The song “All Tomorrow’s Parties” is by the Velvet Underground and Nico. It was written by Lou Reed and came out on their first album in 1967, called “The Velvet Underground & Nico.”
In 2006, John Cale, who was in Reed’s band, said in an interview that the song was about a woman named Darryl. She was a lovely blonde who had three kids but had a hard life, even losing custody of two of them.
In this article, we’ll look at what the lyrics of the song might mean.
Table of Contents
“All Tomorrow’s Parties” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow’s parties?
A hand me down dress from who knows where
To all tomorrow’s parties
Where will she go, what shall she do
When midnight comes around?
She’ll turn once more to Sunday’s clown
And cry behind the door
In Verse 1, the lyrics depict a girl who is preparing for future parties. It begins with the question, “And what costume shall the poor girl wear?” This suggests that the girl is from a lower socioeconomic background, as she is referred to as “poor.” The term “costume” here doesn’t necessarily mean a costume in the traditional sense, but rather what attire she will wear to these social events.
The lyrics mention that the dress she wears is a “hand me down,” showing that it’s not something new but rather passed down from someone else, perhaps implying a lack of resources or access to new clothing.
As the girl prepares for these parties, the lyrics ponder where she will go and what she will do when midnight arrives, hinting at a sense of anticipation and uncertainty about her future actions.
The mention of “Sunday’s clown” implies that she might put on a facade or mask of happiness, akin to a clown performing for others, while hiding her true feelings.
[Verse 2]
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow’s parties?
Why silken trimmings of yesterday’s gown
To all tomorrow’s parties?
What shall she do with Thursday’s rags
When Monday comes around?
She’ll turn once more to Sunday’s clown
And cry behind the door
In Verse 2, the lyrics continue to explore the plight of the girl preparing for future social gatherings. The verse starts again with the question, “And what costume shall the poor girl wear?”
The lyrics describe her clothing as having “silken trimmings of yesterday’s gown,” implying that her dress might have once been elegant or luxurious but is now outdated or worn.
The mention of “Thursday’s rags” implies that her clothing on that day might be particularly worn or tattered. In other words, she might be struggling with poverty and limited resources.
The question of what she will do with these rags when Monday comes around suggests a cycle of wearing out and replacing her clothing, reflecting the ongoing challenges she faces.
The imagery of turning to “Sunday’s clown” and crying behind the door suggests that she may feel compelled to put on a facade of happiness or contentment while masking her true emotions.
[Verse 3]
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow’s parties?
For Thursday’s child is Sunday’s clown
For whom none will go mourning
A blackened shroud, a hand me down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow’s parties
Verse 3 begins by revisiting the question of what costume the “poor girl” will wear to the parties, emphasizing her socioeconomic disadvantage.
The lyrics introduce the idea that “Thursday’s child is Sunday’s clown,” suggesting a cycle of hardship and performance. This phrase implies that someone who has faced challenges or struggles (represented by being born on Thursday) might adopt a facade of happiness or entertainment (represented by being Sunday’s clown) to cope with or hide their pain.
The imagery of a “blackened shroud” and a “hand-me-down gown of rags and silks” portrays the girl’s attire as a mixture of darkness and faded elegance, symbolizing her difficult circumstances and the remnants of former luxury or beauty.
In the final lines “Fit for one who sits and cries, For all tomorrow’s parties,” the singer expresses the underlying sadness and resignation felt by the girl as she prepares for the future events. Despite her outward appearance and attempts to fit in, she is unable to escape the weight of her emotions and the challenges she faces.
Deeper Meaning Behind “All Tomorrow’s Parties”
“All Tomorrow’s Parties” portrays a sense of melancholy and resignation, particularly focusing on the experiences of a marginalized person preparing for future social events.
The word “parties” makes us think of fun gatherings. But with “tomorrow” added, it brings in a feeling of not being sure what’s going to happen. This mix suggests that while these events might be exciting, they also make us feel nervous about what’s to come.
In a 2006 interview, Reed’s VU bandmate John Cale said: “The song was about a girl called Darryl, a beautiful petite blonde with three kids, two of whom were taken away from her.”
In the song, the repeated question of “What costume shall the poor girl wear?” serves as a metaphor for the struggle to fit into societal expectations and norms, especially when lacking resources or privilege.
The girl’s reliance on hand-me-down dresses and her role as “Sunday’s clown” suggest a facade of happiness or conformity, masking deeper feelings of isolation and despair.
The singer explores the contrast between luxury and decay in the imagery of “silken trimmings of yesterday’s gown” and “Thursday’s rags,” showing the disparity between past aspirations and present hardships.
The repetition of ‘turn once more’ depicts the cyclical nature of the girl’s life, emphasizing the inevitability of her plight and the challenges she faces in altering it.”
In the end, the song prompts us to contemplate our place in society, particularly during challenging times or when societal expectations weigh heavily on us.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.