Song Meaning

The lyrics present a trio of girls strategizing to deter an approaching "yokel." The first girl plans to use pleasant scents from flowers to create a calming atmosphere, hoping to "check" his advance. Her approach is gentle, aiming to diffuse any aggression with natural beauty and aroma. The second girl opts for a visual tactic, intending to spread small, colorful cloths that resemble fish eggs, believing these delicate patterns will "abash" him. This suggests a strategy of overwhelming him with intricate, almost microscopic beauty. The third girl, however, proposes a more intimate and subversive tactic. She plans to whisper "heavenly labials" – soft, vowel-heavy sounds – into a world dominated by harsh "gutturals." This contrast between delicate sounds and harsh ones is intended to "undo him," implying a deeper psychological or emotional disruption. The phrase "Oh, la...le pauvre!" adds a touch of mock pity, highlighting the girls' perceived superiority and the perceived weakness of the approaching figure. The overall effect is a fascinating study in contrasting methods of defense. While the first two girls rely on external sensory appeals – scent and sight – the third girl targets the yokel's internal experience through sound and language. The progression from diffusion to abashment to undoing suggests an escalating strategy, moving from passive deterrence to active psychological manipulation. The lyrics, through these distinct voices, craft a subtle yet potent narrative of feminine ingenuity against an unnamed, vaguely menacing male presence.