The Dada Polka
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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People of Earth, when you dance
Dance the Dada Polka
Life is only a dream
When in the mood for romance
Dance the Dada Polka
Be as cute as you seem

Gyrate like a gyroscope,
Collide like a kaleidoscope
Freeze!
Do something-anything-
Do something, please

People of Earth, don't just stand
There, the Dada Polka
Is as fun as it sounds
Move hips and hands when the band
Plays the Dada Polka
You may lose a few pounds

Gyrate like a gyroscope,
Collide like a kaleidoscope
Change!
Do something-anything-
Do something strange

People of Mars, you too must
Do the Dada Polka
It's the meaning of life
Fill any partner with lust?
Do the Dada Polka
Soon there'll be a new wife

Gyrate like a gyroscope,
Collide like a kaleidoscope, do
Do something-anything-
Do something blue
Do something-anything-
Do something a little out of
Character, it won't kill you




Do something-anything-
Do something true.

Overall Meaning

"The Dada Polka" is a song by The Magnetic Fields, and it encourages people to dance, to let loose and to enjoy life. The song begins with the instruction to dance the Dada Polka, which is followed by the statement that life is only a dream. The lyrics almost seem to suggest that life is a dream from which we should awaken, and the way to do this is through the Dada Polka. The rest of the lyrics emphasize the importance of doing something, anything, to break away from the mundanity of life, to do something strange and true, and to be one's self.


The song's overall meaning is rooted in the principles of Dadaism, which is an art movement that originated in Switzerland in the early 20th century. Dadaism sought to break down the traditional conventions of art and culture by creating works that were absurd, nonsensical and challenging. The Dada Polka can be seen as a call to action, encouraging people to embrace the principles of Dadaism and do something out of the ordinary, something that challenges the norm. The idea is to break apart the structural limitations of conventional society, and to create a new reality.


Line by Line Meaning

People of Earth, when you dance
Hey humans, listen up. When you decide to get your groove on, try dancing the Dada Polka.


Dance the Dada Polka
We want you to dance this specific dance style. It's quirky and weird, but that's the point.


Life is only a dream
Life is fleeting and ephemeral. It's important to spend some of it having fun and dancing.


When in the mood for romance
If you're feeling romantic, this dance might be just the thing to set the mood.


Dance the Dada Polka
Again, we really want you to give this dance a shot. It's worth it.


Be as cute as you seem
Don't be afraid to let loose and have fun. Embrace your silly side.


Gyrate like a gyroscope
Move your body in weird and unconventional ways, mimicking the motion of a gyroscope.


Collide like a kaleidoscope
Crash into others and create a beautiful, ever-changing pattern like a kaleidoscope.


Freeze!
Stop suddenly and hold your pose for a beat.


Do something-anything-
Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things.


Do something, please
Seriously, we're asking you to break out of your shell a little bit and have fun.


People of Earth, don't just stand
We really don't want you to just stand there. That's boring.


There, the Dada Polka
Again, we're pointing out the dance floor and urging you to join in the fun.


Is as fun as it sounds
Trust us, this is a good time. You won't be disappointed.


Move hips and hands when the band
You should be mirroring the music with your movements, specifically your hips and hands.


Plays the Dada Polka
The band is playing the song specifically crafted for this dance, so join in.


You may lose a few pounds
This dance is a workout! You might even shed some weight.


People of Mars, you too must
Even if you're from a different planet, we want you to embrace this dance.


Do the Dada Polka
Again, join us in doing this dance.


It's the meaning of life
We're getting a bit tongue-in-cheek here. Obviously, this dance isn't the meaning of life, but it's a fun diversion.


Fill any partner with lust?
A bit of a silly rhetorical question. Dancing with someone can be romantic, but it's not likely to incite that strong of a lustful passion.


Do the Dada Polka
Once again, do the dance we're talking about.


Soon there'll be a new wife
More playful humor. We're saying that doing the Dada Polka will lead to a new partner, but that's obviously not true.


Do something-blue
This line is a play on the tradition of the bride having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue for good luck. We're simply urging you to try something unconventional.


Do something-anything-
Again, trying new things is important to breaking out of your mold.


Do something strange
Doing something unexpected or bizarre can be truly liberating.


Do something-anything-
We can't stress it enough: try new things!


Do something a little out of
Pushing boundaries is scary, but it can also be really rewarding.


Character, it won't kill you
Be true to who you are, but also be willing to explore different facets of yourself. It won't be fatal.


Do something-anything-
Seriously, go out and have fun!


Do something true
In the end, being true to yourself is what really matters.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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