"Mary Lou" is a song by John Cale, a Welsh musician and composer. The lyrics depict a story of a girl named Mary Lou and her family. Mary Lou is portrayed as a seemingly eccentric character, who is believed to live in a shoe by those around her. Despite this, everyone considers her to be alright. Her mother reassures her that everything is alright. Mary Lou's brother is described as being in the library, engrossed in reading about history. Although he may not be academically proficient, the song suggests that it is still alright. Mary Lou's father works in the government, but the lyrics suggest that he may have become morally corrupt or lost his sense of right and wrong. However, he is still portrayed as all right for a song, perhaps indicating that his shortcomings are overlooked. Overall, the song emphasizes the theme of acceptance and the idea that everyone has their flaws and quirks, yet they can still be deemed as all right. Mary Lou and her family represent different personalities and challenges, but they are all part of the tapestry of life.
