Smorgasbord

Song Meaning

Elvis Presley's "Smorgasbord" immediately sets a scene of unbridled, indiscriminate affection. The speaker declares a wide-ranging desire for women, comparing this broad taste to a diverse buffet. It's a playful, almost gluttonous embrace of romantic variety. The lyrics establish a clear contrast between the speaker's expansive preferences and the narrower tastes of "some." This isn't about judgment, but about highlighting the speaker's unique, all-encompassing appetite, which he explicitly calls a "craving." He's not content with just "apple pie" or "southern belles." The central "smorgasbord" metaphor is brilliantly simple, extending from women's physical attributes to food choices. But the most telling detail arrives with the line "except the wedding kind," which subtly refines the speaker's seemingly boundless desire. This adds a crucial, humorous boundary to his romantic buffet. This specific lyrical twist, coupled with the repeated "I'll take the dish I please, please the dish I take" structure, makes the speaker's persona both charmingly hedonistic and surprisingly specific. The lyrics craft a character who celebrates abundance and choice, yet remains clear about the kind of engagement he's seeking. This makes the indulgence feel more defined than just a vague pursuit.