Plain Parade
The Cardigans Lyrics


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Plain parade
Well, where is all the profit laid?
Plain parade
Well, maybe we have lost our way

Some are lone
Sickly running from
Something so wrong
And nowhere to belong

Plain parade
Well, when will I be repaid
Plain parade
I might join you on another day

Some are lone
Sickly running from
Something so wrong
And nowhere to belong

All you've given me is sadness
Proof enough to feel I'm loveless
I wish that I could manage better now




And find a place that I can settle
Down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Cardigans' song Plain Parade are characteristic of the band's signature melancholic, introspective style. The song deals with the feeling of being lost, disillusioned, and disconnected from the world, while also questioning the values and motives of society at large. The repeated refrain "Plain parade" creates a sense of dull monotony and robotic repetition, as if the characters in the song are unable to move beyond the superficiality of modern life.


The lines "Some are lone, Sickly running from, Something so wrong, And nowhere to belong" suggest feelings of alienation and fear, as if the singers are haunted by some unseen threat that they cannot escape. The repetition of these lines underscores the sense of urgency and despair that permeates the song, as if the characters are trapped in a cycle of hopelessness and despair.


In the final lines, the singer reveals that all she has been given is sadness, which has left her feeling loveless and unable to find a sense of stability or belonging. The lyrics suggest that the modern world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, with little room for compassion or empathy. However, the singer's desire to "manage better now" and "find a place that I can settle down" suggests that there may be hope yet for those who are lost and searching for meaning in their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Plain parade
A simplistic and unremarkable display


Well, where is all the profit laid?
Questioning where the worth lies in this dull presentation


Well, maybe we have lost our way
Acknowledging the aimlessness and lack of purpose in this parade


Some are lone
There are those who are solitary


Sickly running from
Escaping from something unhealthy


Something so wrong
A situation that is fundamentally flawed


And nowhere to belong
Feeling out of place in one's surroundings


Plain parade
A repetitive and uninteresting spectacle


Well, when will I be repaid
Asking when there will be some kind of recompense for enduring this monotonous display


Plain parade
A bland and uninspiring performance


I might join you on another day
Considering taking part in this spectacle at a later time


All you've given me is sadness
Expressing disappointment at the negative emotions that this parade has evoked


Proof enough to feel I'm loveless
The parade has served as evidence and made one feel unloved


I wish that I could manage better now
Desiring to handle the situation differently


And find a place that I can settle down
Searching for a location where one feels secure and content




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAGNUS SVENINGSSON, PETER ANDERS SVENSSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

J S

Love it!

Hanif Nugraha

the cardigans below 1996 is the best, classic, a little bit of jazz, twee and smart

King Kenny

Recall seeing them play this at the Glasgow Arches a few years later, and at the time thought: Top Darts for playing a b-side. However, truth be told, it's a belter of a song......

greasy2007

Nice to c some energy frm that crowd; looked damn near dead during Celia inside (minus those 2 ppl in the front singing along)

C Smith

Hell yeah there’s no downvotes on this

Porpoise Power

That key change just kills me

James Ramos

Is the guitarist using a Roland amp?

Fer St.

i think it is a jazz chorus.

Ricky Mandala

ouwlala esta una pigking bonito lesbos, senor...como ? sisisi..no problemo, porque la musica es hermosa ))< jajajaja