when they beat
on a broken guitar
and on the streets
they reek of tropical charms
the embassies lie in hideous shards
where tourists snore and decay

when they dance in a reptile blaze
you wear a mask
an equatorial haze
into the past
a colonial maze
where there's no more confetti to throw

you didn't know what to say to yourself
love is a poverty you couldn't sell
misery waiting in vague hotels
to be evicted

you're out of luck
you're singing funeral songs
to the studs
they're anabolic and bronze
they seem to strut
in their millennial fogs
'til they fall down and deflate

you didn't know what to say to yourself
love is a poverty you couldn't sell
misery waiting in vague hotels
to be evicted

now you've had your fun
under an air-conditioned sun
it's burned into your eyes
leaves you plain and left behind
see them eyes and fall
into the jaws of a pestilent love

you didn't know what to say to yourself
love is a poverty you couldn't sell
misery waiting in vague hotels
to be a victim



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:20


Tropicalia song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:fabulous song - its like he's totally absorbed a latin style but given it his own mutation - evocative of a post-industrial tourist resort in central america where a hapless musician has been drawn by a paycheck and where he absorbs the ennui. and the lyrics span everything from post-colonial tourist economies to their effect on the individual as one of purposelessness and deflation. Beck has always skated close to a depressive's outlook; but the humour and intelligence of his music and lyrics rescue him from that and make the disappointment and failure so much more interesting. viva la beck.
    Flag clareakon October 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:kinda like a "theme song" to the LP, 'cause it's a tribute to the style of one of the most beloved Tropicalia bands, Os Mutantes. Mutations = (mutation of) Mutantes, capiche?
    Flag foreverdroneon July 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:oh yeah, totally about fake glamour in summer vacation
    Flag carrotkinson November 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one of the best beck songs
    sounds like he's talking about fake glamor in a tropic vacation spot such as rio de janaro
    a great summer song
    Flag treefingers505on February 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love the glass-rubbing sound.
    Flag TX9on January 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:with beck, you never really know what the fuck he's talking about, but you understand the general meaning.
    i don't really know how to explain it. but i never really was good at explaining things.
    Flag subterranean_summeron May 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:There are enough mistakes there for me to suggest someone change it to this:

    Oh when they beat upon a broken guitar
    And on the streets they reek of tropical charms
    The embassies lie in hideous shards
    Where tourists snore and decay

    And when they dance in a reptile blaze
    You wear a mask an equatorial haze
    Into the past a colonial maze
    Where there's no more confetti to throw

    You wouldn't know what to say to yourself
    Love is a poverty you couldn't sell
    Misery waits in vague hotels to be evicted

    You're out of luck, you're singing funeral songs
    To the studs, they're anabolic and bronze
    They seem to strut, in their millennial fog
    Till they fall down and deflate

    You wouldn't know what to say to yourself
    Love is a poverty you couldn't sell
    Misery waits in vague hotels to be evicted

    Oh and now you've had your fun
    Under an air-conditioned sun
    It's burned into your eyes
    Leaves you plain and left behind
    I see them rise and fall
    Into the jaws of a pestilent love

    You wouldn't know what to say to yourself
    Love is a poverty you couldn't sell
    Misery waits in vague hotels to be evicted
    Flag TheFranzFerdinandon December 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song
    Flag getborn182on September 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:under an air conditioned sun

    this reminds me of the glamour advertised in places like rio de janeiro and honolulu and miami back in the 60's

    and how in truth there's a dark side under all the glamour....ego i guess...of this place

    love the song!!
    Flag cloudson July 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about snooty people who just can't love because they're too preoccupied with themselves and who will eventually become miserable with loneliness.
    Flag suclid003on May 14, 2006   Link

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