Meaning of "Pretty Baby" by Blondie

The lyrics of "Pretty Baby" by Blondie depict a sense of fascination and admiration for a young and attractive individual. The opening line, "Stars live in the evening, but the very young need the sun," suggests a contrast between the allure and experience of older individuals (represented by stars) and the youthful energy and vitality of the person being addressed (the very young who need the sun).

The singer addresses the subject as "Pretty baby" and compliments their heavenly appearance. They use the metaphor of a "neo nebula from under the sun" to emphasize the person's beauty and uniqueness. The lines "I was forming, some say I had my chance. The boys were falling like an avalanche" suggest that the singer missed an opportunity to connect with this person or take a chance with them when they were younger. The mention of "La Dolce Vita" refers to the sweet life, perhaps hinting at a desire for a glamorous and exciting romance.

The singer openly expresses their infatuation, describing the person as a "petite ingenue, teenage starlet" and confesses their love for them. However, there is a sense of a one-sided love or unrequited feelings as the singer acknowledges that they should have known the person would look away or not reciprocate their interest.

The lyrics continue to highlight the person's attractiveness, with references to "incense and peppermints" and their looks being larger than life, suggesting that they possess an ethereal and almost unreal beauty. The phrase "long live innocence" may allude to the idea that the person represents youthful innocence and purity, and the singer is captivated by this aspect.

Overall, the lyrics of "Pretty Baby" convey a sense of longing and admiration for a young and beautiful person. The singer is infatuated with their looks and characterizes them as an object of desire. However, there is a hint of sadness and unrequited love, suggesting that the singer's affections are not reciprocated. The lyrics capture the fleeting nature of youth and beauty and the sometimes bittersweet experience of unfulfilled desire.