Where Do You Go to My Lovely
Nathan Carter Lyrics


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You talk like Marlene Dietrich
And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
Your clothes are all made by Balmain
And there′s diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes, there are
You live in a fancy apartment
Off the Boulevard St. Michel
Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
And a friend of Sacha Distel, yes, you do

But where do you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes, I do

I′ve seen all your qualifications
You got from the Sorbonne
And the painting you stole from Picasso
Your loveliness goes on and on, yes, it does
When you go on your summer vacation
You go to Juan-les-Pins
With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs

But where do you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Tell me the thoughts that surround you?
I want to look inside your head, yes, I do

I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly-born tags, they tried
So look into my face, Marie-Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
But I know you still bear the scar, deep inside, yes, you do

But where you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do

But where you go to, my lovely
When you′re alone in your bed
Won′t you tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nathan Carter's song Where Do You Go to My Lovely depict the luxurious and glamorous lifestyle of a woman who talks like Marlene Dietrich and dances like Zizi Jeanmaire. She lives in a fancy apartment in the Boulevard St. Michel and wears expensive clothes made by Balmain. Moreover, her hair is adorned with diamonds and pearls. She has all the qualifications and even stole a painting from Picasso. She goes on a summer vacation to Juan-les-Pins where she gets an even suntan on her back and legs, with her carefully designed topless swimsuit. However, the central question of the song is 'where do you go to, my lovely when you're alone in your bed?' The singer wants to know about the thoughts that surround her and desires to look inside her head.


The song portrays the deep loneliness and discontentment that lie beneath a lavish lifestyle, which may appear perfect to the outside world. The singer recalls the memory of the back streets of Naples, where two children were begging in rags, both burning with the ambition to shake off their lowly-born tags. In the end, the singer asks Marie-Claire to look into his face, remember her true self, and forget him forever. But he knows that she still bears the scar deep within.


Overall, the song conveys a message of the loneliness and emptiness that can exist beneath a facade of wealth and luxury, and the desire to connect with others on a deeper level.


Line by Line Meaning

You talk like Marlene Dietrich
Your speech patterns are similar to those of Marlene Dietrich


And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
Your dance style resembles that of Zizi Jeanmaire


Your clothes are all made by Balmain
All of your clothes are made by Balmain


And there's diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes, there are
You adorn your hair with both diamonds and pearls


You live in a fancy apartment
You reside in an opulent apartment


Off the Boulevard St. Michel
Your apartment is located off the Boulevard St. Michel


Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
You have your collection of Rolling Stones records stored in your apartment


And a friend of Sacha Distel, yes, you do
You are acquainted with Sacha Distel


But where do you go to, my lovely
I wonder where you go to, my dear


When you're alone in your bed?
When you are by yourself, in the comfort of your bed


Tell me the thoughts that surround you
Please do share your innermost thoughts with me


I want to look inside your head, yes, I do
I'm curious and wish to explore your mind


I've seen all your qualifications
I am familiar with all of your credentials


You got from the Sorbonne
You obtained your education from Sorbonne University


And the painting you stole from Picasso
The painting that you took from Picasso's collection


Your loveliness goes on and on, yes, it does
Your beauty is never-ending


When you go on your summer vacation
When you embark on your summer trip


You go to Juan-les-Pins
You visit Juan-les-Pins on your vacation


With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You pack your meticulously planned topless swimsuit


You get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs
You attain an evenly tanned skin on your back and legs


I remember the back streets of Naples
I recall the alleyways of Naples


Two children begging in rags
I saw two children, dressed in rags, begging


Both touched with a burning ambition
Both had an unrelenting drive to achieve success


To shake off their lowly-born tags, they tried
They attempted to shed their humble origins


So look into my face, Marie-Claire
Marie-Claire, look into my eyes


And remember just who you are
Recall your true self


Then go and forget me forever
Afterwards, move on and never think of me again


But I know you still bear the scar, deep inside, yes you do
But deep down, I am aware that you still carry the emotional wound


Won't you tell me the thoughts that surround you
Would you kindly disclose the thoughts occupying your mind




Writer(s): Peter Sarstedt

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