All Tomorrows Parties
The Velvet Undeground And Nico Lyrics
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To all tomorrow's parties
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
To all tomorrow's parties
And where will she go, and what shall she do
When midnight comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown and cry behind the door
To all tomorrow's parties
Why silks and linens of yesterday's gowns
To all tomorrow's parties
And what will she do with Thursday's rags
When Monday comes around
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown and cry behind the door
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
For whom none will go mourning
A blackened shroud
A hand-me-down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow's parties
The Velvet Underground's song "All Tomorrow's Parties" is about the societal pressure to conform and the expectations placed on individuals to fit a certain mold. The lyrics center around the image of a poor girl attending parties and her struggle to fit in with her limited resources. The song discusses the idea that no matter what she wears or how she presents herself, she will always be viewed as an outsider and will never truly belong to the social elite. In the first verse, the poor girl is wearing a hand-me-down dress and is unsure of where it came from. She is questioning what she should wear to the parties to fit in, but ultimately realizes that it doesn't matter as she will always be seen as Sunday's clown, a figure of ridicule and mockery. The second verse is about the girl's struggle to wear clothes from previous generations as the styles have changed, and therefore will always be out of place at the parties. In the final verse, it is revealed that the girl is actually Thursday's child, which traditionally represents something different, but she is forced to be a Sunday's clown, representing her inability to fit in with the upper class.
The song is also notable for its music, particularly its use of experimental and avant-garde techniques. The use of viola, which was not commonly used in rock music at the time, adds a haunting and melancholic feel to the song. Lou Reed's vocals are also notable for their detached and almost monotone delivery, emphasizing the feeling of alienation and detachment from society's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
The singer wonders about the outfit that the unfortunate girl will wear
To all tomorrow's parties
To the events that are yet to come
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
A used dress from an unknown source
To all tomorrow's parties
To the events that are yet to come
And where will she go, and what shall she do
The artist questions the girl's plans for when the clock strikes midnight
When midnight comes around
When the clock strikes twelve
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown and cry behind the door
She will again hide her tears and despair like a clown on a Sunday show
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
The artist repeats the question about the girl's outfit
Why silks and linens of yesterday's gowns
The girl may wear fancy fabrics of previous dresses
To all tomorrow's parties
To the events that are yet to come
And what will she do with Thursday's rags
The girl may have to wear worn-out clothes from Thursday
When Monday comes around
When the new week begins
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown and cry behind the door
She will again hide her tears and despair like a clown on a Sunday show
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
The singer repeats the question about the girl's outfit
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
The girl is compared to a clown that performs on Sundays, being entertaining despite the inner pain
For whom none will go mourning
No one will cry for her or pity her when she passes away
A blackened shroud
A dark burial garment
A hand-me-down gown
A used dress
Of rags and silks, a costume
A garment made of mixed fabrics, symbolizing the girl's contrasting life
Fit for one who sits and cries
Suitable for someone who sits and weeps
For all tomorrow's parties
For all the upcoming events the girl will attend
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind