Behind the Lyrics: Dominic Fike - "Mona Lisa"

Since becoming a mother a few years back, my music choices have been put on the back burner. There has been a lot of Bluey (which is a solid kids' show), Disney hits, and lately, Mario Brothers Soundtrack. However, something that the entire family has come to enjoy is the Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse movies. When the new film hit the big screens this summer, we flocked to the theatre. The first film was filled with amazing tracks, so we were a bit disappointed by the soundtrack of the second film, which was a very different vibe. 

The other day the song "Mona Lisa" by Dominic Fike came on thanks to Spotify's Spiderman playlist. While this song was a part of the film, it was not included on Metro Boomin's album for the film. This song is wonderful. Let's dig in. 

"Mona Lisa" by Dominic Fike

Mona Lisa, ayy

Mona Lisa

Love is when you try to place it out your mind

But you can't turn a radio down

And you can't think of anyone else

And love is when you try to make it out alive

But you can't turn a radio down

And you can't think of anyone else

Uh-huh, look, I can see your face in the Parisian paintings

The Mona Lisa

I can hear your voice in the streets and the TV stations

And the police's

I can feel the strings on my wrist, I don't need these bracelets

Of all the things that she keeps in cages

Uh-huh, I'm her leastest favorite

Uh-huh, and she said

[Pre-Chorus]

"I was 'bout to give you all of me on all the weekends

And all I wanted was apologies and all of your bed," uh

Over my heels and fallin' on my head

But all of my feels were already dead

And if I could rewind it for you

If you could remind me of

What I felt before I fell for your idea of love out here

[Chorus]

Love is when you try to place it out your mind (Uh-huh)

But you can't turn a radio down (Uh-huh)

And you can't think of anyone else (Uh-huh, uh)

And love is when you try to make it out alive (Uh-huh)

But you can't turn a radio down (Uh-huh)

And you can't think of anyone else (Uh-huh, uh)

[Post-Chorus]

Uh, Mona Lisa, oh

Yeah, the Mona Lisa, ayy

With the Mona Lisa, uh, yeah

Yeah, Mona Lisa, oh

Mona Li—, uh-uh

Uh, Mona Lisa, oh, yeah

[Verse 2]

I know you like your space and distance (Oh)

Yeah, you don't take admissions (Oh)

They told you not to date musicians (Oh)

Yeah, but can't make you listen

Stick to the ones who let you make (All the)

All the decisions and look the other way (All the)

And you already know what your mother'll say (All the)

And you already know I'm a number away

[Pre-Chorus]

"I was 'bout to give you all of me on all the weekends

And all I wanted was apologies and all of your bed," uh

Over my heels and fallin' on my head

But all of my feels were already dead

And if I could rewind it for you

If you could remind me of

What I felt before I fell for your idea of love out here

[Chorus]

Love is when you try to place it out your mind (Uh-huh)

But you can't turn a radio down (Uh-huh)

And you can't think of anyone else (Uh-huh, uh)

And love is when you try to make it out alive (Uh-huh)

But you can't turn a radio down (Uh-huh)

And you can't think of anyone else (Uh-huh, uh)

[Post-Chorus]

Uh, Mona Lisa, oh

Yeah, the Mona Lisa, ayy

With the Mona Lisa, uh, yeah

Yeah, Mona Lisa, oh

Mona Li—, uh-uh

Uh, Mona Lisa, oh, yeah

[Outro]

Duh-duh-duh, duh, hey

Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh

Duh-duh-duh, duh

Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh

Besides a light-hearted beat that keeps listeners bopping, the lyrics are amazing at coming up with a ton of metaphors of what love is like. For example, "Love is when you try to place it out your mind/But you can't turn a radio down/And you can't think of anyone else". In these lines, we see how love is compared to a song that is so good you can't stop thinking about it. 

Another good example, "Uh-huh, look, I can see your face in the Parisian paintings/The Mona Lisa". This is particularly clever because how many girls have heard lame lines like, "Are you an angel?" This gives those cheesy pickup lines a better foundation. Instead of --you remind me of-- this becomes -- I see you. The beautiful painting reminds me of YOU". 

And we can't forget these lines, "I can hear your voice in the streets and the TV stations/And the police's". The police line is just added quickly to the end, but I think this is important to show that it isn't only lovely, perfect things that the narrator can be reminded of his love interest. He sees them as a full human. He sees the normal (in the streets), the silly (TV stations), and the complicated or serious (the police's). 

An additional point for noting how much imagery he has put into this song. Sight, hearing, and touch. That is three out of the five senses right there. 

In sum, when trying to write a song that people can relate to on a "worn out" topic like love -- try to help the audience "see" it as much as they can. A great way to do that is with comparisons and/or imagery. Because how YOU see the world is what is unique. That is what takes a topic humans have been singing about for years and gives it a new twist. 

Until next time.