Olga's Birthday
Rose Polenzani Lyrics
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my life's been a terror in the marketplace
full of cussing and full of screaming
full of spitting in my face
my nights are full of the phone's ring
from the lonely and from the hidden
my dreams are full of one thing
marianna underneath me
and when the preacher comes, that's the worst part
olga you've been a'sinning
if you want redemption then you listen
olga do you hear the lord say
to bring you jesus for your birthday
my old friend beau's been coming around
around about three times a week and
he calls me his baby
and i think i know what he means
i say it's not that i don't like you
it's just i love marianna
but i don't say that cause i'm scared to
but i wish i wish i wish
and what he says to me when he thinks i'm sleeping
olga hitch up your dress a bit
come morning we'll have down away with this
olga well if i may
i brought you jesus for your birthday
i found a way jesus will take you
sister you lay his hand will break you
and you will say hallelujah
well ever since i've fallen under jesus
i feel so closed up and
my heart it aches for marianna
and i miss her, i miss her
sometimes i see her in the marketplace
and i cry out, and they hold me down
they think i've seen the savior's face
but it's only that i'm lonely
and what she says to me when i'm dreaming
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll have done away with this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
olga kick off your boots and shit
come morning we'll be far away from this
olga well it's okay
i brought you heaven for your birthday
hallelujah marianna
The lyrics of Rose Polenzani's song "Olga's Birthday" tell a haunting story of a man whose life has spiraled out of control. The singer has been caught in a scandalous affair with the sheriff's girl, which has made him the target of public ridicule and abuse. He is bombarded with phone calls from both the lonely and the threatening, and his dreams are consumed with thoughts of his lover, Marianna. When the preacher comes, he is chastised for his sins and urged to find redemption through Jesus. However, this only serves to remind him of his lost love and the pain he feels without her.
Despite his longing for Marianna, the singer is pursued by his friend Beau, who encourages him to give up on her and turn to Jesus instead. Beau claims to know a way in which Jesus can "take" him, and urges him to accept this gift on his birthday. The singer is torn between his love for Marianna and his fear of losing her, and the promise of salvation through Jesus.
Ultimately, the singer does turn to Jesus, but his heart still aches for Marianna. He sees her in the marketplace and cries out for her, only to be held down by those around him. In his dreams, she offers him solace, urging him to kick off his boots and leave his troubles behind. But even as he accepts her offer of "heaven" for his birthday, he knows that he will never fully escape the pain he feels without her.
Overall, "Olga's Birthday" is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and redemption, told through haunting and evocative lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
ever since they caught me with the sheriff's girl
My life has been a nightmare since I was caught with the sheriff's girl in the marketplace.
full of cussing and full of screaming
The marketplace is a place where people constantly swear and yell at me.
full of spitting in my face
The people in the marketplace spit in my face sometimes.
my nights are full of the phone's ring
At night, I receive calls from lonely and hidden people.
from the lonely and from the hidden
The people who call me at night are often lonely and trying to hide from something.
my dreams are full of one thing
In my dreams, I often think about Marianna being with me.
marianna underneath me
I dream of Marianna being close to me and being intimate with her.
and when the preacher comes, that's the worst part
The preacher coming to me is the most challenging thing because he reminds me of my sins.
olga you've been a'sinning
The preacher tells me that I have been sinning.
if you want redemption then you listen
The preacher tells me that if I want to be redeemed, I have to listen to him.
olga do you hear the lord say
The preacher asks me if I can hear the Lord speaking to me.
to bring you jesus for your birthday
The preacher tells me that bringing me Jesus is the best birthday gift I could receive.
my old friend beau's been coming around
My old friend Beau visits me three times a week.
he calls me his baby
Beau has a crush on me and calls me by a cute nickname.
and i think i know what he means
I understand that Beau has romantic feelings for me.
it's just i love marianna
I am in love with Marianna, so I cannot reciprocate Beau's feelings.
but i don't say that cause i'm scared to
I am afraid to tell Beau that I love someone else.
but i wish i wish i wish
I wish I could be honest with Beau about my feelings.
olga hitch up your dress a bit
In my dream, Marianna tells me to lift my dress up slightly.
come morning we'll have down away with this
Marianna wants to run away with me in the morning and escape our current situation.
olga well if i may
Marianna tells me that she has brought me heaven for my birthday.
i brought you jesus for your birthday
Marianna thinks that bringing me closer to Jesus is the greatest gift she could give me.
i found a way jesus will take you
Marianna believes that introducing me to Jesus will change my life for the better.
sister you lay his hand will break you
Marianna tells me that if I accept Jesus, he will heal me and make me whole again.
and you will say hallelujah
After accepting Jesus, I will be filled with joy and say 'Hallelujah'.
well ever since i've fallen under jesus
Since I accepted Jesus, I feel like I am a changed person.
i feel so closed up and
I feel like expressing my true feelings is now difficult since I accepted Jesus.
my heart it aches for marianna
I still strongly desire to be with Marianna.
and i miss her, i miss her
I deeply miss spending time with Marianna and being near her.
sometimes i see her in the marketplace
Sometimes, I see Marianna while in the marketplace.
and i cry out, and they hold me down
I cry out for Marianna, and the people in the marketplace hold me down, thinking that I am seeing the savior's face.
they think i've seen the savior's face
People believe that I have had a spiritual experience and seen the savior's face.
but it's only that i'm lonely
In reality, I am crying out because I am lonely and miss Marianna.
olga kick off your boots and shit
In my dream, Marianna tells me to kick my boots off and relax.
come morning we'll have done away with this
Marianna wants to leave our current situation and find happiness together.
olga well it's okay
Marianna tells me that she has brought me to a better place in heaven for my birthday.
i brought you heaven for your birthday
Marianna believes that bringing me to heaven is the best birthday present she could give me.
hallelujah marianna
I shout 'Hallelujah' out of the joy of being reunited with Marianna again.
Contributed by Reagan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.