Coolsville

Song Meaning

Laurie Anderson's "Breakfast Lunch & Dinner" is a deceptively simple meditation on longing, aspiration, and the inherent contradictions within the pursuit of perfection. The repeated mantra of "Coolsville," "So perfect, so nice," initially suggests an idealized destination, a utopian vision of effortless cool. But the lyrics quickly unravel this facade. The promise, "I'll be there just as soon as I'm all straightened out, yeah just as soon as I'm perfect," exposes the anxiety driving the narrator's quest. 'Coolsville' becomes less about a place and more about an unattainable state of being, forever deferred by the self-imposed condition of flawlessness. The perfect is the enemy of the good, as they say. The song doesn't say. The undercurrent of voyeurism adds another layer of complexity. The lines "Some things are just pictures, they're scenes before your eyes, and don't look now, I'm right behind you" hint at a lurking presence, an observer fixated on an idealized image. This could be interpreted as the narrator's own self-scrutiny, constantly measuring themselves against an external standard. Or it might be the pursuit of an idealized 'you' - 'down by the ocean under the boardwalk, you were so handsome we didn't talk' - a silent, unfulfilled desire. 'Coolsville' is the destination where one might finally be good enough for this person. The brief dialogue – "Oh Jesus, why are you always in the arms of somebody else?" / "Oh man! I don't need anybody's help I'm gonna get there on my own" – introduces a conflict between dependence and self-reliance. This exchange encapsulates the inherent tension between the desire for connection and the insistence on individual achievement, a common theme in contemporary society. The repetition of "This train, this city" creates a sense of relentless movement, a perpetual journey towards a destination that may never be reached. The song meaning ultimately rests on this cyclical pursuit, highlighting the futility of chasing an illusion of perfection while remaining perpetually 'on the way' to Coolsville.