The Model
Ofln - Belle & Sebastian Lyrics
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Because you made me think about the times
You turn the picture on to me and I'll turn over
The vision was a masterpiece of comic timing
But you wouldn't laugh at all
And I wonder what the boy was thinking
The picture was an old collage of something classical
Because without a doubt he'd given up the fight
The ghost of somebody at his side
I will confess to you
Because I didn't think about the message
As I walked down the alleyway it was a Sunday
And all my friends deserted me because you painted me
As the fraud I really was
And if you think you see with just your eyes you're mad
'Cause Lisa learned a lot from putting on a blindfold
When she knew she had been bad
She met another blind kid at a fancy dress
It was the best sex she ever had
I'll send a dress to you
Because it's needing badly taken in
But I was so embarrassed when I missed your party
It was me that paid for it eventually
Because you know how much I wanted
To meet your friend the star of stage and local press
The dream of all the bowlie boys that hang around here
And I'm no different from the rest
I'm not too proud to say that I'm okay with
The girl next door who's famous for showing her breasts
You're not impressed by me
But it's a funny way for you to tell me
A whisper in a choir stall
The man was talking about you simultaneously
Frankly, I let my heavy eyelids flutter
Because I have been sleeping badly lately
I know you were historical from all the books I've read
But I thought you could be bluffing
And with this chance I've missed I feel remiss
It's days and months before I see you again
The song The Model by Belle & Sebastian is a melancholic reflection on missed opportunities and the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics speak of the singer's unrequited affection for someone who appears to be a former model. The singer is confessing to this person, acknowledging the times when this person made them think and appreciate art. The person in the song turns the picture on to the singer, and they will turn over, referring to their desire to be submissive to this person.
However, despite the singer's fondness towards this person, they realize they missed out on a chance to meet someone this person knows who is famous for showing her breasts. The song suggests that the singer is not too proud to appreciate this other person's fame. It ends with the singer lamenting the missed opportunity, realizing that it will be days and months before seeing this person again.
The lyrics of the song encapsulate the theme of missed chances, where the singer is experiencing emotional longing that is not reciprocated. The song does not have an upbeat tone, using low-level sad music to convey the emotions of the lyrics. Despite the feeling of sadness and despair, the singer continues to show how much they treasure the person they are singing about. They confess their feelings, even when they are embarrassed about their missed encounters.
Line by Line Meaning
I will confess to you
I am going to reveal something personal to you
Because you made me think about the times
I am doing this because of the thoughts you provoked in me
You turn the picture on to me and I'll turn over
You share something with me and I'll reciprocate
The vision was a masterpiece of comic timing
What you shared with me was perfectly timed and amusing
But you wouldn't laugh at all
You didn't find it amusing like I did
And I wonder what the boy was thinking
I am curious about what you were thinking
The picture was an old collage of something classical
The image you shared was an old composition of classical origin
The model with a tragic air
The model in the picture had a tragic demeanor
Because without a doubt he'd given up the fight
The model had clearly lost the battle and given up
The ghost of somebody at his side
The image of his deceased acquaintance loomed over him
I will confess to you
I have another confession to make
Because I didn't think about the message
I am admitting that I didn't process the message properly
As I walked down the alleyway it was a Sunday
I am describing a particular day of the week, while sharing my experience
And all my friends deserted me because you painted me
My friends abandoned me when they found out unfavorable things about me from you
As the fraud I really was
I now recognize myself as a complete fraud
And if you think you see with just your eyes you're mad
You are crazy if you think you only perceive things through mere sight
'Cause Lisa learned a lot from putting on a blindfold
Lisa gained a deeper understanding by blindfolding herself
When she knew she had been bad
She had learned from her mistakes
She met another blind kid at a fancy dress
She met someone in a situation where they were both blindfolded
It was the best sex she ever had
She had a great experience with this person
I'll send a dress to you
I'll make an offer to send you a dress
Because it's needing badly taken in
My offering is due to the dress being too large for me
But I was so embarrassed when I missed your party
I was mortified that I was unable to attend your party
It was me that paid for it eventually
I suffered the consequences for not attending your party
Because you know how much I wanted
You are aware of the strong desire I had
To meet your friend the star of stage and local press
I had an eagerness to meet your friend who is a local celebrity
The dream of all the bowlie boys that hang around here
Meeting this person was a dream for me just like for other boys in our area
And I'm no different from the rest
I am the same as other boys who aspire to meet this person
I'm not too proud to say that I'm okay with
I have no qualms about asserting that I'm fine with
The girl next door who's famous for showing her breasts
I don't have any issue admiring a local girl for her physical features
You're not impressed by me
I have failed to leave a positive impression on you
But it's a funny way for you to tell me
However, I find your method of avoiding me amusing
A whisper in a choir stall
I heard something in a quiet and intimate setting
The man was talking about you simultaneously
The man was speaking about you in the same breath
Frankly, I let my heavy eyelids flutter
To be candid, I allowed myself to feel sleepy
Because I have been sleeping badly lately
I have been dealing with insomnia lately
I know you were historical from all the books I've read
I know you to be significant from all the literature I have studied
But I thought you could be bluffing
However, I had my doubts that you might be exaggerating
And with this chance I've missed I feel remiss
I regret that I have missed this opportunity
It's days and months before I see you again
I won't see you for many days and months
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAMPBE, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind