Marry the Mole

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a cynical, pragmatic view of marriage, directly contrasting romantic ideals with financial security. The opening spoken line immediately dismisses love as mere fantasy, setting the stage for the narrator's unromantic advice. The core message is clear: practical considerations, like paying bills and providing food, far outweigh emotional connection. The repeated refrain, "Dearie, marry the mole," becomes a blunt directive, urging the listener to prioritize stability over passion. It’s a stark, almost transactional approach to lifelong commitment. The central tension lies in the rejection of romantic love, exemplified by the tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet. Their story, a classic tale of love conquering all, is twisted here to highlight its ultimate failure, ending in death. This serves as the narrator's primary evidence against marrying for love, suggesting that such intense passion leads only to ruin. The lyrics imply that a less emotionally charged union, like marrying the mole, is the safer, more sensible choice for survival and comfort. The characterization of the mole is deliberately unappealing, yet presented as a viable partner. He's "not exactly witty" and "blinder than a bat," with "alarming" breath, but his blue eyes and the narrator's assertion that he's "charming, for a troll" offer faint, almost sarcastic praise. This juxtaposition highlights the narrator's willingness to overlook significant flaws for the sake of security. The final lines, spelling out "M-O-L-E" as "M is for money," cement the transactional nature of the advice, reducing partnership to a purely economic arrangement.