The Chicken Fat Waltz
Monkey Swallows the Universe Lyrics


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I time my day and plan my route for a glimpse of your shoes
But I do not see if you see me
I stare at the floor as you move through the door

But I won't suffer at all if I don't catch your eye
And there's no chance of this with all your fingers in pies

So you don't see anything, anything, honey
And I don't feel anything, anything, anything

And on my way each day I think of all the things I could say
To make you see how nice I can be
But then you come my way and I've nothing to say

But I won't suffer if I don't say anything bad
So I'll keep my mouth closed though it's making me sad

And you don't hear anything, anything, honey
And I don't feel anything, anything

But if I touched your hand would you understand
That it's me that you need, while I wait patiently?

But I won't suffer if I keep my hands to myself
Though you're slipping away while I'm nailed to the shelf

And you could have anyone, anyone, honey




You'll probably have everyone, everyone, honey
While I dream of only one, only one, only one

Overall Meaning

In Monkey Swallows the Universe's song "The Chicken Fat Waltz," the singer expresses unrequited love for someone who doesn't seem to notice them. The lyrics suggest that the singer tries to catch a glimpse of the person's shoes and thinks of things to say to them, but ultimately doesn't speak up. The singer acknowledges that they won't suffer if they don't catch the person's eye or say anything bad but remains saddened by the unrequited feeling.


The chorus repeats the phrase "And you don't see anything, anything, honey / And I don't feel anything, anything, anything" followed by "And you could have anyone, anyone, honey / You'll probably have everyone, everyone, honey / While I dream of only one, only one, only one." The repetition of these lines conveys the singer's sense of resignation and longing, and the contrasting images of the person having anyone and everyone while the singer dreams of only them highlights the distance between them.


Overall, "The Chicken Fat Waltz" is a bittersweet song about unrequited love and the pain of feeling unnoticed. The singer's longing is palpable but ultimately unfulfilled, creating a poignant sense of longing and sadness.


Line by Line Meaning

I time my day and plan my route for a glimpse of your shoes
I carefully decide when to be at certain places so I can see you, even if it's just a glimpse of your shoes.


But I do not see if you see me
I'm not sure if you even notice me.


I stare at the floor as you move through the door
I can't bear to look at you as you leave.


But I won't suffer at all if I don't catch your eye
It won't hurt me if you don't notice me at all.


And there's no chance of this with all your fingers in pies
You have too many interests and people in your life, so you probably won't notice me.


So you don't see anything, anything, honey
You don't notice me or anything I do or say.


And I don't feel anything, anything, anything
I don't get any response or acknowledgment from you, which makes me feel empty.


And on my way each day I think of all the things I could say
I'm constantly rehearsing things to say to you, hoping to get your attention.


To make you see how nice I can be
I want to show you how kind and good I am as a person.


But then you come my way and I've nothing to say
Despite all my rehearsing, I can't seem to say anything when you're actually near me.


But I won't suffer if I don't say anything bad
I won't be hurt if I don't say anything that might cause you to dislike me.


So I'll keep my mouth closed though it's making me sad
I'll stay quiet even though it hurts me to do so.


And you don't hear anything, anything, honey
You don't listen to anything I say, even if I'm trying to be kind or helpful.


And I don't feel anything, anything
I don't get any response or acknowledgment from you, which makes me feel empty.


But if I touched your hand would you understand
If I made a physical gesture towards you, would you finally realize how much I care for you?


That it's me that you need, while I wait patiently?
I'm waiting for you to realize that I'm the one you need in your life.


But I won't suffer if I keep my hands to myself
I won't be hurt if I don't try to make a physical gesture towards you.


Though you're slipping away while I'm nailed to the shelf
You're moving on with your life while I'm stuck here pining for you.


And you could have anyone, anyone, honey
You have plenty of options when it comes to love and relationships.


You'll probably have everyone, everyone, honey
With your charm and popularity, you could have anyone you want.


While I dream of only one, only one, only one
I'm stuck here dreaming of you and hoping you'll notice me.




Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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