It could also be used for Duffy's co-songwriting - most notably with Robbie Williams and Barenaked Ladies.
Alternative Girlfriend
Barenaked Ladies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your futon's second hand
Your parents understand but you don't care
I have a job in a shop
I'm an undercover cop
I make sure the customers aren't thieves
Old at being young
Young at being old
Everything's on hold within our evolution
You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over
Last night we slept on the lawn
You woke up and I was gone
Back to the dream I dream to leave
My life with her is a bore
A worn-out metaphor
No more surprises up it's sleeve
We're old at being young
Young at being old
Everything's been sold to other's revolutions
You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over
You live above your dad's four-car garage
With your vinyl and imaginary entourage
If I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick
So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick
You're my alternative girlfriend
I love you, now you cannot pretend
There's nothing left that won't cross over
The song "Alternative Girlfriend" by Barenaked Ladies is a love letter to a non-conformist woman who doesn't fit into the typical mainstream mold. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who leads an unconventional life, from being in an all-girl band to living on a second-hand futon. Despite her unique lifestyle, her parents support her choices and she remains unapologetic about who she is. The singer, on the other hand, has a regular job as an undercover cop who keeps an eye on the customers in a shop. He is drawn to this alternative girlfriend because she represents a refreshing break from the mundane and predictable.
The song's lyrics delve deeper into the theme of aging and how it affects one's outlook on life. The line "old at being young, young at being old" highlights the idea that despite being relatively young, the characters in the song feel like they've lived a long life and are exhausted by it. They both long for something different and more exciting which they believe they can find in each other. However, despite their desire for change, they are stuck in a state of inertia and the revolution they had hoped for may never come.
Line by Line Meaning
You're in an all-girl band
You are a part of an all-girl music group.
Your futon's second hand
Your futon is not new and has been used before.
Your parents understand but you don't care
Your parents agree with your choices, but you are indifferent towards their opinions.
I have a job in a shop
I am employed in a retail store.
I'm an undercover cop
I am a police officer who works in disguise.
I make sure the customers aren't thieves
My job is to ensure that the customers are not stealing anything.
Old at being young
We feel like we have experienced too much for our age.
Young at being old
We have an old soul but a youthful spirit.
Everything's on hold within our evolution
We are pausing our growth and development.
You're my alternative girlfriend
You are not like the typical girlfriends, and that is why I love you.
I love you, now you cannot pretend
I genuinely love you, and you cannot deny that.
There's nothing left that won't cross over
There are no limits to what we can achieve.
Last night we slept on the lawn
We spent the night sleeping outside.
You woke up and I was gone
You woke up, and I had already left.
Back to the dream I dream to leave
I returned to the life that I want to escape from.
My life with her is a bore
My life with my girlfriend is dull.
A worn-out metaphor
Our relationship is tired and familiar.
No more surprises up it's sleeve
Our relationship does not have any shocking or exciting moments left.
We're old at being young
We feel like we have experienced too much for our age.
Young at being old
We have an old soul but a youthful spirit.
Everything's been sold to other's revolutions
Everything we have is influenced by other people's movements.
You live above your dad's four-car garage
You reside in an apartment above your father's garage.
With your vinyl and imaginary entourage
You have a collection of vinyl records and an imaginary group of followers.
If I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick
If I arrive with a U-Haul truck, pack your belongings quickly.
So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick
We need to leave this town because it is unbearable for me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Duffy, Steven Page
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind