids get to build sandcastles with emerald faucets
And gold-plated doors
While I sing
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
The lyrics to Kim Fox's song "Found a Penny" describe the struggle of finding happiness and contentment in a world that values material possessions above all else. The first verse is about a woman who has lost herself since pawning a tooth made of gold, indicating that she has traded something valuable for something temporary, like expensive makeup to go to the grocery store. The next verse talks about fame and how it can quickly come and go, leaving the question of whether or not the main character is still loved by her significant other. The line "The old song and dance is like a Harlequin romance, that won't pay the gas bill anymore" is a reference to the idea that following societal norms and expectations will not fulfill financial or emotional needs.
The chorus "Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been," repeats multiple times throughout the song, representing the idea that small moments of hope or luck can arise in unexpected places or events. The lyrics continue with a stanza about fashion and its fleeting nature, and the idea that true love, like that from a mother, is a constant that will always present itself. The final verse describes a flood washing away material possessions, leading to the realization that kids can find joy in playing with sand castles, made with objects of no practical value.
Overall, "Found a Penny" is a commentary on how people are often distracted by social ambitions and materialistic desires, and may ultimately forget what truly matters in life. The repetition of the penny, found in unusual and perhaps unsanitary places, is a metaphor for the idea that happiness can come from unexpected places and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey, you've not been the same since we pawned your gold molar
Your behavior has changed since we sold your valuable tooth
An hour of makeup to go to the grocery store
It takes you a long time to get ready even for simple errands
The man down the street has caviar to eat, are you gonna go knockin' on his door?
Just because someone else has something better than us, do we need to ask for it?
My brush with fame is now a picture I've framed for the kitchen, but now that it's over, am I still the main you adore?
Even though I once had a taste of celebrity, do you still love me now that things have calmed down?
The old song and dance is like a Harlequin romance that won't pay the gas bill anymore
The same old tricks and tactics won't bring in enough money to pay the bills
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
I found a penny and put it in my mouth, without knowing where it had been before
If blue sharkskin suits and old white snakeskin boots get the women, then the only true love that I've known was a kiss from my mom
If fashion and appearance are what attracts people, then the only real love I've felt is from my mother's affection
'Cause fashion's a tease, an air-polluted breeze, the 2 A.M. lightning you think is dawn
Fashion is deceptive, like a dirty gust of wind, or like confusing late-night lightning with the beginning of a new day
In my sleep, I hear a call, down the stairway and through the hall, anywhere that we can go, so harmonies can echo
I dream of a call to explore and travel, to find new locations where music and harmony can resonate
Honey, you've not been the same since the rain swelled the gutters, and all of our treasure washed up on the New Jersey shore
You've been different since the rain caused flooding and our belongings were lost or damaged on the coast of New Jersey
The kids get to build sandcastles with emerald faucets and gold-plated doors while I sing
The children enjoy playing with toy castles, while I continue to sing and work hard
Found a penny, hid it in my mouth, and I don't know where it's been
Once again, I found a penny and stored it in my mouth, with no knowledge of its history
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.