Jumble Sale Mums
Suede Lyrics

Oh jumble sale mums what are they on?
The singer is questioning what kind of drugs the mothers who shop at thrift stores are taking.

Kids walk round like they're half asleep
The children wear second-hand clothing and look worn out and tired.

And they've got somebody else's clothes on
The clothes the children wear have previously belonged to someone else.

Jumble sale dads boil in the bag
Men who also shop at thrift stores have a stereotypical meal that they eat, which is cooked by boiling it in its packaging.

Says something that I can't repeat and he swears
The father doesn't say anything pleasant or repeatable, and he curses.

Oh this ain't the highlife this ain't the highlife
The singer is conveying that this way of living is not luxurious or desirable.

Kids just sit hanging round the street
The children don't have much to do and are seen loitering around in public places.

Jumble sale dads, now she's packed her bags
The fathers of these households have wives that seem to have left them and taken their belongings with them.

He does some things that I can't repeat, and he swears
The father acts in inappropriate ways that the artist doesn't want to disclose and he curses.

This ain't the highlife, this ain't the highlife
The artist reiterates that this way of living is not something to aspire towards.