Miranda
Ochs Phil Lyrics
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Would you like someone to solve them,
Would you like someone to share in your misery?
Now, I don't know the answer, but I know a flamenco dancer
Who will dance for you if you will dance for me
[Chorus:]
Her name's Miranda
And she doesn't claim to understand
She bakes brownies for the boys in the band.
Early Sunday morning
When the sermon lines are forming
And Saturday night is the memories that it gave.
She's busy in the pantry, far away from Elmer Gantry
Who is busy baking souls that he may save.
Everybody's soul but Miranda (Chorus)
The dice of death are calling
While the truck of time is falling
By the thumb stuck out on the highway of the years.
The tollgate at the turnpike is ignored by those who hitch-hike
And the Howard Johnson food is made of fear
But not Miranda (Chorus)
The sun burnt skin is peeling
On the doctors who are healing
And the license plates are laughing on the car.
The pain is so exciting
And everyone's inviting
You to look upon their operation scars.
But not Miranda
(Chorus)
T
he condiments are clashing
While commercial planes are crashing
And the music of the evening is so sweet
Now fully in agreement
Oh, their feet have found the cement
And they all believe the signs are on the street
Her name's Miranda
(Chorus)
In the bar we're gin and scotching
While the FBI is watching
They are tape recording every other word
The bartender is bleeding
Pardon me, I just was leaving
as another clever voice repeats absurd
But not Miranda
(Chorus)
(repeat first verse)
The song "Miranda" by Ochs Phil is a song about a flamenco dancer named Miranda who is admirable for her free spirit and independence. The song begins by asking the listener if they have any problems that they would like someone to help solve, and then introduces the character of Miranda, who is able to distract the listener from their troubles with her flamenco dancing. The chorus tells us that Miranda is a Rudolph Valentino fan who can bake brownies for the boys in the band.
The song then goes on to talk about the general chaos of life, with Sunday mornings spent at church and Saturday nights spent partying. Miranda, however, is out of the fray, baking in her pantry far away from Elmer Gantry who is busy saving souls. As the song progresses, we hear about the pains of life, the danger of death, and the chaos of the world, but Miranda seems unbothered by it all. The song ends with a scene in a bar, with the FBI listening in and the bartender bleeding, but Miranda is not present.
The song seems to be about finding solace in the midst of chaos, a call to be more like Miranda and carve out a space for oneself away from the busyness of the world. It also seems to be a celebration of free spirits who are unburdened by the problems of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you have a problem,
Asking if the listener has an issue
Would you like someone to solve them,
Offering to assist in solving the listener's problem
Would you like someone to share in your misery?
Asking if the listener wants someone to empathize with them
Now, I don't know the answer, but I know a flamenco dancer
The artist doesn't know how to help, but has an alternative suggestion
Who will dance for you if you will dance for me
The artist proposes a trade - dancing in exchange for the listener's help
Her name's Miranda
Introducing the subject of the song
She's a Rudolph Valentino fan
Describing one of Miranda's interests
And she doesn't claim to understand
Miranda is not arrogant about her knowledge
She bakes brownies for the boys in the band.
Another one of Miranda's traits - baking snacks for others
Early Sunday morning
Setting the scene with a time frame
When the sermon lines are forming
Description of the start of church service
And Saturday night is the memories that it gave.
Contrasting the peaceful morning with the wild night before
She's busy in the pantry, far away from Elmer Gantry
Miranda is distancing herself from the phony preacher Elmer Gantry
Who is busy baking souls that he may save.
Portraying Elmer Gantry as manipulating people's souls
Everybody's soul but Miranda
Everyone else's soul is at risk, except Miranda's
The dice of death are calling
Death is imminent
While the truck of time is falling
Time is fleeting and slipping away
By the thumb stuck out on the highway of the years.
People are hitchhiking through the course of their lives
The tollgate at the turnpike is ignored by those who hitch-hike
People are not taking the necessary precautions in life
And the Howard Johnson food is made of fear
Even something as simple as restaurant food scares people
But not Miranda
Despite everything else, Miranda is not afraid
The sun burnt skin is peeling
A graphic illustration of doctors with sunburns
On the doctors who are healing
Irony of doctors getting injured
And the license plates are laughing on the car.
Personification of license plates, again using irony
The pain is so exciting
People find excitement or thrill in pain
And everyone's inviting
Everyone is offering their own brand of pain for others to enjoy
You to look upon their operation scars.
The singer doesn't shy away from displaying their scars
But not Miranda
Miranda does not want to inflict pain on herself or others
The condiments are clashing
A chaotic scene in the kitchen
While commercial planes are crashing
A contrasting image of disaster on a grand scale
And the music of the evening is so sweet
The music seems out of place, but is still pleasant to hear
Now fully in agreement
The artist is now in accord with the scene around them
Oh, their feet have found the cement
People are grounded with their feet firmly on the ground
And they all believe the signs are on the street
People read too much into things
Her name's Miranda
Repeating that Miranda is the subject of the song
(Chorus)
The repeating refrain of the song
In the bar we're gin and scotching
Painting a new setting for the story
While the FBI is watching
People are being watched by a higher power
They are tape recording every other word
Their conversation is being closely monitored
The bartender is bleeding
A violent incident occurring at the bar
Pardon me, I just was leaving
The artist is scared and wants to leave
As another clever voice repeats absurd
The clever speaker's words are not registering with the other patrons
But not Miranda
Miranda is not a part of this story
(Chorus)
The final repetition of the chorus
(repeat first verse)
Starting the song again to repeat its message
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind