Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a woman, "Safari Mary," who is perpetually out on a "hunt," seemingly for romantic or sexual encounters. The narrator pleads for her return, suggesting her pursuit has gone on for too long and that love is readily available if she'd only stop chasing. There's a sense of weariness in the repeated "La la la"s, almost as if the narrator is trying to lull Mary home or perhaps expressing a resigned, almost childlike, plea. The central tension lies in the narrator's conflicting desires: they want Mary to come home and potentially marry them, yet they also seem to acknowledge her independent spirit and perhaps even her success in her "safari." Phrases like "you never can tell, let's see" reveal an uncertainty about Mary's future actions and the narrator's own commitment, highlighting a push and pull between domesticity and Mary's adventurous nature. The imagery of "the seventh veil" is particularly striking, suggesting a hidden or revealed truth about Mary's pursuits, perhaps indicating a level of intimacy or a final stage in her "game." The idea of someone else tending her "zoo" implies that her absence has left a void, but also that her responsibilities or entanglements are numerous and perhaps burdensome, suggesting her "safari" is a complex operation. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their blend of direct address and evocative metaphor. The narrator's plea is earnest, but the "safari" conceit elevates Mary's actions beyond simple dating into something more primal and perhaps even predatory. The unresolved nature of the narrator's invitation and Mary's continued absence leaves the listener pondering the true nature of her hunt and whether she'll ever truly come home.