She Cleans Up Lyrics – Father John Misty

She Cleans Up Lyrics Meaning

[Verse 1]
In this verse, the singer imagines Mary Magdalene seeing a grim future before an important event, and realizes that the cost of salvation might be too high. She decides to reject it, claiming no one will interfere with her beliefs and moves on to deal with her own issues.

[Pre-Chorus]
The phrase “Cleaning up” suggests ongoing efforts to fix or manage messy situations, implying that the character is involved in some form of cleanup or resolution process.

[Verse 2]
This verse introduces a bizarre scenario involving a female alien named Scarlett driving a white van through Scotland. The dream about this strange scene left a strong impression on the singer, who feels disturbed and wants to avoid such unsettling experiences in the future.

[Pre-Chorus]
Repeats the idea of dealing with or managing messes, reinforcing the theme of cleanup.

[Chorus]
The chorus reflects an awareness of how things will turn out, with a sense of resigned acceptance. The mention of “Hallelujah” suggests a bittersweet acknowledgment of the end result, hinting at familiarity with the outcome and some form of comfort or understanding in it.

[Verse 3]
Here, the singer questions the details of an accident and the condition of a sycamore tree, suggesting that the scene might have been expensive or involved a crime. There’s a sense of dismissiveness about the situation, and a question about whether a movie was involved, indicating confusion or detachment.

[Pre-Chorus]
Continues the theme of managing or resolving issues, emphasizing the repetitive nature of the cleanup process.

[Verse 4]
This verse deals with themes of discretion and spending money, with a focus on having a good time despite the expenses. The lines about “the rabbit’s got the gun” and “not joining you for dinner” hint at a situation where someone has been excluded or is no longer relevant.

[Pre-Chorus]
Repeats the cleanup theme, highlighting the ongoing effort to address problems.

[Chorus]
The chorus here emphasizes an understanding of how things will end and suggests a cyclical nature of experiences. There’s a reflection on how certain situations, including the effects of fame and personal struggles, inevitably play out, implying a sense of inevitability and recurring patterns.

[Bridge]
The bridge presents a darker tone, with the singer speaking as a demon, warning that the devil doesn’t protect its allies and that retribution is inevitable. It implies that past actions will lead to consequences, including the downfall of others.

[Chorus]
The final chorus revisits the theme of knowing how things end, touching on stardom, personal struggles, and the vastness of human experience. It expresses a hope that others avoid making mistakes and reflects on the nature of politics and societal issues, underscoring a sense of resignation and understanding about life’s outcomes.