handbags and gladrags

I still love the song-Rod Stewart's version, of course!! However I never really understood the lyrics. Who is speaking??? What is the message?? Am I sounding too much like an English teacher ?? Can anyone enlighten me?

It was originally sung by Chris Farlowe in 1967 :)

It's about the girl taking everything for granted, and believing that having the latest clothes and accesories will make her fit in and get her where she wants to be. But she forgets that someone else had to pay for them for her, and that looking trendy will get her nowhere if she doesn't have an education.

Amazing how relevant that still is today!

He's telling the little rich girl that her fancy clothes and matching accessories won't get her anywhere in the real world so she'd better stay in school.

Its about a woman whos vain- note the handbags, she loses everyone around her- note the grandad!

It's a lesson in appreciating what you have, where it came from and not taking for granted those things which you have not earned yourself.

handbags are handbags - gladrags are your clothes

i think stereophonics sang it better

It's about a girl without a true sense of value. She's to wrapped up in herself to see what's going on around her.