'Scuse me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize

It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze

'Scuse me
I apologize
She's got vacuum cleaner eyes
That Sucks You In
She's got magazines
Filled with pear pies
'Scuse me
I apologize

It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
And her hypnotic gaze

She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self-doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out

'Scuse me
I apologize
He likes your attitude
He tries it on for size
He spends the afternoon
Between your thighs
How's that for gratitude
I apologize

It seemed to last for hours
It seemed to last for days
This lady of the flowers
Her electronic haze

She wears her tears on her blouse
Confused and racked with self doubt
She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out

She stole the keys to my house
And then she locked herself out

She lays me down
She lays me



Lyrics submitted by Ice

"Lady of the Flowers" as written by Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, Robert Schultzberg

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Lady Of The Flowers song meanings
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41 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I know it has nothing to do with the actual lyrics, but the title of this song reminds me of Aerith from Final Fantasy VII. Lady of the Flowers. This is a great band and that was such a great game (:
    Flag molkoyknowon March 20, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:placebo songs play in my mind and my imagination runs on its own whether its correct or not, this song makes me fantasise about the idea of it being the first time with someone he loves, laying down on the flowers sign innocence, and what seems like dayys and hours he spends between her thighs drawn to her not wanting to leave or not able to
    Flag puzledplayon March 17, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:I think its about Brian's sexuality, and being with a domineering woman (He likes your attitude and tries it on for size) who is most likely called Hannah (Lady of the flowers - because the woman doesn't sound 'delicate' and almost every girl I ever met called Hannah tells me that her name means flower in Japanese)

    Plus the "vacunm cleaner eyes" line is followed by the line "they suck you in", and there are other lines such as "electronic gaze" and "her hypnotic gaze" (which is used twice)... Signifying it REALLY is about her eyes and not a hidden drug reference...
    Flag FirstGoFreon August 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's not about a transgender/transsexual (not a transvestite, there is a difference)
    Flag fr0zencreekon March 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Placebo songs always make me play a little film in my head.
    I don't know what the actual meaning is, but it makes me think of someone who was in love with someone who was addicted to drugs, and was really worried about her but never could help her.
    She could have convinced him to try drugs once or twice "vacuum cleaner eyes, sucks you in" but he doesn't want to live his life that way and want her to come clean.
    The girl seems really insecure anyway "She wears the tears on her blouse, confused and racked with self-doubt" which is perhaps why she started doing drugs, and maybe she doesn't feel like she deserves to be loved.
    The guy feels guilty because he doesn't know how to help her and the girl is unable to help herself.
    "She stole the keys to my house and then she locked herself out"
    Makes me think the girl tried to get herself out of the guy's life because she knows he worries about her but she can't stop being the way she is. The end seems like the girl's finally convinced him to let her go, as if she's laying him down to sleep/rest or something.

    In any case, a very beautiful song. Enchants me.
    Flag Myzoon November 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yes, its prob about a transvestite, but when I first started listening to this song this is what i thought:


    'Scuse me, I apologize
    he likes your attitude, he tries it on for size
    he spends the afternoon, between your thighs
    how's that for gratitude, I apologize.'

    This song always came off as a story about a young delicate woman (lady of the flowers) who is being used. The man who is with her, loves what she represents and 'wears her attitude' without any consideration for the actual person. The time he spends 'between her thighs' is what he gives her in return. Its hollow and emotionless for her.

    It seemed to last for hours
    It seemed to last for days
    This lady of the flowers
    and her hypnotic gaze.

    Shes been in this cycle for what feels like years (and very well maybe) whether he's faithful or not isn't really the issue (to me) its more the feeling that while he may not truly want her, he can't seem to let her go. (her hypnotic gaze)

    'Scuse me, I apologize
    she's got vacuum cleaner eyes
    suck you in
    she's got magazines, filled with pear pies
    'scuse me, I apologize

    I can see where people start to think that the woman is domestic. I think this section cements the earlier description of how 'lovely' she is.


    She wears her tears on her blouse
    confused and racked with self-doubt
    she stole the keys to my house
    and then she locked herself out.

    This seems like the breaking point for her. She understands she isn't happy (most likely the narrator broke her happy-life-bubble) She angry that shes in this situation but doesn't know how to get out, she lashes out at the person trying to help her. The narrator has 'fallin under her gaze' but she keeps him out.

    As the song continues so does this cycle wearing her down more and more, then finally (though it might not be healthy) She 'lays me down'.

    It ends with the feeling that though she broke the cycle she might just be starting a new one. I think the tragic thing is that its her own fault. She just has this aura that people can't resist and she traps them and herself into this haze. What breaks me is that the narrator knows this, hes the one telling this story after all. He just sounds so resigned about the situation.

    Again this isn't the 'true' meaning, but this song gets to me like crazy!


    Flag bedwellamon July 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my favourite Placebo songs. And this phrase:
    "She stole the keys to my house
    and then she locked herself out"
    It kind of sounds to me like: "She made me love her, then didn't let me in". Like just the way she was made him fall for her, but she was too insecure to show him what she felt for him.
    Flag neuroticvinylon March 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The first time I listened, I thought, "Feels so emotional, like I'm listening to something private." And I can't help but keep listening anyway. All the same, it's one of the few songs I refuse to speculate on. It's one of those things that, "I can't possibly know, I'm not him." So I only listen, glad that he's willing to share. It's beautiful.
    Flag LilyFlower27on February 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing song... One of my favourites, really. The music is absolutely great, it makes me shudder. Brian's high-pitched voice is mind-blowing here... Pure perfection.
    Flag teenagewifeon June 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it makes me think of a beautiful 40-something housewife, leading a miserable life very housewife-ish and is probably cheating on her husband with someone younger, who spends the afternoon between her thighs...anyway, that's only my opinion, though i'm not quite sure what 'She wears her tears on her blouse confused and racked with self-doubt she stole the keys to my house and then she locked herself out. She stole the keys to my house and then she locked herself out. She lays me down she lays me.' means... brian's songwriting...you can never be sure what it's about
    Flag spacemonkey27on May 15, 2009   Link

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