City
Zach Winters Lyrics
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city of love, city — no base
city undone, city low play
city street-drunk, city turns none away
And we saw through our windows
every door where the men go
She was low cut, she was dumb-faced
a ribbon of lust wherever she lay
see her drunk li(m)p, see her tease play
And we watch still as she goes downhill
City hangs out where the beasts sway
City's passed out in the hallway
Before she fell down what did she say?
"I haven't seen a bird in twenty-three of these days"
To say we told her so was no thrill
But we don't mind a quiet kill
The lyrics of this song by Zach Winters describe a city with multiple facets and complexities. The city is referred to as a city of gold and love, but it is also a city with no base and undone. It is a place where people come to indulge in their desires and vices, with a particular focus on the depiction of women as objects of lust and desire. The song suggests that the city is in a state of decline and that it is as much a product of the people who inhabit it as it is a reflection of urban decay.
The song seems to offer a critical viewpoint on the negative effects of urbanization, particularly how it dehumanizes people and strips them of their agency. The people living in the city are portrayed as passive observers of the decline, with the singer noting that they watch as the city goes downhill. The reference to the lack of birds in the city for twenty-three days further reinforces the idea that the city is devoid of life and vitality.
Overall, the song's lyrics offer a poignant commentary on the fragmentation of life and the loss of humanity in the midst of urbanization. It seems to suggest that in the quest for wealth and pleasure, societies often forget the importance of preserving the natural world and nurturing human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
City of gold, city of face
The city is full of wealth and superficial beauty.
city of love, city — no base
Despite all its glamour, the city lacks depth and genuine love.
city undone, city low play
The city is flawed and full of corruption and mischief.
city street-drunk, city turns none away
The city is accepting and accommodating of all, even those who are lost and inebriated.
And we saw through our windows
The artists are observing the city from a distance.
every door where the men go
The singers witness the behavior of the men in the city.
She was low cut, she was dumb-faced
There is a woman in the city who is promiscuous and unintelligent.
a ribbon of lust wherever she lay
This woman exudes sexuality and is objectified by those around her.
see her undone, see her freeze-frame
The woman's beauty is fleeting and superficial.
see her drunk li(m)p, see her tease play
Her actions and behavior are reckless and insincere.
And we watch still as she goes downhill
The singers observe the woman's decline and downfall.
City hangs out where the beasts sway
The city is a wild and untamed place full of danger.
City's passed out in the hallway
The city is in a state of unrest and mayhem.
Before she fell down what did she say?
The woman's downfall was inevitable and anticipated.
"I haven't seen a bird in twenty-three of these days"
The woman has lost touch with nature and the beauty of the world around her.
To say we told her so was no thrill
The artists have a sense of resignation and apathy towards the woman's demise.
But we don't mind a quiet kill
The artists are complicit in the city's corruption and are willing to let it destroy itself.
Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pedro Gabriel
"Wanderlust" | Lipton Ice Tea <3