Roly Poly
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics


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Your dangerous charm and your
Glamorous arrogance thrilled me
In the melancholy winter time
(Uncle Bill please give me time)

But this war of attrition
To prove your world ambition
Worries me
And you're too concerned with the
Weight you want to lose

Well if you listen to confusion
Long enough it starts to make sense
Can you hear me talking to ya?

[Chorus:]
Roly poly
Holy holy
Time is tight
Get it right
Aren't you lonely?
Roly poly
Holy holy
Time is tight
Get it right
Aren't you lonely?

Your fatalist's closet
Where blood stained deposits hide deeply
Underneath the cusp of venus fly

A terrible beauty
You are my dear of
Aphrodisiacs and diamonds
But your lonely tears trail
Your penis envy eyes

And now stop worrying about your
Weight it looks alright to me dear
Can you hear me talking to ya?

[Chorus]

All your somethings
Are turning into nothings
As you reach for
Something greed inspired
And all the hopes that
I once held as your lover
Are falling down as
My manhood loses fire

Your kinship with money
A Queen bee with honey
Suits you
As you now belong to the ever
Changing guard
A signpost for progress
A fine token lioness
Leaves me
'Cause as you say dear i'm just a
Face without a card

Well if you listen to confusion
Long enough it starts to make sense
Can you hear me talking to ya?





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Roly Poly" by Terence Trent D'Arby is a reflective piece in which the singer expresses his concern for a lover who is too consumed with self-image and ambition. The opening lines reveal the singer's attraction to the lover's "dangerous charm" and "glamorous arrogance," but he is worried about the lover's preoccupation with proving herself in the world. He suggests that listening to confusion can make sense, perhaps implying that the lover is confused about priorities.


The chorus employs the repetition of "roly poly" and "holy holy" in a kind of incantation, as if the singer is trying to reach the lover on a deeper level. He questions whether she is lonely, suggesting that her ambition and materialism may leave her feeling unfulfilled. The second verse delves into the lover's psyche, referencing a "fatalist's closet" and "penis envy eyes," painting a picture of a woman deeply unhappy despite her external beauty and success.


Line by Line Meaning

Your dangerous charm and your Glamorous arrogance thrilled me
I was drawn to you by the combination of your dangerous charm and glamorous arrogance


In the melancholy winter time (Uncle Bill please give me time)
This happened in the sad winter season and I need time, Uncle Bill


But this war of attrition To prove your world ambition Worries me And you're too concerned with the Weight you want to lose
However, your constant battle to prove your ambition to the world makes me worried. You are also overly concerned about losing weight


Well if you listen to confusion Long enough it starts to make sense Can you hear me talking to ya?
When you listen to confusion for long enough, it can start to seem logical. Can you hear what I'm saying?


[Chorus:] Roly poly Holy holy Time is tight Get it right Aren't you lonely? Roly poly Holy holy Time is tight Get it right Aren't you lonely?
Refrain: Time is running out, you need to get your life on the right track. Are you not feeling lonely?


Your fatalist's closet Where blood stained deposits hide deeply Underneath the cusp of venus fly
You keep your fatalist thoughts hidden away, beneath your confident facade


A terrible beauty You are my dear of Aphrodisiacs and diamonds But your lonely tears trail Your penis envy eyes
Your aura is that of a beautiful, mysterious thing. Although you have everything, including sexual allure and wealth, you cry tears of loneliness and envy others


And now stop worrying about your Weight it looks alright to me dear Can you hear me talking to ya?
Please stop stressing about your weight; you look fine to me. Can you hear me?


[Chorus]
Refrain


All your somethings Are turning into nothings As you reach for Something greed inspired And all the hopes that I once held as your lover Are falling down as My manhood loses fire
Everything you've built is slipping away from your grasp as you chase after wealth without conscience. Furthermore, My love for you fades as I grow older


Your kinship with money A Queen bee with honey Suits you As you now belong to the ever Changing guard A signpost for progress A fine token lioness Leaves me 'Cause as you say dear i'm just a Face without a card
Your love for money is a perfect combination, and you fit in with the ever-changing high society. You are regarded as a symbol of progress, but I'm just a nobody who can't further your goal


Well if you listen to confusion Long enough it starts to make sense Can you hear me talking to ya?
When you listen to confusion for long enough, it can start to seem logical. Can you hear what I'm saying?


[Chorus]
Refrain




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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