Pledge Pin
Plant Robert Lyrics
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Hearts in tow; it's just a game; she's only having fun
She laughs and turns away surprised; she mocks it all the same
Tonight's the loss; tomorrow's gain and in the end it's so
Stand in line, 'cause one by one they march in time
In the wings I stand and watch these foolish things go by
Just preparing for the play; aloof, she moves
The memory dance she executes; her role, oh
As the cavalcade begins to thin, do you stop and look around?
Free to choose but not to win, you're just too late
Your show is at an end; now you're the victim of your game
Through your fingers watch them slip
Familiar rules just hit and miss for the one who never shows
In Robert Plant's song "Pledge Pin," the lyrics describe a woman who is playing a game with the hearts of her suitors. She revels in the attention and enjoys watching them fail as they compete for her affection. The singer takes a step back from the situation, observing the foolishness of the characters involved. He recognizes the duplicity of the woman's actions, but also acknowledges the self-sabotage of those who participate in her game. As the song progresses, the scene changes, and the focus shifts to those who missed their chance to join in the game. They are left alone and unnoticed, having lost their opportunity to win the affection of the woman who was once the center of attention.
Overall, "Pledge Pin" seems to be a commentary on the competitive nature of romantic relationships and the insidiousness of playing games with others' emotions. The imagery of a "pledge pin" suggests a fraternity or sorority ritual, hinting at the idea of exclusivity and group dynamics at play in the dating scene. The use of the phrase "familiar rules just hit and miss" suggests that the woman's actions are not unique, but rather a familiar pattern that has been repeated countless times before. In the end, it seems that the only way to "win" the game is not to play at all.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch them go, 'cause one be one they rise to fall
People are always rising and falling, succeeding and failing, one after another.
Hearts in tow; it's just a game; she's only having fun
The person being sung about is not taking the game too seriously and is enjoying it.
She laughs and turns away surprised; she mocks it all the same
The person being sung about is amused by the game and mocks it despite being surprised.
Tonight's the loss; tomorrow's gain and in the end it's so
Losing today may lead to winning tomorrow, but in the end it doesn't matter.
Stand in line, 'cause one by one they march in time
People follow each other in a line and in step to achieve their goals.
In the wings I stand and watch these foolish things go by
The person singing is standing in the wings and watching others foolishly play the game.
Just preparing for the play; aloof, she moves
The person being sung about is preparing for the game while being aloof and distant.
The confidante, with practice steps
The person being sung about is well-practiced and confident in their movements.
The memory dance she executes; her role, oh
The person being sung about knows the routine by memory and executes it flawlessly.
As the cavalcade begins to thin, do you stop and look around?
As people begin to drop out of the game, do you pause and take a look at the situation?
Free to choose but not to win, you're just too late
Although you may have freedom to choose, it doesn't matter because you're too late to win the game.
Your show is at an end; now you're the victim of your game
The person being sung about has lost the game and is now a victim of their own strategy or tactics.
Through your fingers watch them slip
Watch as your chances of winning slip away through your fingers.
Familiar rules just hit and miss for the one who never shows
The person who does not participate in the game will never learn the familiar rules and will ultimately fail.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT BLUNT, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind