The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Love Delicatessen
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't have what I wanted
That's when I saw the sign
Outside the place that promised salvation
I gave the waitress my order
She said it'd be just a minute
(I was lookin' at the pies)
You know I was hungry
At the love delicatessen
Oh yeah
I'll meet you at the love delicatessen
Oh yeah
Outside the summer sun beat down
On a lusty summer day
Inside the people still had on their shades
They were all in the dark
I heard the bell ring
And my order was up
I could believe the size of the portion
Man my eyes lit up
Here it comes
At the love delicatessen
Oh yeah
I'll meet you at the love delicatessen
Oh yeah
Mmm.. I think I've had my fill
Went to the front counter
To pay the bill
Oh by the way
Give me one of those cherry life savers
And the summer sun beat down
So hard and I was on my way
From the love delicatessen
Love delicatessen
Ill meet you there (x3)
Today
At the love delicatessen
Ok
Ill meet you at the love delicatessen
Oh yeah
Ill meet you at the love delicatessen
Ok
Ill meet you at the love delicatessen
Today
Ill meet you at the love delicatessen
Ok
The song Love Delicatessen by The Presidents of the United States of America tells a story of a man who is feeling low and blue because he did not have what he wanted. He then sees a sign outside a place that promises salvation and walks in hoping to find solace. The place turns out to be a Love Delicatessen where he finds not just food but the love he was looking for. The man orders food, but his eyes light up not for food, but the size of the portion. He feels content and full after his meal and leaves the Delicatessen with a cherry life saver and a new sense of hope.
The song is a metaphor to show that sometimes what people think they want is not what they really need. The man in the song is looking for love and a sense of belonging, and he finds it in a place where he least expects it. The lyrics depict the contrast between the hot summer sun outside and the cool, dark interiors of the Delicatessen where people are wearing shades. The Delicatessen serves as a refuge from the heat and the chaos outside.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel lowdown and blue
I am feeling sad and down
I didn't have what I wanted
I was not satisfied with what I had
That's when I saw the sign
I noticed a sign that caught my attention
Outside the place that promised salvation
The sign was outside a place that seemed promising
I gave the waitress my order
I told the waitress what I wanted to eat
She said it'd be just a minute
She told me that my food would be ready soon
(I was lookin' at the pies)
I was distracted by the pies in the display case
You know I was hungry
I was physically hungry
But not for food
My hunger was not only for food
I'll meet you at the love delicatessen
Let's meet at the place where I am currently ordering food
Outside the summer sun beat down
It was hot outside
On a lusty summer day
It was a hot day, and people were feeling the heat
Inside the people still had on their shades
Despite being inside, people were still wearing sunglasses
They were all in the dark
The people inside were figuratively in the dark, perhaps unaware of certain things
I heard the bell ring
The bell rang to indicate that my food was ready
And my order was up
My food was prepared and ready for me to pick up
I could believe the size of the portion
I was surprised by how large the serving size was
Man my eyes lit up
I was excited by the amount of food I received
Here it comes
I was eagerly about to eat my food
Mmm.. I think I've had my fill
I ate enough food to be satisfied
Went to the front counter
I walked to the payment counter
To pay the bill
I paid for my food
Oh by the way
Before leaving, I remembered something else I wanted to order
Give me one of those cherry life savers
I ordered a cherry-flavored candy
So hard and I was on my way
I left the restaurant and continued on with my day
Love delicatessen
The name of the restaurant I visited
Ill meet you there (x3)
I plan on returning to the restaurant and meeting the listener there
Today
Possibly indicating that I plan on returning to the restaurant on the same day
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.