Strange, I've heard this song like a million times, but only when I stopped and read the lyrics (on one of the lyrics websites) did the start to make sense to me. My take:
It's a snapshot of the speaker's feelings during a short morning scene at a cafe. She doesn't seem to be feeling great about herself. First, she's ignored by the waiter, who then goes on to show preferential treatment to another customer. She tries to turn to something else, the paper, but the news there is bad too - an actor who died while drinking. Perhaps the speaker is also an artist and can't help but identify with the actor - will her stumbling career end that way too? Okay, maybe that was a bit of a stretch - but at the very least, encountering that article seems to reflect and enhance the speaker's gloominess.
"Turning to the horoscope" - equates to asking: and what will be of ME? And again, perhaps asking, how will my fate end up compared to that actor?
"Looking for the funnies" - in hope of consolation, that she does not get to, once again, because she's interrupted by the feeling of being watched.
Now, this being watched thing can be read at more than one level. Perhaps, as others suggested, this shows the disconnection between people (the other woman can't see her). But on another level, I'd say the other woman is the speaker as well. I mean, "on the outside, looking inside" is a perfect description of introspection.
"Does she see me?" - do I understand myself? or, perhaps, does my external behavior reflect who I am? Can I see myself for who I truly am, or have I got caught up in my "reflection",i.e. the face I like to show to the world.
"Hitching up her skirt…. and while she's straightening her stocking / her hair has gotten wet"
The author is reflecting on how stressing (and perhaps using) her sexuality has worked out for her. Did she get damaged along the way ("her hair has gotten wet").
"Wet" seems to represents sadness - as is evidenced by the sigh "oh… this rain" - the gloomy period in the speaker's life isn't over yet. Perhaps it will continue as long as she's "listening to … the cathedral… thinking of your voice", that is, not over him.
Strange, I've heard this song like a million times, but only when I stopped and read the lyrics (on one of the lyrics websites) did the start to make sense to me. My take: It's a snapshot of the speaker's feelings during a short morning scene at a cafe. She doesn't seem to be feeling great about herself. First, she's ignored by the waiter, who then goes on to show preferential treatment to another customer. She tries to turn to something else, the paper, but the news there is bad too - an actor who died while drinking. Perhaps the speaker is also an artist and can't help but identify with the actor - will her stumbling career end that way too? Okay, maybe that was a bit of a stretch - but at the very least, encountering that article seems to reflect and enhance the speaker's gloominess. "Turning to the horoscope" - equates to asking: and what will be of ME? And again, perhaps asking, how will my fate end up compared to that actor? "Looking for the funnies" - in hope of consolation, that she does not get to, once again, because she's interrupted by the feeling of being watched.
Now, this being watched thing can be read at more than one level. Perhaps, as others suggested, this shows the disconnection between people (the other woman can't see her). But on another level, I'd say the other woman is the speaker as well. I mean, "on the outside, looking inside" is a perfect description of introspection. "Does she see me?" - do I understand myself? or, perhaps, does my external behavior reflect who I am? Can I see myself for who I truly am, or have I got caught up in my "reflection",i.e. the face I like to show to the world.
"Hitching up her skirt…. and while she's straightening her stocking / her hair has gotten wet" The author is reflecting on how stressing (and perhaps using) her sexuality has worked out for her. Did she get damaged along the way ("her hair has gotten wet").
"Wet" seems to represents sadness - as is evidenced by the sigh "oh… this rain" - the gloomy period in the speaker's life isn't over yet. Perhaps it will continue as long as she's "listening to … the cathedral… thinking of your voice", that is, not over him.