Du Barry Was a Lady

Song Meaning

This song paints a picture of Madame Du Barry, a figure from 18th-century France, focusing on her rise and public perception. The lyrics establish a historical setting where romance was apparently "in bloom" and King Louis XV was a central figure. A "simple little country girl" becomes intimately involved with the King, quickly gaining significant influence, even if the public disapproved. The central tension lies in the contrast between Du Barry's humble origins and her powerful position, and how she was perceived versus how she was addressed. While "people disapproved of her in no uncertain tone" and called her "names" behind her back, they outwardly addressed her with "elegant grace" as "Madame Du Barry." This highlights a societal duality: outward deference masking inner judgment. The craft of the lyrics emphasizes her undeniable impact and status, regardless of her background. The repeated assertion "Du Barry was a lady" serves as a defiant refrain against any criticism. The line "He fell in love with her French dressing" is a clever double entendre, suggesting both her charm and perhaps her culinary or social skills, while the hyperbolic "put them all together they'd fill the Hollywood Bowl" underscores the widespread desire to associate with her. Ultimately, the lyrics argue for her elevated status by appealing to popular opinion and the King's affections. The song concludes that despite a "shady" past and starting in "squalor," she "ended up a lady," implying that her ultimate position and acceptance by the King, and by extension, the court, cemented her status. The final assertion, "if she was no lady, fifty million Frenchmen were wrong," uses a massive, albeit anachronistic, number to suggest her widespread appeal and validation.