Mr Clarinet

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a peculiar, almost surreal plea directed at "Mr. Clarinet," who is personified as a confidant capable of evoking strong emotions. The narrator claims this inanimate object makes them "laugh and then cry," likening it to the instrument's own song. This sets up an immediate, unusual intimacy, where a musical instrument becomes a vessel for complex feelings. The central tension arises from a desperate, repeated desire to "marry me, oh, marry me alive O." This urgent proposal isn't directed at a person, but at Mr. Clarinet, suggesting a profound, perhaps unattainable, connection or a symbolic yearning. The narrator also expresses a parallel, unfulfilled love for an unnamed "her," asking Mr. Clarinet to relay their affections, but admitting, "I love her, love her but I can't." This creates a layered longing, with the instrument acting as both the object of desire and a messenger for another. The imagery is striking and whimsical, with the narrator donning a "coat of trumpets" and checking if their "piccolo on straight" before inquiring about "her" presence. This theatrical, almost absurd preparation highlights the narrator's heightened emotional state and their elaborate, perhaps delusional, approach to courtship. The description of "Her white stockings and red dress that goes / Swish, swish, swish" adds a vivid, sensual detail that contrasts with the abstract nature of the plea to Mr. Clarinet. This lyrical construction is effective because it grounds abstract emotional pain in concrete, albeit unusual, imagery. The relentless repetition of "love her" in the outro, escalating into a cascade of "love," emphasizes the overwhelming nature of this feeling, which the narrator seems unable to direct or express effectively without the intermediary of Mr. Clarinet. The song captures a sense of yearning so intense it transforms reality, making an instrument the focus of romantic and emotional desperation.