The song "Big Sister's Clothes" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions explores themes of love, relationships, and societal expectations. The lyrics portray a sense of disillusionment and critique towards the shallow nature of some relationships. The song starts with the line "Sheep to the slaughter, oh I thought this must be love." This suggests that the narrator initially believed they had found love in someone, but later realizes they were misguided. The line "All your sons and daughters in a stranglehold with a kid glove" describes how the person they thought they loved has control over others, using manipulation disguised as care. The next lines, "She's got eyes like saucers, oh you think she's a dish. She is the blue chip that belongs to the big fish," indicate that the person the narrator is talking about is attractive and desirable. However, she is also seen as a possession of someone powerful or influential, labeled as the "big fish." The chorus reflects the difficulty in expressing genuine emotions. The line "But it's easier to say 'I love you,' than 'Yours sincerely,' I suppose" implies that people often use the words "I love you" without truly meaning them because it is easier to say than to express genuine feelings. The line "All little sisters like to try on big sister's clothes" metaphorically suggests that people often imitate or try to fit into societal expectations and roles, even if they feel uncomfortable or inauthentic. The song then touches on themes of power, celebrity, and scandal. The lines "The sport of kings, the old queen's heart. The prince in darkness stole some tart" refer to a scandalous affair involving influential individuals. It is highlighted that such events often make headlines and become popular culture symbols, as mentioned in the line "It's in the papers, it's in the charts, it's in the stop press before it all starts." The lyrics also criticize the lack of empathy and compassion in society. The line "Compassion went out of fashion, that's all your concern meant" suggests that people have become indifferent and self-centered, valuing personal gain over caring about others. The mention of "sweating it out for thirty seconds on home improvements" points out the superficiality of valuing material possessions and appearances over genuine connections. Overall, "Big Sister's Clothes" delves into the complexities of love, societal expectations, and the superficiality of some relationships. It criticizes the shallow nature of some interactions, the fickle nature of fame, and the loss of compassion in modern society.
