Lisztomania Lyrics
So sentimental
Not sentimental, no
Romantic, not disgusting yet
Darling, I'm down and lonely
When with the fortunate only
I've been looking for something else
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
Distant from other interests
On your favorite weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
That's with the fortunate only
No, I gotta be someone else
These days, it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
[Chorus]
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Not hard to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Follow, misguide, stand still
Disgust, discourage
On this precious weekend ending
This love's for gentlemen only
Wealthiest gentlemen only
And now that you're lonely
Do let, do let, do let
Jugulate, do let, do
Let's go slowly, discouraged
We'll burn the pictures instead
When it's all over, we can barely discuss
For one minute only
Not with the fortunate only
Thought it could have been something else
These days, it comes, it comes, it comes
It comes, it comes and goes
[Chorus]
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Not easily offended
Know how to let it go
From a mess to the masses
Ooh, this is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Ooh, this is showtime, this is showtime, this is showtime
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
Time, time to show it off, time to show it off
It's time to show it off
[Chorus]
From the mess to the masses
Lisztomania
Think less, but see it grow
Like a riot, like a riot, oh
Disgust, disgust, disgust, disgust, disgust, discouraged
About
Thom signals his abandonment of romance with a diss to Romanticism, the 19th Century artistic movement (exemplified by composer/pianist Franz Liszt), because every boy has the “first love” who broke his heart and turned him into a wolf.
We liked the idea that it’s just a mash-up, that our songs bring in influences from everywhere. I think that Franz Liszt was one of them; there were other things, visuals. And maybe it was the fact that we grew up in Versailles and we were surrounded by historical things. Maybe they came back that way. – Thomas Mars
Music critics noted this song’s fresh take on the 1980s New Wave sound. To see it in sheet music, compare these drum tags for Lisztomania to the drum tags for The Cure’s “Close to Me” … or just watch this video syncing Lisztomania with the dance break in The Breakfast Club (and a couple other John Hughes movie clips).
…and this spoof of “Lisztomania” and The Breakfast Club’s dance scene featuring future Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez!
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning