Wouldn't know a van Goff from a van Goh! lyrics only
David is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance sculpture, created from 1501 to 1504 by Michelangelo.
Google it for context.
verse 1
Thousands of people pass every day,
but no one ever notices me.
Their eyes are glued to the walls,
it's the paintings they're here to see.
verse 2
There's a lady comes in, every day at noon.
She sits and stares at the same Monet,
eats her lunch, and doesn't move.
Throws down the wrapper, and kicks it away.
chorus
Who do ya think, cleans up your mess,
do you really wanna know?
The cleaner who works in the background,
Wouldn't know a van Goff from a van Goh.
verse 3
A vicar came in with a woman on his arm,
they sat in a secluded nook.
He spent an hour admiring David,
she didn't know where to look.
chorus
Who do ya think, cleans up your mess,
do you really wanna know?
The cleaner who works in the background,
Wouldn't know a van Goff from a van Goh.
verse 4
Everyone suddenly becomes an art critic,
when they walk in through the door.
Comment on every brush stroke,
but ignore all of mine on the floor.
bridge
Nobody could care less, looking down their nose.
Only complain when the bin is full.
I wasn't always a cleaner here, a year ago,
I was the Head of Art, in the Museum of Kabul.
chorus
Who do ya think, cleans up your mess,
do you really wanna know?
The cleaner who works in the background,
Wouldn't know a van Goff from a van Goh.
outro
N.B. Van Gogh typically used "Vincent" to sign his paintings and letters, as it was easier for people to pronounce!
Comments
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@sidshovel Another catchy set of lyrics, and clever inclusion of the word 'vicar'! I've only heard it used in one other song, although there are probably quire a few. 😀
I'd say your lines in the bridge were the most impactful.
Nobody could care less, looking down their nose.
Only complain when the bin is full.
I wasn't always a cleaner here, a year ago,
I was the Head of Art, in the Museum of Kabul.
Also, many thanks for the shout-out in @Plain_Jane 's thread. I'm responding here so I don't hijack her thread. She has very cool talent, as do you, sir! 😀
Cheers,
Joseph
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@sidshovel I'm not the best at reviewing lyrics Sid, which is why I often leave it to others on here who know more about structure and verse. I don't analyse my lyrics when I write which is probably why they often don't make sense!! But, like some others of yours, this one really caught my eye. It's funny but it tells a story too. Keep em comin'.😀
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Just a thought, but you could try putting the song into 3rd person, might be more sympathetic if it comes from someone else, rather than from himself.
I'm a little unsure of this one. I like the idea that the cleaner is secretly more of an art expert than the visitors, but the focus on the garbage they leave behind doesn't quite gell with that, though it certainly matches with him being the cleaner! It makes it more against them, rather than for him. I'm not quite sure where to guide you, but the image I have is of one of the visitors saying something clearly wrong about an art work, and the cleaner just smiling to himself as he goes about his work.
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Hi Owen, thanks for the feedback, good points, appreciated.
re the "the image", I was trying to capture the hypocrisy of holding one persons work on the wall with that of another's on the floor, reread verse 4 and "brush strokes", cleaner v artist. I do take your point, the imagery I have in my brain, does not necessarily translate well to the reader. Will work on that!
Sid
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