Song Meaning

This track paints a vivid picture of a transactional encounter, framed by the narrator's visit to a store. He's immediately struck by the proprietor, a "Little Lady" who, despite his humble "working man" status, presents him with an incomprehensible "term." The dominant tone is one of bewildered fascination, tinged with a sense of being outmatched. The central tension lies in the narrator's desire for something the "Little Lady" is selling, contrasted with his inability to meet her steep price. He acknowledges the quality of her "merchandise," even admitting a "sample proved it so," yet the cost is prohibitive. The idea of not being able to put it "lay away" suggests a demand for immediate, full commitment that he's not prepared for. The lyrics cleverly employ the language of commerce to describe a romantic or intensely desirable pursuit. The repeated phrase "You sure drive a hard bargain" functions as both a literal complaint about the store owner and a metaphorical acknowledgment of the difficulty in winning over this captivating woman. The line, "And if it was to kill me little girl, Oh what a good way to go," is a striking hyperbole, revealing the depth of his infatuation despite the financial or emotional obstacle. What makes these lyrics resonate is their ability to transform a mundane shopping trip into a charged, almost dangerous flirtation. The narrator's earnest confusion and reluctant admiration for the woman's shrewdness create a compelling dynamic. The writing captures that moment when attraction meets an unexpected challenge, leaving the admirer both frustrated and undeniably intrigued.