The Ballroom Thieves – Saint Monica lyrics

I think the song is about a man who falls in love with a woman that has a reputation for breaking men's hearts and how he, although aware of her antecedents, follows through with the relationship.

This first two lines in verse 1 describes the woman and her antecedents. The woman, the writer describes as "a wolf at the door way" probably at the entrance to his heart. "And the others lay on the ground" refers to other men who have 'died' from her 'love'.

She just moved to Brooklyn, probably from another city, while he is living with his friends, the goodamn hounds.

She's very demanding. "Her voice for a moment of lenience" suggests that she's is also very cunning, using sweet words to sap him of his meagre income, while cheating on him, and he became confused.

Once in a while he asks himself whether he knows what he's doing, however, he convinces himself that he's a decent man and will not judge her.

Sometimes when they go out to have fun, he sees the way other men admire her and he wonders if that's way she sees him in her heart, a sucker, another fool.

Notwithstanding, his love for her is very strong and he prays to Saint Monica (the Catholic patron saint of musicians) to intercede for him so the flirty woman will give him more attention. Even though all the signs are clear that she's a dangerous, he continues to convince himself that he's a decent man and will not judge but love her.

He continues until he finds himself in a coffin, probably dead from a heartbreak like the others before him in her life.

In summary he was a fool for love using decency as an excuse over his weakness to make a good decision about the woman in his life. He died of heartbreak while being a 'decent man'.