Ironbound Fancy Poultry
Vega Suzanne Lyrics

In the iron-bound section near Avenue L
The singer sets the scene in Avenue L, a place with a strong industrial feel.

Where the Portuguese women come to see what you sell
Portuguese women come to Avenue L to purchase goods.

The clouds so low the morning so slow
The morning is slow, and the clouds hang low in the sky.

As the wires cut through the sky
Wires suspended in the air create an industrial feeling.

The beams and bridges cut the light on the ground
The sunlight is filtered into little triangles by the bridges and beams that line the area.

Into little triangles and the rails run round
The light is fragmented into multiple triangles and paths that run throughout the area.

Through the rust and the heat
The heat and the rust create an aura of degradation and decay.

The light and sweet coffee color of her skin
The coffee-colored skin of a woman stands out in the area.

Bound up in wire and fate
The woman is stuck in her surroundings, not being able to break free from her situation.

Watching her walk him up to the gate
A woman watches a man walk towards a gate.

In front of the iron-bound school yard.
The gate is near a schoolyard surrounded by iron railings and gates.

Kids will grow like weeds on a fence
Children in the area grow up just as fast and spontaneously as weeds on a fence.

She says they look for the light they try to make sense.
The woman says children in the iron-bound area look for a way out and try to make sense of their situation.

They come up through the cracks
Children find ways to grow and shine, even in the most difficult of situations.

Like grass on the tracks
Just as grass can grow on railroad tracks, children can grow up in difficult environments.

She touches him goodbye.
The woman bids farewell to the man previously seen walking towards the gate.

Steps off the curb and into the street
The woman leaves the area near the schoolyard and goes to the street.

The blood and feathers near her feet
The woman sees blood and feathers, presumably from the poultry being sold at the market.

Into the iron-bound market
The woman goes to the market in the iron-bound area.

She stops at the stall
The woman stops at a stall in the market.

Fingers the ring
She touches a ring or piece of jewelry.

Opens her purse
She prepares to pay for something with her purse.

Feels a longing
The woman feels a deep sense of desire or longing for something.

Away from the iron-bound border
The woman wishes to leave the iron-bound area and find something better.

"Fancy poultry parts sold here.
An advertisement for fancy poultry sold in the market.

Breasts and thighs and hearts.
The different parts of the poultry being sold.

Backs are cheap and wings are nearly free.
Different parts of the chicken are priced differently.

Nearly free"
The wings are priced very low.