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You've been famous since your birth
A silent one it was till they told me, "It's a girl", and everybody gasped
I know how to raise you right, teach you how to read
And your math, yeah, toys, spelling, names, alphabet and how to be polite
You've been famous since your birth
A silent one it was till they told me, "It's a girl"
And everybody said, "You and your atlas know it all"
Let the corners curl 'cause if you go by night you'll hit the coast for sure
It's a ruse, its a laugh, experts they agree, listen to the math
Australopithecine, rekindle your heart
These hospital machines are state of the art
I put down my middle name in the back of her book
And signed it just in case our work was overlooked
'Cause I got one more up my sleeve, bring it out tonight
'Cause if I am the joke then you're the punch line
It's a ruse, it's a laugh, experts they agree, listen to the math
Australopithecine, rekindle your heart
These hospital machines are state of the art
But it's the art of the state that's gonna keep me awake
I need a second opinion not a second to waste
A silent one it was till they told me, "It's a girl", and everybody gasped
I know how to raise you right, teach you how to read
And your math, yeah, toys, spelling, names, alphabet and how to be polite
You've been famous since your birth
A silent one it was till they told me, "It's a girl"
And everybody said, "You and your atlas know it all"
Let the corners curl 'cause if you go by night you'll hit the coast for sure
It's a ruse, its a laugh, experts they agree, listen to the math
Australopithecine, rekindle your heart
These hospital machines are state of the art
I put down my middle name in the back of her book
And signed it just in case our work was overlooked
'Cause I got one more up my sleeve, bring it out tonight
'Cause if I am the joke then you're the punch line
It's a ruse, it's a laugh, experts they agree, listen to the math
Australopithecine, rekindle your heart
These hospital machines are state of the art
But it's the art of the state that's gonna keep me awake
I need a second opinion not a second to waste
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She was incredibly popular, and I think that's because most people (no matter how objective they try to be) look at anything female and it reminds them automatically of their mother, daughter, sister, wife, etc. It's this same phenomena that caused a stir when we first entered Afghanistan - many people disagreed with women being on the front lines. When a woman was injured/captured, it was a much bigger deal (Jessica Lynch, anyone?).
Anyhow, this is only my theory. For whatever reason, Lucy struck a cord in the hearts of the
scientific community, and the whole "rekindle your heart, these hospital machines are state of the art" line is about the world having this obsession with giving her a "heart"- as in, giving her emotions, and a child (like NG did), which isn't scientific at all. I think the hospital machines further proves this because they gave her an MRI to learn more about her. This would be seen as a scientific action, but they say "hospital" as if she's alive and they're treating her, not using it for autopsy.
The whole point is that Lucy made anthropology "emotional". And that's what I think the song is getting at.
I think the song is about a single father (no explanation to where the mother is). He, and everybody in the waiting room, is surprised at the survival of the baby, because she is mentally challenged, with Down's Syndrome or another developmental disorder. Hence the silent birth, as the birth of somebody born with such problems has been known to be silent. This is why the father is at a loss as to how to raise his daughter, because all the things he expected to do are now complicated, marred by doctor's visits and worry about her survival. It could be a famous birth, possibly because of a newspaper article or something in a medical journal. If you put that connotation over the song, it makes much more sense. Even if it's not a developmental problem, it could be any other serious health condition you care to name, and it would still make sense.
Anyway, my take on the meaning stems from my own anthropological background. I believe Dave wrote this with Lucy in mind, the oldest known ancestor to modern humans that has thus far been found. This explains the female part, as well as being famous. However, as with the majority of Tokyo Police Club lyrics, I find that it is easier to simply enjoy and appreciate the songs rather than attempt to decipher every single meaning.
so here's my 2 cents - being a father a girl and all...
It seems to me that the song is about young parents - excited about the child's birth - the child is famous - it's what's on your mind and all you talk about prior to the child being born. Silent - not knowing if it will be a boy or a girl - everybody gasped when they find out the sex of the child. Parenthood comes natural - no need for a map - and the basics are all that's required - learning to read, sharing, manners... A ruse, a Laugh and Australopithecine to me represent that the child is underdeveloped at birth - perhaps premature. The experts tell the parents not to worry, because the hospital machines are state of the art and things will be fine, however, the parent(s) are unsure and feel they need a second opinion because they don't want to lose their baby.
but on a more general level, i think the song is about a father loving his daughter, and how he tries to raise her right and provide for her in every way.
Cause that's what I'm thinking that's what it's more about.
I still think that his wife died during childbirth, but I dunno.
Maybe I'll try to ask them what it's about when they come to Dallas.
a few corrections:
"But I know how to raise you right
Teach you how to read
Do maths, share toys, spell names
and how to be polite"
i can hear alphabet in there too, but this is how it is on the insert
"Listen to the math
Australopithecine
Rekindle your heart"
"I put down my middle name
on the back of every book
and signed it just incase
Our work was overlooked"