today at work i was having a semi heated discussion with someone as to what the lyrics of this song mean. i won't state my case but have at it and confirm me correct. i hate when people think they are more clever than me.

i loathe posting lyrics but here they are for your convenience:

Caroline laughs and
It's raining all day
She loves to be one of the girls
She lives in the place
In the side of our lives
Where nothing is
Ever put straight
She turns herself round
And she smiles and she says
'This is it'

'That's the end of the joke'
And loses herself
In her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk
Through in their coats

Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?

All of her lovers
All talk of her notes
And the flowers
That they never sent
And wasn't she easy
And isn't she
Pretty in pink
The one who insists
He was first in the line
Is the last to
Remember her name
He's walking around
In this dress
That she wore
She is gone
But the joke's the same

Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?

Caroline talks to you
Softly sometimes
She says
'I love you' and
'Too much'
She doesn't have anything
You want to steal
Well
Nothing you can touch
She waves
She buttons your shirt
The traffic
Is waiting outside
She hands you this coat
She gives you her clothes
These cars collide

Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?

So frightfully camp
It made you laugh
Tomorrow I'll buy myself a dress
How ludicrous!

I think it's intentionally vague as to the details.

I always thought it was a sympathetic portrait of this girl who slept around a bit...or at least had a reputation for doing so. Not sure who's in the car crash at the end. I believe the pretty in pink reference is "pretty when naked". Basically, I'm no help.

But, the version on Talk, Talk, Talk is much better than the one from the movie. Thanks for reminding me of it, as I'm listening to that album right now...very nice.

Just watched this for the first time recently (!). Great stuff.

My old band leader was in the Furs and his wife is like the empress of the fan club or some shit. I can ask her if you'd like.

Which p.fur was he?

Mars Williams, sax.

he was (is) on tour with them. They might still be out on the road.

crossdressing.

yep

Caroline also mentioned in

India

india india
you're my love song
india you're my love song
in the flowers
you can have me in the flowers
we will dance alone
and live our useless lives
india stupid on the carpet floor
india stupid on the carpet floor
we dance upon the carpet floor
and reel around
india india india india india
i'm american ha ha ha
india
caroline is really great
she serves the muck
upon a tray
and little rich boy don't you cry
you kiss me in the anodyne
see the ceiling raining spit
the beach is backwards isn't it
india don't you cry
india see the ceiling raining tears
you will cry a thousand tears
all the women form a line
put your face upon a line
this is for the discotheque
this is stupid i object
and i love you and i love you
and please me please me please me
please me please me please me
please me please meplease me
india india india india




And on Richard Butler's solo album:

California
When the coast of California
sinks into the ocean
and the ice poles are water
and England's green and pleasant land
is all desert sand
no one will answer you when you call
when even the farthest stars
start collapsing
back to the beginning
and there's no room for heaven
when the world is an old man with no time for the future
will love mean a thing?
does love mean a thing now anyway?
make me a drink Caroline
tall and icy
who can sleep with all of this noise?
thank you Caroline
Caroline goodnight!