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You are so sweet
Dancing to the beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
You are so sweet, so sweet
Dancing and moving to that beat, that beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
I'm walking through the city
Like a drunk, but not
With my slip showing a little
Like a drunk, but not
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
And it's only a matter of whom
And it's only a matter of when
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
Dancing to the beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
You are so sweet, so sweet
Dancing and moving to that beat, that beat
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
I'm walking through the city
Like a drunk, but not
With my slip showing a little
Like a drunk, but not
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
And it's only a matter of whom
And it's only a matter of when
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
Sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
You are so sweet
Lyrics submitted by adamanteve
Track duration: 03:41
"Dance Anthem of the 80's" as written by Regina Spektor
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I also think that the "meat market" signifies the fast pace of the '80s (as it has carried over into modern situations), and "when they really just wanna watch each other sleep" suggests that people have become jaded with the one-night stand culture and want a stable relationship where they can watch their partner "sleep."
This is what I got from the song when I first heard it...
Okay, first of all, I think this is about teenagers in the 80s
You are so sweet, dancing and moving to that beat
-First love, or love at first sight (girl sees boy walking down the street, headphones in and dancing and such, something like that)
There's a meat market down the street...
-Some kind of party or social gathering
The boys and the girls watch each other eat when they really just wanna watch each other sleep
- they're just talking to each other and casually flirting with one another, but inside they just want to be there for the other (especially the one that they sleep and wake up next to) they dont show their true feelings
I went walking, through the city, like a drunk, but not.
With my slip, showing a little, like a drunk, but not
-teenagers usually end up getting drunk at parties, and slip could also mean an undergarment, like a bra...
And I am, one of your people, but the cars don't stop.
-Some adults usually think of teenagers as being addicted to drugs or alcohol, all about sex, or something like that. And they don't stop long enough to look at the person that's standing there, a person with issues and changes and pressure who's trying to find their path, and so they just speed by trying to avoid them until they, well, grow up.
And it's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
- Maybe it's like a long time since they've felt like they do now, and they are taking advantage of it by, well, having sex...
And it's only a matter of who
And it's only a matter of when
-It's, like, only a matter of time; who you'll end up being, who you'll end up meeting, when you'll fall in love...
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they reallt just wanna watch each other sleep
-You finally have the person you've been wanting, and are addicted to their touch, to how it affects you, to how they affect you.
-Then we're back at the "meat market" down the street where there are still other people trying to figure out if they should just sit there and watch the other person or go up to them and do something about it
Yeah, so that's my take on it :)
BYE!
That try what you will to fill that hole, with sex or whatever, it can't be filled.
I think what she means by the part about 'I am one of your people but the cars don't stop' is that even if meaningless sex is the 'in' thing to do,to get you into the 'in crowd'or whatever, you still end up all alone.
I think it's about a whole generation of people coming together to try and feel something deeper, to fulfil their need to be loved, but they're going about it the wrong way. And this song seems to be questioning if there is even any right way at all. sort of saying that well, if there is no real way you might aswell keep on with the meaningless sex, because you'll end up alone in the end anyway.
This is really a tragic song - quite dark.
The title has a lot to do with the song. The 80's were infamous for recreational sex and drugs. The atmosphere of the song represents how that could be appealing on the surface, but the lyrics suggest otherwise.
"You're so sweet. Dancing to that beat." She's picking up a guy.
"Meat market" is slang for brothel, or whorehouse. A place where flesh is sold.
"The boys and girls watch each other sleep when they really want to watch each other sleep" Eating is done in public, but sleeping is more intimate. The woman is tired of hook ups and just wants a relationship.
"I'm walking through the city like a drunk, but not. With my slip showing a little." She appears drunk because she's trying to seem giddy and happy. "Slip" is slang for a whore, and also for a minor drug relapse.
"And I am one of your people, but the cars don't stop." She's waiting for a client. This, or she's longing to be normal, and waiting for a man to stop and give her real affection.
"An addiction to hands and feet" This can relate to drug use, as heroine is most commonly injected in the hands and feet. Or it can symbolize how many people choose to "hit it and quit it." Hands- being touched, having relations. Feet- running away, leaving. People would have sex with her, but leave soon after, not wanting anything more.
The atmosphere, to me represents how at first glance, the 80's lifestyle is appealing, but the lyrics are expressing that the narrator of this song is tired of meaningless relationships. Either that, or it's about a prostitute with an addiction.
"You are so sweet. Dancing to that beat." The girl is initiating another nonchalant sexual act, picking out a boy to take to the "meat market," which is slang for brothel, or whorehouse.
"The boys and the girls watch each other eat when they really want to watch each other sleep." People eat in public, it's not a private act. Watching someone sleep would be much more intimate. The girl is tired of hook ups and just wants a real relationship.
"I'm walking through the city. Like a drunk, but not. With my slip showing a little." Perhaps she seems drunk because she's trying to look giddy and happy. "Slip" can be slang for whore, but can also be slang for a minor drug relapse. "And I am one of your people, but the cars don't stop." This could mean that she's tired of living a life of no control and just wants to be normal. Or it could relate to her being a whore awaiting a client.
"And it's been a long time since before I've been touched. Now I'm getting touched all the time. And it's only a matter of who. And it's only a matter of when." I think this is about how she used to be a clean girl, but now she no longer controls her sex life. Either she's just having non-chalant sex with strangers, or again, it's relating to prostitution: She can't choose the client, and the client chooses when a play goes down.
"An addiction to hands and feet" This either relates to heroine (Hands and feet being the most common place to inject) or she's talking about "hitting it and quitting it." Hands- touching. Feet- leaving. People have relations with her and leave her not wanting anything else, like a substantial relationship.