☝️ Key Points
- The song is about someone who is looking for the perfect partner, but keeps finding small things that prevent them from entering into a relationship.
- The song uses metaphors to express the disappointment and anger over these small obstacles.
- It is about the importance of small mistakes or discrepancies in a relationship.
- The chorus 'Close but no cigar' expresses that it almost worked out, but not quite.
- The song lyrics convey the message that some people don't settle for less and search for the perfect partner.
Interpretation
"Close but No Cigar" by
Weird Al Yankovic is about someone who longs for the perfect partner but keeps discovering small things that prevent them from entering into a relationship. The song uses metaphors to express the disappointment and frustration over these small obstacles.
In the first part of the song, it's about Jillian, who seems to be perfect but always uses the word "infer" instead of "imply." The singer can't accept it and tells her that she's close but still no success. This is about how even small mistakes or inconsistencies can be important in a relationship.
In the second part of the song, the singer meets Janet, who is also almost perfect but owns a terrible movie on DVD. Once again, they can't ignore this small detail and it becomes the reason why the relationship doesn't work.
In the third part of the song, it's about Julie, who seems perfect in every way except for having a slightly larger ear. Again, the singer sees no future for their relationship because this small detail bothers them.
The chorus "Close but no cigar" expresses that it almost worked out but not quite. The singer has always found someone who is almost perfect, but there's always something that bothers them and makes a relationship impossible.
The song's lyrics convey the message that small mistakes or inconsistencies can sometimes be enough to prevent a relationship, even if the rest seems perfect. It's about how some people don't settle for less and search for the perfect partner.