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 Cherry
Town - Lyric SummaryChilly Penguin's Bar The oldest citizen of Cherry Town, and the proprietor of its only bar. Chilly is the smallest man in Cherry Town. He wears clothes of pink and green and a crown in his hair. Chilly is a non-conformist. His long tenure in Cherry Town represents the neverending struggle of the non-conformist in societies since the dawn of civilized man. Lilly Lime Lagoon A lagoon outside of Cherry Town, described from dawn till dusk in the song, casts a green mist across the town, keeping the townspeople perpetually high; unable to accomplish their individual goals or fulfill the idealistic dreams of childhood. Banker Beegee's Barracuda Cherry Town's resident banker and the proud owner of a Barracuda. A true materialist, he has given up a "normal" life with a woman for a life with his car, which he adores. Happy High Day About the fact that the citizens of the town are trapped by the potency of the green mist from Lilly Lime Lagoon. The song's 'downer' music cynically documents the "process" of getting high from the user's standpoint, and is a look at the alleged benefit of taking drugs to the exclusion of other lifetime endeavors. Luvva The song describes a childish view of love, devoid of sexual or communication issues. Because a child's love has not been contaminated by the expectations of others, the resulting love is simple and straightforward. It has a purity that is not possible in "adult" love. Zany Zeke the Blacksmith Zeke is an older guy in Cherry Town, a "Type A" personality, driven so much by his work that he rarely takes time to stop and smell the roses. "He's sad but he's happy . . ." His only friend is Chilly Penguin, who repeatedly tries to get Zeke to slow down and "give his love to all". Mrs. Murphy's Purple Grocery Store Mrs Murphy has an incredible grocery store: flying popcorn, rainbow suckers and candy-coated spinach. The song celebrates the "amazingness" of childhood, when not everything is so perfectly understood. The song exudes the joy that dominates childrens' lives when they are less adult than child-and life seems carefree-without responsibility that burdens adults. Happy-Go-Lucky's Pool Hall Gang The gang struggles with the desirability of conformity versus self-determination. The song points out that to be noticed in a world like ours, it seems that we must be different, putting pressure on all of us. BUT, the song also says it's OKAY to be a conformist, to wear the same clothes and talk the same as others do. In other words, each person's future is what they wish it to be. 'That's the way you want it; that's the way it is,' Happy-Go-Lucky says. Lucky Lilah Lucky Lilah is a prostitute in Cherry Town. She walks the streets perpetually, lonely and without love or purpose. There were no lyrics written to Lucky Lilah Lucky; just aimless music, like her life; only endless pleasure for pleasure's sake. Miss Crankhouse, the old Bag An old teacher who isn't appreciated until she dies. (Originally conceived and written about Miss Blanche Borg, who gave her life to the Morton Grove School District, but was never recognized until she retired and died. Then a school was named after her.) In the song, Miss Crankhouse returns after her death and hopelessly wanders the town, looking upon the others with her lifeless "cool gazing cranberry eyes". Without genuinely having been appreciated while she was alive, her time in Cherry Town seems empty. Cherry Town, the Epilogue The Epilogue tells how each of the citizens of Cherry Town resolve their individual dilemma: Zany Zeke is happy, no more woes. He's slowed down his impossible work schedule and married Mrs. Murphy. Miss Crankhouse is reborn, and walks the streets of the town with laughing eyes, lauded by the populous for the contributions she made while alive. Baker Beegee makes aimless Lucky Lilah truly lucky by marrying her, helping them both. Chilly Penguin wears his crown proudly, not afraid to showoff his weird outfit anymore. The populous of Cherry Town accepts his uniqueness. Happy-Go-Lucky's Pool Hall Gang is dressing in variety, no longer compelled to conform to the latest trend for conformity sake. The unconditional love described in Luvva replaces the hapless Happy High Day as prime motivater of the town. All the citizens of Cherry Town hang out by Lilly Lime Lagoon, previously uninhabitable, now a beautiful picnic-pond, with willows and doves and fresh sweet air. |
