Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rap… Read Full Bio ↴Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965 in Melbourne, Florida, United States. The group signed to ESP Disk and recorded One Nation Underground, a fairly successful release that was followed by the anti-war Balaklava (1968). In the next few years, Rapp often referred onstage, not quite seriously, to the group as "the house band for the SDS" (Students for a Democratic Society). They continued to release albums and to tour until the 1970s, but Rapp retired in 1973 and became a lawyer, practising in Florida. Tom Rapp died in 2018.

Nancy
Pearls Before Swine Lyrics

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It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone
Looking at the Late Late show through a semi-precious stone
Well, in the House of Honesty her father was on trial
And in the House of Mystery, there was no one at all, there was no one at all.

It seems so long ago, none of us were strong
Nancy wore green stockings, she slept with everyone
She never said she'd wait for us although she was alone

I think she fell in love for us in 1961, in 1961.

It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone
A 45 beside her head, an open telephone
We told her she was beautiful, we told her she was free
But none of us would meet her in the House of Mystery, the House of Mystery.

And now you look around you and you see her everywhere
Many theyuse her body and many comb her hair
And in the hollow of the night when you are cold and numb
You hear her talking freely then, she's happy that you've come, she's happy that you've come.

It seems so long ago, Nancy was so alone
Looking at the Late Late show ..

Overall Meaning

The song "Nancy" by the band Pearls Before Swine tells a story that is shrouded in mystery and sadness. The singer, Nancy, is introduced as a lonely figure looking at the Late Late Show through a semi-precious stone. We later learn that she lives in the House of Honesty where her father is on trial and in the House of Mystery where there is no one. As the verses unfold, we learn that Nancy was not always alone; she used to have friends who slept with her. However, they never promised to wait for her, and Nancy fell in love with them in 1961.

The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has been abandoned by everyone, even those who claimed to love her. The haunting refrain repeats the phrase "the House of Mystery" where no one is there for Nancy. The references to the 45 beside her head and the open telephone suggest that Nancy may have been a victim of violence or suicide. The final stanza suggests that Nancy's body has been used and her hair combed by many. But in the hollow of the night, she speaks freely to those who come to her, making one wonder if she has become a ghost or a spirit.

Line by Line Meaning

It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone
A reminiscence of the past where Nancy was a lonely person

Looking at the Late Late show through a semi-precious stone
Nancy was trying to find solace in watching a TV show through a semi-precious stone

Well, in the House of Honesty her father was on trial
Nancy's father facing a trial in a place of truth and honesty

And in the House of Mystery, there was no one at all, there was no one at all.
Nobody was there for Nancy in the place of mystery where she was seeking answers

It seems so long ago, none of us were strong
Recollection of the past when everyone was fragile in their strength

Nancy wore green stockings, she slept with everyone
Nancy was a promiscuous person and had sexual relationships with multiple partners

She never said she'd wait for us although she was alone
Nancy didn't express any desire to wait for anyone's company despite her loneliness

I think she fell in love for us in 1961, in 1961.
It's thought that Nancy developed affection for someone in 1961

A 45 beside her head, an open telephone
Nancy was a troubled soul with a gun and an open telephone next to her head

We told her she was beautiful, we told her she was free
Nancy was showered with compliments about her beauty and freedom

But none of us would meet her in the House of Mystery, the House of Mystery.
Nobody wanted to accompany Nancy in searching for answers in the place of mystery

And now you look around you and you see her everywhere
Nancy's memory lingers on and is reminiscent of everywhere in the present

Many they use her body and many comb her hair
Nancy's body is used by many and her hair is taken care of by others

And in the hollow of the night when you are cold and numb
A situation of feeling lost and helpless in the dead of the night

You hear her talking freely then, she's happy that you've come, she's happy that you've come.
Even though Nancy is dead, people still hear her voice and she's content that they've arrived

Contributed by Liam C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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