Glass Animals - Show Pony Lyrics

 Glass Animals - Show Pony Lyrics

I’ll begin at the beginning.

You met in New York City.

He was sitting like a prince

On the stairs of his old building

When he kissed you you were finished

Two months in a minute

Married at a desk

In a sundress with a witness

Had a Honeymoon in Texas

Went to Little Venice

Told him with your eyes

Now you’re crying in the clinic

And we pile into the Plymouth

Haircuts in the kitchen

He always fell asleep

Just before the movie finished

But you don’t

Baby you’re alone

Echos in your head

Pressed into the floor

Two-dimensional

When’s it gonna end?

Maybe when you’re dead?

Maybe you’re a fool but he loved you

And he loved you in a t-shirt

All the memories inside your curves

Now you’re coming back to show us that girl,

Roll those credits ‘cos the sequel’s gonna hurt, mmm.

Show pony make it burn

Smile as the knife is turned

Show pony making a return

As we make our way thru the universe

Show pony making it burn

That’s how revenge is served

Make it so cold that it hurts

I guess he’s right that you live and learn

It’s how the story goes

Ramen on your own

Waiting by the phone

Lipstick on the coat

Waiting by the door

You live in his clothes

You would make a joke

That you had none of your own

All that shit I learned from you

Kindness spilt like milk and juice

So blind sided by the truth

In some way I was sure you knew

All those nights he left you and me

there was nothing of you but he squeezed

All those times he did what he pleased

Boy that narcissism runs deep

All that hurt comes out in one scream scream

And it pierced him like the paper receipt

That you got that time you went for food

That first night that he saw you

The lyrics of "Show Pony" by Glass Animals portray a vivid and emotional narrative about a toxic relationship, feelings of betrayal, and eventual self-realization. The song is a reflection on love, loss, and the painful consequences of a destructive relationship.

### Themes:

1. **Toxic Relationship**: The song paints the picture of an unhealthy and one-sided love. The narrator highlights moments of happiness that are fleeting and overshadowed by emotional neglect and mistreatment.

2. **Betrayal and Revenge**: There's a strong theme of betrayal, as the protagonist is abandoned emotionally by the partner who is self-centered. The "show pony" metaphor suggests a sense of being used or paraded for show. Revenge is subtly implied in lines like "Show pony make it burn" and "That’s how revenge is served," suggesting a comeback or taking control after enduring pain.

3. **Nostalgia and Memory**: The lyrics touch on memories from the relationship, both the good and bad moments, creating a bittersweet tone as the protagonist reflects on what once was.

4. **Identity and Self-Worth**: The narrator reveals a loss of identity, living through the partner and feeling consumed by their actions. Yet, there’s also a realization and reclaiming of power towards the end of the song.

### Key Emotions:

- **Heartbreak**: The protagonist experiences deep sadness, reflected in lines like "Now you’re crying in the clinic" and "Waiting by the phone."

- **Resentment**: There’s a sense of bitterness, especially toward the partner’s selfishness, expressed in "Boy that narcissism runs deep."

- **Anguish and Catharsis**: The "one scream" represents a cathartic release of pent-up frustration and pain.

### Key Terms & Symbols:

- **Show Pony**: This metaphor represents someone who is put on display or used for appearances, with the implication that they are controlled or objectified. It symbolizes the protagonist feeling like they were a prop in the relationship.

- **Knife Turning**: Symbolic of the emotional pain and betrayal experienced by the protagonist, and potentially how they plan to retaliate or reclaim power.

- **Ramen, Lipstick, and Clothes**: These everyday objects reflect the mundanity of the protagonist’s life during the relationship, hinting at loneliness and the blending of identities, as the protagonist lives in their partner’s clothes and spaces.

- **Sundress & Honeymoon**: These details contrast the hopeful beginnings with the disillusioned reality, showing how love quickly deteriorated.

### Notable Lines:

- **"You met in New York City... Married at a desk"**: These lines illustrate the whirlwind romance, capturing the excitement that quickly turns sour.

- **"All the memories inside your curves"**: A poetic description of how the protagonist carries the emotional weight of the relationship physically and mentally.

- **"Show pony make it burn"**: Suggests a fierce and determined comeback, symbolizing reclaiming of power and strength after being wronged.

### Overall Message:

"Show Pony" tells the story of someone who entered a relationship with hope and excitement, only to be mistreated and neglected by a narcissistic partner. The song reflects on the pain of that relationship, the emotional scars it left, and the desire for revenge or personal triumph after the experience. It conveys how relationships can alter one’s identity, but also how recovery and self-realization can emerge from the ashes of that heartbreak.