N038c12c Poison Ivy
The Coaster Lyrics
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She'll get you in Dutch
You can look but you better not touch
Poison ivy, poison ivy
Late at night while you're sleepin'
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
She'll really do you in
If you let her under your skin
Poison ivy, poison ivy
Late at night while you're sleepin'
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
Measles make you bumpy
And mumps'll make you lumpy
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
A common cold'll fool ya
And whooping cough'll cool ya
But poison ivy, Lord'll, make you itch
You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The minute you start to mess around
Poison ivy, poison ivy
Late at night while you're sleepin'
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
Measles make you bumpy
And mumps'll make you lumpy
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
A common cold'll fool ya
And whooping cough'll cool ya
But poison ivy, Lord'll make you itch!!
You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The minute you start to mess around
Poison ivy, poison ivy
Late at night while you're sleepin'
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
La da la da la da
La da la da la da
La da la da la da
La da la da la da
The Coaster's song "Poison Ivy" uses a flower metaphor to warn about a dangerous woman who will cause harm to anyone who gets involved with her. The woman is described as coming on like a rose, which traditionally symbolizes love and beauty, but the lyrics reveal that she is a creeping poison ivy that will cause itching and discomfort. The song highlights that her apparent beauty is merely a facade that hides her true nature. The lyrics caution men to stay away from this woman, as the damage she inflicts will be severe.
The song's lyrical structure and upbeat melody contrast with its warning message, highlighting the importance of looking beyond appearances and recognizing the reality of the risks involved in romantic relationships. The song emphasizes the importance of self-care, particularly regarding avoiding harmful relationships. In this way, the song can be seen as an anthem for independence and self-awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes on like a rose but everybody knows
She tries to present herself as beautiful and attractive, but her true nature is known to all.
She'll get you in Dutch
She'll get you into trouble.
You can look but you better not touch
You can admire her, but you shouldn't try to touch or get too close.
Poison ivy, poison ivy
The girl in question is compared to poison ivy, a poisonous plant.
Late at night while you're sleepin'
The girl is dangerous and appears when you are vulnerable.
Poison ivy comes a-creepin' around
The girl's dangerous nature creeps up and takes over.
She's pretty as a daisy but look out man, she's crazy
Despite her outward appearance, she's not stable or reliable.
She'll really do you in
She'll cause you harm, both mentally and physically.
If you let her under your skin
If you let her get too close, she'll have a hold on you that's hard to shake.
Measles make you bumpy
Measles cause bumps on the skin.
And mumps'll make you lumpy
Mumps cause swelling and lumps on the face and neck.
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
Chicken pox causes itchiness and discomfort.
A common cold'll fool ya
A cold might trick you into thinking it's harmless.
And whooping cough'll cool ya
Whooping cough has a soothing effect, despite being serious.
But poison ivy, Lord'll, make you itch
In comparison, poison ivy causes irresistible itching and discomfort.
You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
To deal with the itching, you'll need a lot of calamine lotion.
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The itching will be so intense that you'll feel like a dog scratching itself.
The minute you start to mess around
The moment you get involved with the girl, you'll begin to feel the effects of her dangerous nature.
La da la da la da
The song ends with a nonsensical and catchy chorus.
La da la da la da
La da la da la da
La da la da la da
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind