Mona Lisa
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
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You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
In Marvin Gaye's song "Mona Lisa," he is referring to the infamous painting by Leonardo da Vinci of the same name. The painting's subject, a woman with a mysterious smile, has captivated people for centuries. In the first verse, Gaye asks if the reason people have named her "Mona Lisa" is because of her resemblance to the lady in the painting. He also mentions the "strangeness" in her smile and questions whether it's due to loneliness.
In the chorus, Gaye asks whether she is smiling to entice a lover or if it's a way to conceal the pain of a broken heart. He notes that many people have come to her with dreams but they remain unfulfilled, implying that she is not approachable or easily accessible. Gaye then asks whether she is warm and real, or merely a cold and lonely work of art.
Overall, the song is an exploration of the enigmatic figure of Mona Lisa and what she represents. It speaks to the idea that people can be mysterious and difficult to understand, even if they are famous or seemingly perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you
The singer acknowledges the painting and acknowledges that it has been named Mona Lisa by men.
You're so like the lady with the mystic smile
The singer notes the similarity between the painting and a mysterious woman with a captivating smile.
Is it only 'cause you're lonely they have blamed you
The singer ponders if the painting's strangeness is because it looks lonely, and others have attributed its peculiar appearance to that.
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile?
The artist questions if the painting's strange smile is due to its perceived loneliness, and if that is what people are referring to.
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa
The artist wonders if the Mona Lisa painting's smile is an attempt to lure in a lover.
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart?
The singer contemplates if the painting's enigmatic smile is to conceal a heartbreak.
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
The singer claims that many people have come to the painting with hopes and aspirations.
They just lie there and they die there
The artist laments that these dreams often go unfulfilled and that the painting only serves as a place for them to go and die.
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa
The artist questions if the painting has an actual warmth and a tangibility to it, or if it just exists as a cold piece of art.
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art?
The artist ponders whether the painting is simply a beautiful, lonely piece of art or if there is something more to it.
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
The singer addresses the painting again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind