Greasy Spoon Life
excerpts from various:

A. Ott

I was wondering how do you all figure a "greasy spoon life"

A. Notman

If you take it with the previous line ... "No-one looks at the menu in a greasy spoon life" I think it has something to do with the fact that everyone knows what they want when they go in a greasy spoon cafe (have you ever seen anything even resembling a menu in the EastEnders Cafe?), they just go in and say 'bacon sandwich' or whatever.

They know what they want, and in the case of the song,   people who are alone can have whatever they want, and don't have to rely on what other people suggest.

Alternatively this theory is rubbish, and Paul Heaton thought it made a nice
lyric. While we're on the subject of 'Alone'... it's a shame it's not on the October CD cos it was very moving at the time. I know for I was there!  Jacqui ended up as the only person on the stage as the rest of the band walked off.

Fantastic (at least I remember it as Jacqui, but that seems strange since Paul always sings it ... I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong).

Y. Gadler

Greasy spoon restaurant - where you get the most succulent tasty food that in general clogs up the arteries.

Always went to a greasy spoon while attending university, especially for breakfast where I would order eggs, sausage, toast and SPAM SPAM SPAM SPAM - man who would have thought those Vikings would be in my office! (Well some of you did say you were Monty Python fans)

So, greasy spoon life can be taken two ways in my opinion:

1. the obvious - a decadent non-alluring life/lifestyle, or

2. not necessarily good - health-wise but yet somewhat appealing.

I dunno I suppose some people like being alone enjoying the neo-citran buzz

PTKOLB

My take is a little less optimistic. I speculate that rather than being able to have whatever they want, they know what they can have.

There isn't a lot to choose from so it is easy to pick what they want. They know that there are limited choices so there is no need to look at the few alternatives. Their diminished expectations keep them from looking for new hope on a menu. You basically know what to expect when you walk into a greasy spoon so the menu isn't very important.

J.A. O'Connor

Its been good to read other listers opinions on 'Alone'. Personally I had never considered the idea of it being about choices before.

I have always thought that 'no one looks at the menu in a greasy spoon life' meant that if you have what seems to be a dump of a life or what is considered a bad lifestyle ( a greasy spooned life) then people will not look at you as a person or take any notice of anything else, of who you really are (your menu).

People just see a  superficially bad life and so ignore and dont look futher into the person this means that the person remains alone.

Karooke

To me the best definition of the greasy spoon life thing is the life of Homer simpson ... and you want to make it alone, the life of Homer without Marge.

And everyone knows him. So ... I don't have to explain myself any further.

One of my favorite lines is actually from that one. "and we only smoke when bored so we smoke two packs a day".

Guess I am really bored then.

D. Maciuszek

I think 'Alone' is about being bored because of loneliness, and at the same time, your being bored or boring makes you makes you even more lonely. A vicious circle.

" ... and we've lost the difference between 'bored' and 'lonely' anyway."

So, to me 'no one looks at the menu in a greasy spoon life' means no one gets interested in you when your life is or appears boring.

My favourite lines of the song, 'he knows hello in 18 languages, but I love you in only 1 - by the time he's got his phrasebook, the chance is usually gone' 'hearts built like resevoirs, words built like dams'

Gorgeous lyrics, aren't they ? This is one of TBS' saddest songs (just after 'Have fun' and 'Artificial Flowers', I think), so I found it more than a bit strange to see it performed with a joyful & happy choir on the Much Later tape.

Fredmens

I think the Menu in the Greasy Spoon Life stands for the fact that when one's totally lonely, no one ever comes by for a visit, no outsight for a
better (social) life, one tends to do not care anymore.

Going messy. He never looks at the menu because he knows nothing new will happen,  everything will stay the same dull, boring, messy, lonely stuff.

J. Chumley

I have been following this discussion with great interest, as I had never
given any thought to what a "greasy spoon life" was.

I definitely think one has to consider the entire line, "But no one looks at the menu in a greasy spoon life."

Also, in fact, the lines before that one:

"We could be ex-husband, We could be ex-wife."

To me, the song is about a loveless, unhealthy relationship between a married couple. Although married, they feel "alone" because they have no connection to the other.

Yet, they have the kind of life (the "greasy spoon life") where they accept things as they are and fail to consider the options - look at the menu, if you will.

If they did, they would realize they could be much happier by terminating their relationship (ex-husband or wife).

It follows, then, that a "greasy spoon life," in this context, is one where we plod along thoughtlessly without giving any thought to improving our lots in life - in this case, finding a more fulfilling relationship.

Or perhaps I see it this way because my girlfriend hates me.

By the way, I love the line in "Liar's Bar" that says:
I don't pass buildings with lights on, if I said that I did I'd have lied 'Cause what looks like a Chinese restaurant may have Chinese New Year inside.

Words to live by!