Babylon
Michael Schulte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bought her a goldfish - she named it after me.
We look at old photographs of lovers come and gone
I ask her if it makes her sad she said son you've got so much to learn
Juliette
Love the life that you have kept
Juliette
Smiling on your dying bed
You've got a grace about you yet
Juliette
Smoking her last cigarette
3 is tea time, she puts on Patsy Cline
Cuts the crust off sandwiches and mentions how she don't mind dying
Tells stories about Pearl and Earl - Best friends that she once had
We do the dishes then she says it's time for bed
Juliette
Love the life that you have kept
Juliette
Smiling on your dying bed
Juliette
You've got a grace about you yet
Juliette
Smoking her last cigarette
We ate ice cream last night before she slept
No plans for breakfast except to read the note she left
Grey and white skies - That day was a blur for me
She made me promise not to cry, so here is a drink - I drink to thee
Juliette
Love the life that you have kept
Juliette
Smiling on your dying bed
Juliette
You've got a grace about you yet
Juliette
Smoking her last cigarette
Juliette
The song "Babylon" by Michael Schulte is about the relationship between the singer and an elderly woman named Juliette. The singer spends time with Juliette, listening to her stories and observing her daily routine, such as tea time at 3 PM and smoking her last cigarette before bed. The chorus of the song repeats the name "Juliette" and encourages her to love the life she has lived, even as she approaches the end of it. The lyrics also suggest that Juliette is a comforting presence for the singer, who is mourning her imminent passing.
The imagery in the song creates a sense of intimacy between the two characters, despite the age difference. The house plants and goldfish that Juliette keeps represent the life she has created for herself in her later years, and the photographs of past lovers suggest that she has experienced love and loss. The singer's willingness to spend time with Juliette and learn from her, despite the sadness of her impending death, emphasizes the importance of valuing human connections and cherishing the moments we have with others.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got house plants to keep her company
Despite living alone, Juliette surrounds herself with house plants for companionship.
Bought her a goldfish - she named it after me.
Juliette appreciates the gift and names her new pet after the singer, showing fondness towards him.
We look at old photographs of lovers come and gone
Juliette reminisces about past relationships by looking through old photos with the singer.
I ask her if it makes her sad she said son you've got so much to learn
When asked if looking at old photos makes her sad, Juliette responds with an insightful remark that the singer still has much to learn about love and life.
Juliette
Love the life that you have kept
The singer addresses Juliette and acknowledges her ability to love the life she's lived.
Juliette
Smiling on your dying bed
Juliette maintains a sense of contentment in her final moments, even on her death bed.
Juliette
You've got a grace about you yet
Even in the face of death, Juliette possesses a graceful demeanor.
Juliette
Smoking her last cigarette
Juliette peacefully smokes her last cigarette before passing away.
3 is tea time, she puts on Patsy Cline
Juliette enjoys her afternoon tea at 3pm while listening to the music of Patsy Cline.
Cuts the crust off sandwiches and mentions how she don't mind dying
Juliette prefers her sandwiches without crust and accepts her impending death with a sense of peace.
Tells stories about Pearl and Earl - Best friends that she once had
Juliette fondly remembers her best friends and shares stories about them.
We do the dishes then she says it's time for bed
After finishing the dishes together, Juliette tells the singer it's time for bed.
We ate ice cream last night before she slept
Juliette and the singer enjoyed ice cream together before she went to sleep.
No plans for breakfast except to read the note she left
Juliette leaves a note for the singer to read in the morning since she has no plans for breakfast.
Grey and white skies - That day was a blur for me
The singer reflects on the day of Juliette's passing and describes the dull, listless weather outside.
She made me promise not to cry, so here is a drink - I drink to thee
Juliette asked the singer not to cry, so instead he honors her memory with a drink.
Writer(s): Marcus Brosch, Jonas Lieder Shandel, Michael Schulte
Contributed by Penelope F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.