The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Mrs. Bluebeard" by the artist "They Might Be Giants"

They Might Be Giants' song "Mrs. Bluebeard" offers a darkly humorous reimagining of the classic Bluebeard tale from the perspective of one of his wives. In the original story, Bluebeard is a wealthy man with a gruesome secret: he murders his wives. The song takes the viewpoint of the deceased wife, who reflects on her fate and her husband with a mix of bitterness and sarcasm.

The opening lines, "I wish I could say I learned a lesson today / Well, my earthly remains can't really learn a thing" immediately set the tone. The speaker is dead, murdered by her husband, and wryly comments on her inability to learn from her mistakes. She chides herself for being too trusting, for not recognizing the signs that she believes should have been obvious: "Nervous twitch - I acted like I didn't even notice / That's the way I was brought up," "Warning signs - The death metal albums / The poster that said 'Hang in there, baby.'"

The image of Bluebeard in the song takes on new dimensions. He is not just a brutal murderer but also a man with particular tastes that the speaker implies should have raised red flags. At the same time, she doesn't shy away from her own responsibility in the situation, acknowledging her naivety and blindness: "Sorry I didn't get the hint that this was okay / Sorry I was so fatally slow."

The chorus, "Is this what awaits someone / Who tries to live honestly in this rotten world? / Guess I should have learned by now / Guess I'll take what I get and just play the girl," serves as a bitter reflection on the unfairness of life. The speaker, who tried to live "honestly," ends up as a victim of cruelty and deceit.

The song leaves a haunting impression. It prompts reflection on the nature of violence, the ease with which one can become a victim of manipulation and deceit, and how seemingly harmless quirks can be indicators of something more sinister.