clouds in my coffee

This expression was used in the 1972 Carly Simon song, "You're So Vain." To understand the meaning, it is helpful to read the full lyrics of the song. Prior to the refrain, the lyric "And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and..."

What was it that Simon was dreaming about? The prospect of a relationship with subject of the verse. The lyrics were written about someone after the end of a relationship, several years afterward, in fact. Simon laments that a relationship was, is, and will continue to be made impossible by the deep character flaws of the subject, most prominently, their vanity.

Understanding this, 'clouds in my coffee' refers to a metaphorical distortion or illusion. Coffee is black, clouds are white and have patterns. When one sees such things reflected in the surface of a liquid, they are readily identifiable as illusion. In matters of love, illusions are more difficult to discern.

Simon expresses her lament that her belief in a future with this shallow individual was illusory and that it was an illusion shared over the years by several other women, followed by the statement that the subject WOULD think the song was about them, a statement made ironic by the fact the song really is about them as, for once, they would be arriving at a correct conclusion even if for the wrong reasons.

As a simile: "I thought I saw an oasis, but it was a mirage, like clouds in coffee."

As a metaphor: "My dream was to be a movie star, but after many years of failure came to realize that I was seeing clouds in my coffee."

by DavidAndreaWilliamCarly<3 December 22, 2021

Coffee

When i wake up in the morning, its there. When i go outside, its in my hand. when i go to sleep, its there, next to me.

This is what caffeine and coffee does to me does to me:)

by Coffeeaddict5000 July 25, 2011

The Cup Coffee House

A coffee house located in the town of Wantagh, New York. They feature a wide veriety of great drinks as well as food. The great prices, nice workers and live music set the bar pretty high for their competition.

Example 1: Do you want to go to the cup coffee house tonight? I love that place!

Example 2: Maybe Liam will be at the cup tonight!

by coffeeman9877 February 26, 2014

Duncan Hills Coffee

a song written by the band known as Dethklok. It was performed at Batsfjord, Norway where over 300,000 fans attended to hear the single be performed live. Fans signed "pain waivers" before attending this concert due to its brutality. The song was written for the Duncan Hills Coffee Corporation. According to the Frontman Nathan Explosion, they were there..."to make coffee metal, everything metal... Blacker than the blackest black, times infinity."

My best friend died at the Dethklok concert while listening to "Duncan Hills Coffee".

by the ibanez of death September 19, 2008

Truckers Coffee

Coffee laced with methamphetamine.

I drank some truckers coffee to stay awake for an 11-hour long haul.

by ngtc July 9, 2014

damn fine coffee

As in the cult TV classic Twin Peaks, by David Lynch, FBI Special Agent Cooper's description of his favorite drink.

Pete Martell: "How do you like your coffee?"
Special Agent Cooper: "Blacker than midnight on a moonless night."
Pete Martell: "...pretty black."

Special Agent Cooper: "MMM, that's damn fine coffee!"

by Homegrown October 12, 2005

Coffeelicious

Delicious, and full of caffeine too! So good that it makes you wake up and appreciate it all the more.

Edd: got any caffeine pills?
Jim: no, but I have this latte
*Edd drinks*
Edd: mmmmmmm, coffeelicious!

by SarahB May 25, 2005