Uncle Lenny – English Lyrics

• By: Allie X
• Album: Happiness Is Going To Get You

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the indie-pop narrative of "Uncle Lenny" to explore storytelling in music through a dark, character-driven lens. You can learn unique vocabulary for character description and observe how artists use sonic shifts, like the song's famous Wendy Carlos-inspired synth bridge, to amplify the lyrical drama.

[English]

Uncle Lenny, what kind of uncle bets my money away?

Now I got nothing, what'll I do with no utilities paid?

I guess I needed a father figure, someone with a beard

A dianetic text to follow 'til I disappear

But you're just slowing me down

Always slowing me down

Everyone loves a clown

In this town, Uncle

Oh, how you love to talk

Everyone loves to talk

Then throw you out to the dogs

Uncle, I've had enough

Ah, I've had enough

Ah, I've had enough

Uncle Lenny, you used to do lines at the Sunset Marquis

That's why they love you

All of the other uncles from the '80s

(And the '90s)

You call me on a Wednesday, ring-ting-a-ling

You tell me everything's A-okay, you don't know a thing

Yeah, you're just slowing me down

Always slowing me down

Everyone loves a clown

In this town, Uncle

Oh, how you love to talk

Everyone loves to talk

Then throw you out to the dogs

They'll throw you out to the dogs

...

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la

La, la, la-la-la, la, la

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
uncle /ˈʌŋ.kəl/ A1	noun - the brother of your father or mother
money /ˈmʌn.i/ A1	noun - coins or notes used to buy things
father /ˈfɑː.ðər/ A1	noun - a male parent
figure /ˈfɪɡ.jər/ B1	noun - a person seen as an example or symbol
text /tekst/ A2	noun - a written piece of work or message
follow /ˈfɒl.əʊ/ A2	verb - to go after someone or something
disappear /ˌdɪs.əˈpɪər/ B1	verb - to stop being visible or exist
clown /klaʊn/ A2	noun - a performer who wears funny clothes and entertains
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to speak or have a conversation
dog /dɒɡ/ A1	noun - a common animal kept as a pet
bet /bet/ B1	verb - to risk money on the result of a game or event
pay /peɪ/ A2	verb - to give money for goods or services
enough /ɪˈnʌf/ A2	adjective - as much or as many as needed
slow /sləʊ/ A2	adjective - not moving or happening quickly
throw /θrəʊ/ A2	verb - to send something through the air with your hand
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel strong affection or care for someone or something

Key Grammar Structures

• Uncle Lenny, what kind of uncle bets my money away?

  ➔ Interrogative clause with 'what kind of'

  ➔ The phrase 'what kind of' introduces a question asking for a type or category of something.

• I guess I needed a father figure, someone with a beard.

  ➔ Past tense modal meaning assumption ('I guess I needed')

  ➔ 'I guess' shows uncertainty or speculation; 'needed' is past tense showing reflection or realization.

• But you're just slowing me down.

  ➔ Present continuous ('you are slowing')

  ➔ The present continuous form 'are slowing' expresses an ongoing action happening right now.

• Everyone loves a clown.

  ➔ Simple present tense

  ➔ Used to express a general truth or habitual situation.

• Then throw you out to the dogs.

  ➔ Imperative structure with omitted subject

  ➔ The subject 'they' or 'you' is implied, creating a directive tone.

• Uncle Lenny, you used to do lines at the Sunset Marquis.

  ➔ Past habitual with 'used to'

  ➔ 'Used to' shows a repeated or habitual action in the past that no longer happens.

• You call me on a Wednesday, ring-ting-a-ling.

  ➔ Simple present with time expression

  ➔ Describes a habitual or repeated event occurring on a specific day.

• You tell me everything’s A-okay, you don’t know a thing.

  ➔ Compound sentence with contrasting clauses

  ➔ Two independent clauses joined by a comma, contrasting appearance ('tell me everything’s A-okay') with reality ('don’t know a thing').

• I've had enough.

  ➔ Present perfect tense

  ➔ Shows a completed action connected to the present — the speaker has reached a limit now.