Lydia the Tattooed Lady
Michael Feinstein Lyrics
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Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
She has eyes that folks adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the Queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus too
The Red, White and Blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia
She can give you a view of the world
In tattoo if you step up and tell her where
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
Or Washington crossing the Delaware
Oh! Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
When her muscles start relaxin'
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all
For two bits she will do a Mazurka in Jazz
With a view of Niag'ra that no artist has
And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz
You can learn a lot from Lydia.
La la la La la la La la la La la la
Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
And Godiva, but with her pajamas on
La la la La la la La la la La la la
Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trylon
Over on the west coast we have Treasure Islan'
Here's Nijinsky a doin' the Rhumba
Here's her Social Security numba
La la la La la la La la la La la la
Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
The lyrics to Michael Feinstein's "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" describe an intriguing and alluring character named Lydia, who is a tattooed lady. The song begins with the singer asking if the listener has met Lydia, and describes her eyes and torso as being adored by many people. Lydia is referred to as the "Encyclopedia" and the "Queen of tattoo," revealing that she has a vast array of tattoos covering her body. The vivid descriptions of the tattoos on her back - the Battle of Waterloo and the Wreck of the Hesperus, accompanied by the Red, White, and Blue - are a testament to the detailed and intricate work of Lydia's tattoos.
As the song continues, the singer suggests that Lydia can give the listener a view of the world through her tattoos. For a mere dime, Lydia can show the listener Kankakee, Paree, or even Washington crossing the Delaware. Additionally, she is described as having the ability to do a Mazurka in Jazz for two bits, while providing a unique view of Niagara that no artist has captured before.
The song continues with various allusions, including references to Buffalo Bill, Captain Spaulding, and Godiva. The final verse reveals that Lydia once swept an Admiral off his feet, emphasizing her power and allure.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" paint a picture of a fascinating and captivating woman who captures the fascination and intrigue of those around her.
Line by Line Meaning
Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Introducing Lydia, a well-known tattooed lady
Oh! Lydia, the tattooed lady
Lydia is famous for her tattoos
She has eyes that folks adore so
Lydia has beautiful eyes that people appreciate
And a torso even more so
Her torso is even more impressive than her eyes
Lydia, oh! Lydia, that "Encyclopedia"
Lydia is knowledgeable and worldly
Oh! Lydia, the Queen of tattoo
Lydia is the most famous tattooed woman
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Lydia has a tattoo of the famous battle scene
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus too
She has a tattoo of the tragic poem about a shipwreck
And proudly above the waves
Another tattoo on her back features the American flag
The Red, White and Blue
The tattoo is a patriotic symbol
You can learn a lot from Lydia
Lydia has traveled and has many interesting stories to share
She can give you a view of the world
Lydia can offer insights into different cultures
In tattoo if you step up and tell her where
Tell her what kind of tattoo you want to see and she'll show you
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
She charges a small fee to show you different tattoo designs
Or Washington crossing the Delaware
She may have a tattoo of this famous scene as well
When her muscles start relaxin'
Lydia entertains her audience with physical feats
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is one of the characters in her routine
Oh! Lydia, oh! Lydia, say have you met Lydia
Reiterating the introduction of Lydia
Oh! Lydia, the champ of them all
Lydia is the best in her profession
For two bits she will do a Mazurka in Jazz
Lydia performs dance routines for a small fee
With a view of Niag'ra that no artist has
She has a unique perspective of the Niagara Falls tattooed on her body
And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz
Another tattoo may depict the famous prison island
Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso
She includes other famous figures in her routine, such as Buffalo Bill
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
She references famous artists like Mendel and Picasso
Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
Another character in her act, referencing a popular adventure story
And Godiva, but with her pajamas on
A humorous twist on the story of Lady Godiva
Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trylon
A reference to the 1939 New York World's Fair
Over on the west coast we have Treasure Islan'
Another reference to a real-life location
Here's Nijinsky a doin' the Rhumba
Referencing the famous Russian ballet dancer
Here's her Social Security numba
A playful reference to personal identification number
She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet
Lydia has had many admirers, including a naval officer
The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat
Lydia's tattoos include images of ships that impressed the officer
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
The officer is now in charge of the fleet, thanks to Lydia's influence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind