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It seems like years since you held the baby
While I wrecked the bedroom
You said it was dangerous after Sunday
And I knew you loved me
He thinks I just became famous
And that's what messed me up
But he's wrong
How could I possibly know what I want
When I was only twenty-one?
And there's millions of people
To offer advice and say how I should be
But they're twisted
And they will never be any influence on me
But you will always be
You will always be
If I treated you mean
I really didn't mean to
But you know how it is
And how a pregnancy can change you
I see plenty of clothes that I like
But I won't go anywhere nice for a while
All I want to do is just sit here
And write it all down and rest for a while
I can't bear to be in another city
One where you are not
I would return to nothing without you
If I'm your girlfriend or not
Maybe I was mean
But I really don't think so
You asked if I'm scared
And I said so
Everyone can see what's going on
They laugh `cause they know they're untouchable
Not because what I said was wrong
Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace
Maybe it sounds mean
But I really don't think so
You asked for the truth and I told you
Through their own words
They will be exposed
They've got a severe case of
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
While I wrecked the bedroom
You said it was dangerous after Sunday
And I knew you loved me
He thinks I just became famous
And that's what messed me up
But he's wrong
How could I possibly know what I want
When I was only twenty-one?
And there's millions of people
To offer advice and say how I should be
But they're twisted
And they will never be any influence on me
But you will always be
You will always be
If I treated you mean
I really didn't mean to
But you know how it is
And how a pregnancy can change you
I see plenty of clothes that I like
But I won't go anywhere nice for a while
All I want to do is just sit here
And write it all down and rest for a while
I can't bear to be in another city
One where you are not
I would return to nothing without you
If I'm your girlfriend or not
Maybe I was mean
But I really don't think so
You asked if I'm scared
And I said so
Everyone can see what's going on
They laugh `cause they know they're untouchable
Not because what I said was wrong
Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace
Maybe it sounds mean
But I really don't think so
You asked for the truth and I told you
Through their own words
They will be exposed
They've got a severe case of
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
Lyrics submitted by ms_gurr
Track duration: 05:16
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And then comparing that to the song's meaning - things are probably rocky in her relationship with a lot going on: her pregnancy, she's young and her sudden fame. People are talking about her, criticizing her, and saying things, maybe calling her things - people that don't really know her. All of these people that are talking about her "have a severe case of the Emperor's New Clothes", which is to say they are not worthy of saying anything to her and she is comfortable with herself and her actions and will "sleep with a clear conscious" and "sleep in peace", as well she should.
Pretty prophetic when you see what's going on with the church right now...
'Everyone can see what's going on/They laugh cause they know they're untouchable not because what I said was wrong' I think is talking about their friends and who's side they're taking. Also, they talk/gossip about the issue while not having to deal with it themselves; it's all someone else's problem so they can laugh, point fingers, and pass rude and ridiculous comments about it amongst each other without fear because they are not the ones wrestling with the issue.
Additionally, I'm not sure if this was a real life experience of Sinead's, but if it was: O'Conner is obviously most likely an Irish name or from Irish culture, which is fairly devout Roman Catholic if I'm not mistaken, creating more significance to be placed on the abortion dilemma; and her being a young woman in the music industry ('How could I possibly know what I want when I was only 21') might hint at the baby's father being an older man -- and possibly even a father figure of sorts -- whom she trusted to guide her through these types of situations, which would increase the impact it would have on an assumed young, innocent girl/woman she probably was at this time. It was probably the first sort of life changing event she had encountered up until this time. And how would an adolescent aspiring singer songwriter deal with her first big issue? 'All I want to do is just sit here and write it all down and rest for a while.' Also, a 21-year old aspiring singer's social circle is probably going to be filled with a lot of other late teen/early twenties wannabees looking for ways to gain fame at the expense of their competition, infinitely increasing the evil, bitchy, and remorseless ways they would go after and talk about someone else's misfortunes.
The whole Emperor's New Clothes tie-in could just be to not believe everything you hear before making a judgment about something you may not know a lot about.
So that's my story, and I'm sticking with it. God Speed.
T.
This comment of you I don't really understand: "This song is surely an ask of excuses from her to him."
Because I have always thought something quite different, because of the next lines in the song:
"If I treated you mean
I really didn't mean to
But you know how it is
And how a pregnancy can change you"
"Maybe I was mean
But I really don't think so
You asked if I'm scared
And I said so"
"Maybe it sounds mean
But I really don't think so
You asked for the truth and I told you"
She seems to be changing from apologising and asking for forgiveness, into saying that she didn't anything wrong, and stating that she wasn't mean at all. (the first time she says: if I was mean, and apologises, the second one she's doubting if she was mean, and the last one sounds to me like: I wasn't mean, I just answered your question)
Anyone has an opinion on this??
And only this little line I don't really get:
"You said it was dangerous after Sunday
And I knew you loved me"
If someone can help me out on this?
Really love this song btw, just like so many others of her... :D
And I knew you loved me"
As the song discusses her pregnancy, maybe this refers to the likelihood of conceiving at some stage of her menstrual cycle.
"They laugh `cause they know they're untouchable
Not because what I said was wrong
Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace"
She meant on these lines above many people tend so easily to judge&condemn other one on taking as base only his/her opinions just because these ones sound very controversial to their 'sensitive' ears, which are used to hear only harmless things. And people who just talks harmless things are untouchable indeed since nobody will attack them. But Sinéad dared to talk loud her opinions and she didn't change her mind only to be falsely beloved by other people...