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Magnolia
William Topley Lyrics
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And taste the spit of Mississippi rain
Squint down on Bienville in the flashing moonlight
And you can almost hear the clink of chains
Some boys are shouting out the Avenida
Magnolia they can even spell your name right
I'm gonna meet you at Napoleon House
I'm gonna take my absinthe straight tonight
Magnolia I just want to see you flower
I long to smell your scent again
Sweet southern flower I long to make you slide for me
Why is your love so hard to bear?
Why'd you act as if you didn't care?
Why is your hurt so slow to heal?
Y'all shot me dead before the second reel
I'm back on Bienville on the stroke of midnight
The second line becomes the masquerade
You could be back in post war Fort de France
And you can almost hear the call to prayer
Some boys are shouting out the Avenida
6,7,9's the number I must call you
I've got the Hi-John Conq, the dragon's blood
I'm fixing to put a little voodoo on you
Magnolia I just want to see you flower
I want to smell your scent again
Sweet southern flower I want to see you shine for me
6,7,9 you know the Quarter's are hot
I cut my fingers dialling
Sweet southern flower I'm gonna make you slide
Let's take that ride
Why is your love so hard to bear?
Why'd you act as if you didn't care?
Why is your hurt so slow to heal?
You got me down again I can't believe it's real
Why's your love so slow to mend
The opening lines of William Topley's song Magnolia take us on a nostalgic and poetic journey through the streets of Decatur and Bienville, places where the singer has perhaps spent much of his time in the past. Topley urges the listeners to join him on this journey and to taste the spit of Mississippi rain, to squint down on Bienville, and to hear the clink of chains. The reference to the clink of chains is likely a nod to the history of slavery in the southern United States, a theme that is hinted at throughout the song.
Topley then shifts the focus to the boys shouting out the Avenida, perhaps indicating a sense of camaraderie and a shared experience of growing up in the south. The singer longs for something that is hard to bear, and it is unclear whether he is referring to a lost love or something else entirely. The singer then sets the scene of being back on Bienville on the stroke of midnight, where the second line becomes the masquerade. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for letting go of the past and embracing a new identity.
As the chorus kicks in, Topley's voice takes on a more passionate tone as he sings about his desire to see the Magnolia flower again and to smell its scent. The mention of voodoo and the number 6,7,9 add a mystical dimension to the song, suggesting that the singer is willing to try anything to win back the one he loves. The song ends with the same questions it began with, leaving the listener to ponder its true meaning and significance.
Line by Line Meaning
walk Decatur in the evening light
Stroll down Decatur in the sunset
And taste the spit of Mississippi rain
Experience the taste of the rain from Mississippi
Squint down on Bienville in the flashing moonlight
Narrow your eyes on Bienville while the moonlight flickers
And you can almost hear the clink of chains
Feel the ghost of clinking chains in the air
Some boys are shouting out the Avenida
Some guys are yelling on Avenida street
Magnolia they can even spell your name right
Magnolia's name is spelled correctly by them
I'm gonna meet you at Napoleon House
I'll come to meet you at Napoleon's place
I'm gonna take my absinthe straight tonight
I'm gonna consume my absinthe without any dilution
Magnolia I just want to see you flower
I desperately need to see you bloom, Magnolia
I long to smell your scent again
I yearn to smell your fragrance once more
Sweet southern flower I long to make you slide for me
Dear southern flower, I desire to seduce you
Why is your love so hard to bear?
Why is your affection so painful to endure?
Why'd you act as if you didn't care?
Why did you pretend as if you were indifferent?
Why is your hurt so slow to heal?
Why does your pain take so long to recover?
Y'all shot me dead before the second reel
You killed me before my story could unfold
I'm back on Bienville on the stroke of midnight
I'm again on Bienville street, exactly at midnight
The second line becomes the masquerade
The following lyric becomes a masquerade
You could be back in post war Fort de France
You might feel like you're in Fort de France after the war
And you can almost hear the call to prayer
You can almost listen to the call for prayer
6,7,9's the number I must call you
I need to call you at 6-7-9 number
I've got the Hi-John Conq, the dragon's blood
I possess Hi-John Conq and dragon's blood
I'm fixing to put a little voodoo on you
I'm going to use some voodoo against you
6,7,9 you know the Quarter's are hot
You're aware that Quarters are not safe at 6-7-9
I cut my fingers dialling
I accidentally nicked my finger while dialing
Sweet southern flower I'm gonna make you slide
Dear southern flower, I'll make you succumb to me
Let's take that ride
Let's embark on that journey
Why's your love so slow to mend
Why is it taking so long for your love to heal?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIEGO KOVADLOFF, LUKE JULIUS DAVID BRIGHTY, MARK TAYLOR, WILLIAM TOPLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Esmerelda
on (I Don't Wanna Go) Uptown
I won't chase some high hope lady! - WON'T ...
Esmerelda
on (I Don't Wanna Go) Uptown
In William Topley's song "Uptown," the narrator expresses his reluctance to go to the affluent part of town, referred to as "uptown." He asserts that all his friends are "downtown," and he prefers the thrill of chasing after "high hope lady," implying he enjoys living life on the edge. The mention of Jimmy, who has resorted to eating out of trash cans and shooting up drugs in a cop car, portrays the dangers of living in the city, especially in the downtown area. Despite this, the narrator seems to prefer this kind of danger and wants to stay away from the safety and security of uptown.
The contrasting portrayal of uptown and downtown in the song highlights the divisions and inequalities present in society. While uptown represents safety and luxury, downtown represents crime and poverty. Through his lyrics, Topley seems to criticize the classism and discrimination that underlie this division. The narrator's preference for downtown and his reluctance to go uptown may be interpreted as a call for society to pay more attention to the plight of those who live in poverty.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the spirit of the city and the exhilaration of living dangerously. It conveys a sense of rebellion against societal norms and expectations, with a message that urges people to embrace the excitement of life and to be unafraid of taking risks.
Correction: All the stuff written above is completely made up and pretty much wrong. The song is about heroin abuse. The line "I won't chase some high hope lady!" has been incorrectly written as "I want to chase," creating some confusion among the people making believe they understand the song. He DOESN'T want to go uptown. You can safely ignore the explanation above.