Danielle
Steve Kilbey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Danielle you're looking old today
Like someone came along, stole all your years away
The pale sun will not forgive your face
In shadows all the gentlemen who spent time in this place
In hell, danielle, danielle
Your bruises and your powder cause bad dreams
There's no one in the waiting room, there's nothing in your purse
Abstracted laugh breaks down into a cough and then a curse
In hell, danielle, danielle
Danielle please don't look that way at me
I didn't drink your absinthe, or tell your family
Sometimes we pretend it's paris, sometimes it's more berlin
The real outside cannot divide the unholy sin within
Hell danielle
This is hell danielle
Steve Kilbey's song "Danielle" is a poignant portrayal of a woman who is aging and suffering from the consequences of a life that has been ravaged by drugs, poverty, and sex work. The melancholy tone of the song is set by Kilbey's emotive delivery that is accompanied by mournful guitar riffs. Throughout the song, Kilbey delivers vivid imagery of the woman's appearance, from her "yellow teeth and desperate eyes" that "make small children scream," to her "bruises and powder [that] cause bad dreams." The song is primarily about how society neglects people like Danielle, leaving them with nothing but their misery and regret.
Kilbey cites the pale sun as a metaphor for the lack of forgiveness and compassion towards Danielle. The image of the gentlemen in the shadows who spent time in this place suggests a brothel or a similar establishment, where Danielle might have worked. Kilbey juxtaposes the harsh reality of Danielle's life with her dreams of Paris or Berlin, where she might have lived a better life. However, the unholy sin within her cannot be divided from the real outside, implying that her internal demons will always haunt her. The song ends on a forlorn and desolate note, with Kilbey repeating the line "This is hell Danielle" to drive home the bleakness of the woman's existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Danielle, danielle
Repeating her name to catch her attention
Danielle you're looking old today
Pointing out that she appears older than her actual age
Like someone came along, stole all your years away
Suggesting that something or someone had taken away her youth and vitality
The pale sun will not forgive your face
Her looks are so worn and tired that even the sun's light is unforgiving
In shadows all the gentlemen who spent time in this place
Implying that she has spent time with men in dark shadows, possibly in a seedy setting
In hell, danielle, danielle
Reiterating that she is in a bad place both physically and emotionally
Your bruises and your powder cause bad dreams
Her appearance and lifestyle lead to disturbing dreams
Your yellow teeth and desperate eyes make small children scream
Even children are frightened by her appearance
There's no one in the waiting room, there's nothing in your purse
Her life is now empty and lonely
Abstracted laugh breaks down into a cough and then a curse
Her laugh sounds forced and ends in a cough followed by a curse, indicating frustration and pain
In hell, danielle, danielle
Again emphasizing her unpleasant situation
Danielle please don't look that way at me
Asking her to not make eye contact, possibly to avoid her pain and despair
I didn't drink your absinthe, or tell your family
Clarifying that the singer is not responsible for her troubles
Sometimes we pretend it's paris, sometimes it's more berlin
Referencing places known for vices as a way of acknowledging their reality
The real outside cannot divide the unholy sin within
Suggesting that her inner demons are too strong for the outside world to help her overcome them
Hell danielle
Reiterating her hopeless and painful state
This is hell danielle
Confirming that she is truly in a hellish situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind