Isabella
Laurie Geltman Lyrics
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What can we tell ya
But they're gone
Maybe hiding in a rich man's attic
Or floating round the big black market
I don't know
I remember looking down
(Y-e-a-h)
Thought that I'd be married there
Or maybe even buried there
I don't know
(Ye-ah-heh!)
Rembrandt's eyes were on their backs
Now all he sees are drapes and plaques
I got a feeling they're not coming back
Oh no!
Yeah-hehe Na-na-no-no
Ooh ooh yeah na na na
Na Na
Oh Isabella
What can we tell ya?
But they're gone
Y-e-a-h
Maybe hiding in a rich man's attic
Or floating round the big black market
I don't know
(Ye-ah-heh!)
Rembrandt's eyes were on their backs
Now all he sees are drapes and plaques (yeah)
I got a feeling they're not coming back
Oh no-ooo
Oh no-a-oh
Yeah-Yeah
The song "Isabella" by Laurie Geltman is a mix of regret, nostalgia and uncertainty. The singer is unable to come to terms with the loss of something important - possibly a group of people or a specific moment in time. She doesn't know where these things went or if they will ever return. The lyrics suggest that these things could be hiding in plain sight, in attics or in black markets. The song creates a sense of longing and a desire to witness something that has been lost again.
The theme of loss in the song is accentuated by the reference to Rembrandt's eyes being on "their backs". This line refers to his painting "The Night Watch" which depicts a group of soldiers on a mission. The song implies that just as the soldiers in the painting have disappeared, so too have the singer's lost things. The line "Thought that I'd be married there, or maybe even buried there" highlights the sense of finality that the loss represents. The singer had imagined important moments occurring in the place that is now lost forever.
In conclusion, "Isabella" by Laurie Geltman is a emotive song about the loss of something important in life, which is something many people can relate to. The lyrics and references evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia. The song leaves the listener with a feeling of uncertainty about whether these lost things will ever be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Isabella
The singer is addressing someone named Isabella
What can we tell ya
The singer is unsure of what to say to Isabella
But they're gone
Someone or something that was present before is now gone
Maybe hiding in a rich man's attic
The possibility exists that the missing thing is hidden in a wealthy person's storage space
Or floating round the big black market
The missing thing might be in circulation in a large illegal market
I don't know
The singer is uncertain of the whereabouts of the missing item
I remember looking down
The singer recalls standing in a high location and viewing something from above
On the shapes of the mosaic ground below
The artist was observing a tiled floor from an elevated position
(Y-e-a-h)
An interjection expressing agreement or emphasis
Thought that I'd be married there
The artist once assumed that they would get married in that place
Or maybe even buried there
The singer also entertained the thought of being buried in that location
I don't know
However, the artist is uncertain of these assumptions
(Ye-ah-heh!)
Another interjection expressing agreement or emphasis
Rembrandt's eyes were on their backs
The famous artist Rembrandt was keeping an eye on the same missing thing
Now all he sees are drapes and plaques
But now, the only things Rembrandt can see are curtains and decorative plates
I got a feeling they're not coming back
The artist believes that whatever is missing is unlikely to be returned
Oh no!
An interjection expressing concern or apprehension
Yeah-hehe Na-na-no-no
A nonsensical series of sounds, potentially meant to signify distress or confusion
Ooh ooh yeah na na na
Another nonsensical repeating phrase, possibly expressing frustration or anxiety
Na Na
Yet another repetitive series of sounds
Oh Isabella
The artist returns to addressing Isabella
What can we tell ya?
The artist reiterates their uncertainty about how to help Isabella
Y-e-a-h
Once more, an interjection used for emphasis
Maybe hiding in a rich man's attic
The same possibilities for where the missing thing might be are listed again
Or floating round the big black market
The singer is still guessing where the lost thing could be found
I don't know
The singer continues to admit their uncertainty
(Ye-ah-heh!)
Another interjection of emphasis
Rembrandt's eyes were on their backs
The same observation about the famous painter is repeated
Now all he sees are drapes and plaques (yeah)
This line repeats exactly the same as before
I got a feeling they're not coming back
The same belief is expressed for the third time
Oh no-ooo
Once more, a sound used to signal concern
Oh no-a-oh
Another vocalization of distress
Yeah-Yeah
A final interjection of emphasis or agreement
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.