To think at the end of the Ballad of Lucy Jordan

[dreamofwhitehorses]

She jumps of the roof?

[Orangeanddemons]

I thought she was led down to the long white car......?

I love love this song, but sometimes when I contemplate the much hated housework I feel like she mst have felt.

Although I have driven through Paris in an open top car with the warm wind in my hair

[flipchart]

I thought she was taken away to an asylum.

[flipchart]

And she bowed and curtsied to the man
Who reached and offered her his hand
And he led her down to the long white car that waited past the crowd

She had climbed on to the roof top but is talked down by the man. Who takes her to the long white car (ambulance waiting for her). Past the crowds ( public, spectators)

[Nomama]

The man who reached out his hand led her from the roof to the long white car..... and she realised she had found forever and was suddenly in Paris.

So yes, she jumped.

[flipchart]

Meaning behind the song.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Lucy_Jordan

[PortofinoRevisited]

I thought she was escorted from the roof to an ambulance and the "forever" referred to her essentially having gone mad. It's one of my favourite ever songs - though it seems a bit odd writing that in this context

[Morgause]

She jumped.

[Orangeanddemons]

I thought she ended up in hospital and her forever was her illness

[PortofinoRevisited]

Oh x posts.

[flipchart]

Read the Wikipedia. Marianne faithfully said in n interview what the song actually means.

She goes to a mental hospital.

[Nomama]

Marianne Faithfull sang it with her meaning, as stated in Wikipedia, but Shel Silverstein was not known for his happiest of endings.

The rest of the lyrics contain a deliberate and provocative contempt of women, in context of the time Silverstein may have been taking a pop at the new wave of feminists, like Erica Jong.

So I am sticking with she jumped. But I don't suppose there is a right or wrong answer.

[flipchart]

I'm going with the asylum bit as she has gone into delusional/ fantasy mode as she bows and curtesy to the observers and as the ambulance is speeding through the streets she thinks she has her wish of driving through Paris.

Great song from my teenage years!

[Nomama]

I'm sticking with as she courtesied and bowed the helpful bloke gave her a shove.

I even remember the original but own the Faithfull version, I love that album.

[Nomama]

And have you noticed the OPs name?

I'm singing that now ' on white horses let me ride away....'

Eeeeeeeeeeek!

[Orangeanddemons]

....faaaar a-waaay...on white horses..

[dreamofwhitehorses]

Hehe... my name is actually a climbing route up a sea cliff, although in reality I've probably got more chance of the sports car through Paris than completing it!
Yep I agree with Nomama I'm not convinced about MF's interpretation of it although I love her version. Interesting about the misogynistic reading of it. I think MF certainly transcends that.
And another AIBU... to think she's having a wank in the first verse?

[magimedi]

I just love this song!

Here it is for those of you who have not heard it:

My DH's major claim to fame is that he danced with Marianne Faithful at the Rickt Tick club - many, many years ago!

He has never forgotten it!

[drnoitall]

I love this song. Can't explain why because it gives me goosebumps.
It always makes me think she jumped because she was fed up with her dreary life and her dreams passing her by.
Ohhhh I will have to listen again now.

[flipchart]

But those of you saying a bloke pushed her off the roof, where has he come from, surely a paramedic in an ambulance ( the French have white ambulances) would be more likely with a crowd of rubberneckers who she has to pass through to get to it.

Love the thoughts and interpretations on this song! Also love her cover of working class hero.

[Starsandcars]

What are the odds of hearing this song for the first time at 37. Thank you - she sings it like she knows the person and cares for them .... Definitely gone to hospital

[Nomama]

Sorry flipchart - being shoved was me being flippant.

The mysterious man was God / Archangel Gabriel welcoming her home and the crowd were angels.

Erica Jong had just published Fear of Flying and the book and song have a few references in common. So that first verse is definitely about masturbation - something we ladies simply couldn't do, remember!

[slartybartfast]

i love this song.

[slartybartfast]

used to like to play this

[slartybartfast]

oops the link i posted, i forgot the actual lyrics

[Sparklysilversequins]

I always thought mental hospital. It's one of the saddest songs ever. Makes me determined not to allow imposed social roles for women to suppress ME!

I've never driven round Paris with the warm wind in my hair but I have round Berlin. That'll do for me.