☝️ Key Points
- The text speaks of strong and complex emotions that a significant woman evokes in the artist's life.
- She is portrayed as an ambivalent figure who can cause both joy and regret, and capable of turning each day into heaven or hell.
- The artist shows a deep and complicated relationship with the woman, with moments of love, difficulty, and potential transience.
- She is described as the reason for his survival and existence, and the artist shows a deep dependence on her, both in good and bad times.
- Overall, the song presents the woman as the central factor in the artist's life, shaping him both positively and negatively.
Interpretation
The song 'She' by
Elvis Costello is a deep and emotional homage to a significant woman in his life. She is present in both his happiest and darkest moments. The lyrics speak of a variety of emotions and situations that this woman evokes in his life.
In the first section, she is described as someone who can evoke both pleasure and regret: 'She may be the face I can't forget / The trace of pleasure or regret'. She can be his 'treasure' or the 'price I have to pay', suggesting a possible consequence of their relationship.
In the second section, she continues to be portrayed as an ambivalent figure who can be both beauty and beast, both abundance and famine. She can turn each day into heaven or hell.
In the third section, Costello shows a deeper level of his relationship with her. She always seems to be happy in the crowd, but her eyes can be private and proud, no one can see her cry. She could be a love that can't hope to last and can come or go from the shadows of the past. This suggests a complicated love relationship.
In the final section, she is described as the reason for his survival and existence. She is the one he cares for in good and bad times. He will take her laughter and tears and make them his memories. For wherever she goes, he must go too. She is the meaning of his life.
Overall, 'She' is a love song that showcases the complexity and depth of love and relationships. It shows how one person can have such a strong impact on another's life, both positively and negatively.