Pretty Polly

Song Meaning

This track paints a picture of a frustrated observer, possibly a jilted lover or a resentful friend, fixated on a woman named Polly. The narrator critiques Polly's efforts to change her appearance, suggesting her attempts to conform to an unspecified ideal are futile and driven by external pressures, perhaps from her parents. The tone is biting, laced with a condescending familiarity as the narrator points out Polly's perceived shortcomings and her desperate attempts to attract male attention. The central tension arises from the narrator's own bitterness and possessiveness. While ostensibly offering advice, the narrator seems more interested in Polly's perceived failures and the desire to offload her onto someone else. The repeated phrase "browned off" underscores the narrator's deep-seated annoyance and boredom with the situation, highlighting their own emotional investment in Polly's romantic prospects, even as they claim to be detached. The lyrics employ a sharp, almost cruel wit. The narrator contrasts Polly's current state with a "mother prescribed" ideal, implying a manufactured identity that doesn't quite fit. The jab about knocking "every knocker of Diana's door" is particularly cutting, suggesting Polly's efforts are both excessive and ultimately ineffective, aimed at a standard of unattainable perfection. Ultimately, the song's effectiveness lies in its unflinching portrayal of petty jealousy and self-serving commentary. The narrator's thinly veiled contempt and the desire to be rid of Polly, while simultaneously being obsessed with her, creates a compelling, if unpleasant, character study. The final lines reveal the narrator's true motive: not genuine concern, but a desperate wish for someone else to take responsibility for Polly, freeing the narrator from their own perceived burden.