Come to the Supermarket (In Old Peking)

Song Meaning

This song paints a picture of an impossibly eclectic marketplace, masquerading as a "supermarket" in "old Peking." It's a place where the mundane meets the bizarre, offering everything from "fancy fan" to "turkey born in turkey-stan" and even a "slave that's awf'lly african." The initial verses establish a surreal catalog of goods, creating a sense of boundless, almost absurd, consumerism. The dominant tone is one of playful, exaggerated exoticism, inviting listeners to a fantastical shopping destination. The core of the lyrics lies in the sheer, unadulterated absurdity of the items available. The juxtaposition of specific, often strange, products like "dwarf who used to know snow white" or "egg that's more or less decayed" with the mundane act of grocery shopping creates a comedic tension. This isn't just about buying things; it's about the sheer, overwhelming variety and the outlandish nature of the offerings, suggesting a place where anything imaginable, no matter how peculiar, can be acquired. The repeated invitation, "Come to the supermarket in old Peking," acts as a refrain, anchoring this fantastical inventory to a specific, albeit fictionalized, locale. The song's craft shines in its relentless listing and its rhyming scheme, which propels the listener through an ever-expanding inventory of oddities. The internal rhymes and near-rhymes, like "turkey-stan" and "awf'lly african," or "cakes" and "snakes," contribute to the song's jaunty, almost dizzying rhythm. The inclusion of bizarre food items like "gizzard cakes, lizard cakes" and "poodle soup" further amplifies the surreal atmosphere. The humor is derived from the unexpected pairings and the sheer volume of improbable goods, making the "supermarket" a place of pure, unadulterated fantasy. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their ability to conjure a vivid, nonsensical world through simple, direct language and a driving rhythm. It taps into a childlike sense of wonder and the joy of the absurd, presenting a "supermarket" that is less about commerce and more about the sheer, delightful impossibility of it all. The song doesn't aim for deep meaning but rather for a playful, imaginative escape, offering a whimsical glimpse into a place where the most outlandish desires can be fulfilled with a simple trip to the store.