South Hampton Avenue
Life on South Hampton Avenue
Lyrics
She lies in bed out of her head sucking a cigarette
Describes a woman lying in bed, distressed, and smoking.
Closing her eyes she really tries to make believe she's dead
She closes her eyes, attempting to escape reality by pretending to be dead.
But she's not
Contrasts the illusion with the reality that she is not dead.
She's not
Reiteration that she is indeed alive.
In the next tomb her old man't room it's another night
Shifts focus to another character (her old man) in a separate room for the night.
He slips away on cathode ray into the TV light
He escapes into television, emphasizing detachment from reality.
Yeah it's on
Confirmation that the television is on.
But he's gone
Emphasizes his mental absence despite the physical presence.
We live on South Hampton Avenue
Introduction of the setting as South Hampton Avenue.
We'll leave the welcome light on for you
Offering a welcome, possibly sarcastic or ironic.
Now that you think you know who we are
Rhetorical question about how well others think they know the characters.
How do you like us so far
Asking for opinions on their likability.
Right down the stairs my mom is there under the mushroom cloud
Describes the narrator's mom under stress, perhaps due to a family situation.
Sometimes she sits sometimes she knits sometimes she talks out loud
Highlights her varied activities and possible emotional struggles.
To herself
Acknowledgment of her right to express herself.
She's allowed
Reiteration of her freedom in the household.
Hanging on the wall up and down the hall pictures of family
Depiction of family photos decorating the house.
My brother Dave is on display for all the world to see
Specific mention of the narrator's brother, Dave, on display.
Now he's gone
Acknowledges that Dave is no longer present.
He moved on
Confirmation of Dave's departure or death.
We live on South Hampton Avenue
Reiteration of the setting as South Hampton Avenue.
I've got a feelin' that so do you....
Suggests a shared feeling or experience with the listener.
We live on South Hampton Avenue
Repeats the setting and extends a welcome to the listener.
We'll leave the welcome mat out for you
Continues the welcoming gesture.
Now that we thing we know who you are
Rhetorical question about the listener's perception of the characters.
How do you like us so far
Asking for the listener's opinion on their likability.
We live on South Hampton Avenue....
Reiteration of living on South Hampton Avenue.
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