The Last Great American Dynasty
Rebekah's Roaring Tale: The Last Great American Dynasty Unveiled
Lyrics
Rebekah rode up on the afternoon train
Rebekah arrived in town on the afternoon train.
It was sunny
The weather was sunny.
Her saltbox house on the coast
Rebekah's house, a saltbox, was located on the coast.
Took her mind off St. Louis
Her house helped distract her from thoughts of St. Louis.
Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil name and money
Bill was the heir to the Standard Oil fortune.
And the town said, "How did a middle-class divorcée do it?"
The town questioned how a middle-class divorcée achieved this.
The wedding was charming, if a little gauche
The wedding was charming but perceived as a bit tactless.
There's only so far new money goes
New money has limits in social acceptance.
They picked out a home and called it "Holiday House"
They chose a home called "Holiday House."
Their parties were tasteful, if a little loud
Their parties were tasteful but somewhat noisy.
The doctor had told him to settle down
The doctor advised Bill to settle down.
It must have been her fault his heart gave out
It's implied Rebekah may be responsible for Bill's death.
And they said
Community gossip begins.
"There goes the last great American dynasty"
Community opinion on Rebekah becomes negative.
"Who knows if she never showed up, what could've been"
Speculation on what might have happened if Rebekah never arrived.
"There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen"
Rebekah is portrayed as the town's craziest woman.
"She had a marvelous time ruinin' everything"
She had a great time disrupting things.
Rebekah gave up on the Rhode Island set, forever
Rebekah distances herself from the local social scene.
Flew in all her Bitch Pack friends from the city
She brings friends from the city (Bitch Pack) to town.
Filled the pool with champagne and swam with the big names
Rebekah indulges in luxury, swimming with influential people.
And blew through the money on the boys and the ballet
Money is spent on boys and the ballet.
And losin' on card game bets with Dalí
Rebekah gambles with Dalí and loses.
And they said
Community disapproval continues.
"There goes the last great American dynasty"
Reiteration of negative community opinion on Rebekah.
"Who knows if she never showed up, what could've been"
Reflecting on what might have happened if Rebekah never came.
"There goes the most shameless woman this town has ever seen"
Portrayal of Rebekah as the most shameless woman in town.
"She had a marvelous time ruinin' everything"
Emphasizing her delight in disrupting the established order.
They say she was seen on occasion
Rebekah is occasionally seen contemplating by the sea.
Pacing the rocks, staring out at the midnight sea
She has a feud with her neighbor, involving a peculiar act with his dog.
And in a feud with her neighbor
Time passes, and Holiday House remains tranquil.
She stole his dog and dyed it key lime green
The house is eventually sold to the current speaker.
50 years is a long time
Reflecting on the passage of 50 years.
Holiday House sat quietly on that beach
During this period, Holiday House is free from disruptive influences.
Free of women with madness, their men and bad habits
The speaker, the new owner, now reflects on the past.
And then it was bought by me
Speculation on what might have happened if the speaker never arrived.
Who knows if I never showed up what could've been
Community opinion on the speaker's disruptive influence.
There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen
Portrayal of the speaker as the town's loudest woman.
I had a marvelous time ruinin' everything
The speaker acknowledges the joy in disrupting established norms.
I had a marvelous time ruinin' everything
Reiteration of the speaker's enjoyment in causing disruption.
A marvelous time ruinin' everything
Further emphasis on the speaker's marvelous time in causing chaos.
A marvelous time
Expressing the speaker's satisfaction with the disruptive experience.
I had a marvelous time
A final statement reiterating the speaker's satisfaction in causing chaos.
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