Karen by Night

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on November 18, 2002). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Just a silly little song that I hadn’t heard in a while that popped into my headphones during work today, as a way for me to start actually posting here again, after a few busy weeks.

Karen, she’s my boss at the shoe store —
we sell to the rich on Madison Avenue.
I come in late from Brooklyn on the F train,
Karen says, “Honey, make this your last time.”
But we like her, she’s firm but approachable,
dresses in style, pretty conservative.
We ask her, “Hey, come out with us after work?”
Karen she always declines…

And we talk about
Karen by night.
We imagine she must lead a very dull life,
with just a cat and a book by her side.
We know her by day but we don’t know
Karen by night.

In the stockroom searching for a 9B,
I overheard Karen whisper on the phone.
She said, “Meet me at the club —
there’s a shipment coming in,
and I can’t pull this one off alone.”
Well, I didn’t know what to think —
Was my mind playing tricks?
Was there more to this Karen then realized?
I had to know so I followed her home,
I could not believe my eyes!

And then I saw
Karen by night!
The leather comes out under the moonlight,
takes off her Chanel and hops on her bike —
looking like young Marlon Brando,
Karen by night.

Saw her leaning on the bar with a drink in hand,
and a cigarette dangling from her bright red lips.
She looked like she was looking for someone,
like she was looking for a fight.
Then a young blonde buck walked in,
she grabbed him by the collar,
kissed him hard on the mouth
and slapped him on the cheek!
Then I thought she spied me in the corner of her eye,
so I ran outside, but all night all I could think about was…

Karen by night!

The next morning, I’m late as usual,
Karen’s there fresh as a daisy.
She says with a smile, “Why, you look like hell —
and where you last night?”

Karen by night!
Imagine she must lead a very dull life,
with just a cat or a book by her side.
We know her by day but we don’t know
Karen by night!
The leather comes out under the moonlight,
takes off her Chanel and hops on her bike,
Looking like Marlon Brando —
Looking like young Marlon Brando.
Wish I could be more like
Karen by night.

Looking like young Marlon Brando
(not like the old fat Marlon Brando in Apocalypse Now),
Karen by night!

— Jill Sobule, “Karen by Night