Suburbia
Nicole Vaughn Lyrics
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Suit and tie 6 pm meet the fam' at the dinner table
A white picket fence and H.O.A. to make sure things are equal
Aren't we all happy in suburbia?
A big wide fleet of SUVs are coming down the street
Drop the kids off at school head to the gym while her mans at work
Aren't we all happy in suburbia?
Everything looks perfect on the outside
Bigger is better and always best
And nothing could ever go wrong here
Can't you see they're happy in
The wives are happy in
The kids and husbands are happy in
Even the dogs are happy in Suburbia
The lyrics to Nicole Vaughn's song "Suburbia" are a commentary on life in suburban America, particularly the pressure to keep up appearances and conform to societal expectations. The first verse describes the typical suburban family, with their manicured lawns, designer clothing, and white picket fence. The Homeowners Association (H.O.A.) is mentioned as a symbol of the need to maintain uniformity and equality in the community. The chorus then asks the question, "Aren't we all happy in suburbia?", implying that this perfect exterior is just an illusion.
The second verse goes into more detail about the daily routines of suburban life. The fleet of SUVs suggests a community of people who value material possessions and status symbols. The moms drop off their kids at school and then head to the gym, while the dads are at work making money. As long as everyone is fulfilling their prescribed roles and looking good doing it, the community appears happy. The bridge of the song emphasizes this illusion of happiness, with the repeated refrain of "Can't you see they're happy in".
Overall, the lyrics of "Suburbia" paint a picture of a society that values conformity and materialism over authenticity and personal fulfillment. The pressure to maintain a certain image can be suffocating, leading many to wonder if anyone in suburbia is truly happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Manicured hands owners of manicured lawns and designer labels
People in suburbia compete to have the best appearance, whether it is their clothing, house or garden
Suit and tie 6 pm meet the fam' at the dinner table
Suburban families have a traditional routine of dinner together at 6 pm, often dressed up nicely
A white picket fence and H.O.A. to make sure things are equal
There are strict rules in suburbia, enforced by the Home Owners Association, to ensure that everyone conforms to the same standards
Aren't we all happy in suburbia?
The artist is questioning whether everyone in suburbia is truly happy or if they are just pretending to be
A big wide fleet of SUVs are coming down the street
Suburban families often have multiple cars, including large SUVs, to transport everyone and everything they need
Drop the kids off at school head to the gym while her mans at work
Suburban mothers have a busy schedule, often taking care of the children and exercising while their husbands are at work
As long as she looks pretty as long as he's making money everyone is smiling
Appearances and wealth are highly valued in suburbia, and people are expected to conform to these standards in order to be accepted by their peers
Everything looks perfect on the outside
Suburban families often prioritize appearances over actual happiness, leading to a superficial lifestyle
Bigger is better and always best
Suburban families often strive to have the biggest and best of everything, leading to a culture of materialism and excess
And nothing could ever go wrong here
There is a sense of denial or ignorance in suburbia, where people refuse to acknowledge any problems or issues that may arise in their community
Can't you see they're happy in
The singer is being sarcastic, as they do not believe that everyone in suburbia is truly happy
The wives are happy in
The artist again questions whether the women in suburbia are actually happy or if they are just conforming to societal expectations
The kids and husbands are happy in
The singer continues to question whether the men and children in suburbia are genuinely happy or just pretending to be
Even the dogs are happy in Suburbia
The singer is poking fun at the idea that even the pets in suburbia are supposed to be happy and perfect
Contributed by Hudson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.