Monologue
The tension in the song surfaces through music as a subject; the scenario is a couple at home together with the woman playing the piano. Her repeated song is agitating her partner to the extent that he thinks she is deliberately trying to drive him insane. In his notes, Leon suggests this might be an episode in the life of George, the character in the preceding song on Intruders, although it's open to interpretation. In any respect, the marriage, if that's what it is, is one of attrition.
"Picture the scene. He (me? you? George?) is sitting in the drawing room studying the stock market reports in the 'Financial Times'. She is playing the piano. The same tune. Over and over again. Dong it deliberately. Just to be annoying." - LR (sleevenotes to Intruders, 1995)
"Could the monologist in 'Monologue' be George again? Possibly. He's obviously having relationship problems. Why is she playing this tune over and over again? It's maddening... Something about the relationship in this song I recognise but I'm not saying what." - LR (Turning Silence Into Song (songbook), p25)
"Could the monologist in 'Monologue' be George again? Possibly. He's obviously having relationship problems. Why is she playing this tune over and over again? It's maddening... Something about the relationship in this song I recognise but I'm not saying what." - LR (Turning Silence Into Song (songbook), p25)