Jean
Russ Morgan and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jeane,
Addressing a woman named Jean

The low life has lost its appeal
The lifestyle of living in poverty and hardship is no longer desirable

And I'm tired of walking these streets
Tired of the monotony and struggle of everyday life

To a room with its cupboards bare
Returning home to an empty space

Jeane,
Addressing a woman named Jean again

I'm not sure what happiness means
The meaning of happiness is unclear

But I look in your eyes and I know...
Despite not knowing the meaning of happiness, the singer finds comfort in looking at Jean's eyes

That it isn't there
The happiness the artist is searching for is not present in their life

We tried and we failed
The artist and Jean have tried to find happiness but have failed multiple times

Oh Jeane...
Addressing Jean again with a sigh

There's ice on the sink where we bathe
Poor living conditions are highlighted with the presence of ice in the sink

So how can you call this a home
The artist questions how they can call this place home given the living conditions

When you know its a grave
The living conditions are dangerous and potentially life-threatening

Yet you still have that greedy grace...
Jean has a sense of entitlement, despite the lack of resources

As you tidy the place
Jean tries to clean up the place, despite the lack of progress that can be made

But it will never be clean...
Despite the effort to clean, the conditions will never improve completely

Jeane
Addressing Jean again

Gash on the nail
An injury on the singer's nail

Its just a fairytale...
The singer no longer believes in the idea of magic or miracles

And I don't believe in magic anymore, Jeane...
Reinforcing the idea that the artist no longer believes in anything that is not realistic or based in reality

But I think you know
The artist believes that Jean can understand their thoughts and feelings

I really think you know
The artist has a strong belief that Jean understands

Oh yes I think you know the truth, Jeane
The singer believes that Jean knows the reality of their situation

No heavenly choirs not for me
The artist does not expect a miraculous change or intervention to improve their situation

And no not for you
Jean should not expect a miraculous change or intervention to improve their situation

Because I think you know
The singer still believes that Jean understands their thoughts and feelings

I really think you know
The singer still strongly believes that Jean understands their thoughts and feelings

I think you know the truth
The artist believes that Jean knows the reality of their situation

Oh Jean
A final address to Jean

We tried and we failed
The singer and Jean have tried and failed multiple times to improve their situation

We tried and we failed
Repeating the idea that the singer and Jean have been unsuccessful

We tried and we failed
Repeating again the idea that the artist and Jean have been unsuccessful

We tried and we failed
Repeating once again the idea that the artist and Jean have been unsuccessful

We tried...
A final statement that the artist and Jean have made a valiant effort, despite their lack of success