Serpentine
Carnival Memories: Embracing Life's Temptations
Lyrics
Maybe it's just age or a thousand other fears
Reflecting on the impact of age and various fears on the speaker.
That took me back tonight to my early carnival years
Nostalgia for the speaker's early experiences at carnivals.
I can see the period moving like the source of the old Golf Stream
Imagining time passing like the Gulf Stream, emphasizing a dreamlike quality.
Oh, what a lovely dream
Expressing admiration for a beautiful dream.
Adolescent lust was begging for a start
Recalling adolescent desires and the pursuit of new beginnings.
As I sidestepped those brothers with their sacred hearts
Referencing encounters with individuals devoted to religious beliefs.
Yep, those two weeks a year, it was all about sin
Highlighting a period of two weeks a year dedicated to indulging in sinful behaviors.
Follies chasing death, you can count me in
Expressing a willingness to embrace risky experiences and face mortality.
There's flannel man with a golden ring
Introducing characters, possibly symbolizing contrasting aspects of life.
And a cruel, north man, smells like kerosene
Describing the characteristics of individuals encountered during the speaker's experiences.
Here comes the flow of a con of a queen
Anticipating the arrival of a captivating and deceptive figure.
I wanna wrap her in serpentine
Expressing a desire to envelop the intriguing figure in a metaphorical serpentine embrace.
Hands up high, eyes open wide
Describing an enthusiastic and open posture, possibly during a carnival event.
Throw me something, mister, that's why you ride
Requesting for tokens or gifts during a festive event.
Cracker jacks with tares inside
Referring to Cracker Jacks, possibly symbolizing unexpected surprises in life.
Kneel beyond our wildest dreams
Exploring fantastical experiences beyond imagination.
Foots and masks that are too '
Mentioning mysterious elements like "foots" and "masks."
Some things really are the way they seem
Suggesting that some things are as they appear.
Beads and confetti were littering the air
Depicting the aftermath of a festive event with scattered beads and confetti.
When the queen looked at me with her Ava Gardner stare
Describing a captivating gaze from a queen-like figure with a reference to Ava Gardner.
Though tomorrow would bring ashes and penance by the tongue
Acknowledging the transience of joy, hinting at consequences and repentance.
Mardi Gras is where I learned to have fun
Highlighting Mardi Gras as a source of enjoyment and life lessons.
There's flannel man with a golden ring
Reintroducing characters, emphasizing their enduring presence in the speaker's thoughts.
And a cruel, north man, smells like kerosene
Reiterating the distinctive qualities of the mentioned individuals.
I'm still in love with the con of a queen
Expressing ongoing affection for the captivating and deceptive queen figure.
I wanna wrap her in serpentine
Reiterating the desire to envelop the queen in a serpentine embrace.
Still wanna wrap her in serpentine
Continuing the expression of the speaker's persistent longing for the queen.
It was the devil!
Introducing a devilish element, possibly representing the darker side of the speaker's experiences.
You ought to try reading his book.... this is right from an experience that he had in Mobile as a child