American Girls
Adam Duritz Lyrics
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Stands out in a line,
I could've been anyone she'd seen,
She waits another week to fall apart,
She couldn't make another day,
I wish it was anyone but me,
I could have been anyone you see,
She had something breakable just under her skin.
American girls, all weather and noise,
Playing the changes for all of the boys,
Holding a candle, up to my hand,
Making me feel so incredible.
She comes out of closets every night,
But then she locks herself away,
Where she could keep everything from me,
I could have been anyone you see,
She's nothing but porcelain underneath her skin.
American girls, all weather and noise,
Playing the changes for all of the boys,
Holding a candle right up to my hand,
Making me feel so incredible.
Little shivers shaking me every day,
But I could get the same thing anywhere,
So if she goes away, well,
It's all right and I'm okay,
Hey, she said, come back again tonight,
And I said I might, I might, I might,
She said well that's all right,
If it's alright, if it's alright with you,
Then it's alright, it's alright with me.
I waited for an hour last Friday night,
She never came around,
She took almost everything from me,
I'm going through my closet,
Trying on her clothes, almost every day,
I could've been anyone you see,
I wish it was anyone but me,
There's nothing but pills and ashes under my skin.
American girls, all weather and noise,
Playing the changes for all of the boys,
Holding a candle right up to my hand,
Making me feel so incredible.
If I made you cry, please tell me why,
'Cause I'll try again if you let me try,
American girls all feathers and cream,
Coming into bed so edible.
American girls oh, American girls,
American girls, oh, oh, oh, oh,
American girls oh, American girls,
American girls, oh, oh, oh, oh,
You make me cry,
You make me cry,
You make me cry,
Yeah, you made me cry,
You make me cry,
Hey, miss American girl, oh,
Oh, oh, yeah.
The song "American Girls" by Adam Duritz is a melancholic passion song about a girl who he sees at a club every Friday. She stands out in line and looks like she has something breakable underneath her skin, implying that she has a vulnerable side. Duritz wishes he could be anyone but himself because he thinks it would have been better for her to end up with someone who could understand and protect her. However, the girl waits a week before returning to the club, suggesting that she is going through some hidden troubles but tries to remain strong in public.
The chorus of the song talks about American girls as being all weather and noise, playing the changes for all of the boys. This suggests that American girls are unpredictable and volatile, making it difficult to pursue them romantically. Duritz sings that when the girl kisses him, it makes him feel incredible, but he also admits that he could get the same feeling from anyone else. This shows that he might enjoy being with her, but he knows that the relationship is not sustainable in the long run.
In the second verse, Duritz reveals that the girl comes out every night but keeps herself locked away, hiding from him. However, he could have been anyone she saw, and he wishes it were someone else who could love and understand her better than he does. Duritz also mentions that he is trying on her clothes every day, and there is nothing but pills and ashes under his skin, implying that he is going through a hard time in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes out on Fridays every time,
Every Friday, she comes out and stands in line
Stands out in a line,
She stands out in the queue
I could've been anyone she'd seen,
She could have chosen anyone
She waits another week to fall apart,
She can't keep it together and falls apart every week
She couldn't make another day,
She's unable to cope any longer
I wish it was anyone but me,
He doesn't want to be the one dealing with her problems
I could have been anyone you see,
He could have been interchangeable with anyone else
She had something breakable just under her skin.
She was vulnerable and fragile
American girls, all weather and noise,
American girls have a strong presence
Playing the changes for all of the boys,
They change to fit the desires of men
Holding a candle, up to my hand,
They bring light to his life
Making me feel so incredible.
Being with them is amazing
She comes out of closets every night,
She has secrets
But then she locks herself away,
She keeps those secrets to herself
Where she could keep everything from me,
He doesn't know the real her
She's nothing but porcelain underneath her skin.
She's fragile and delicate
Little shivers shaking me every day,
Being with her excites him
But I could get the same thing anywhere,
He realizes he could find the same excitement with someone else
So if she goes away, well,
If she leaves him, it's okay
It's all right and I'm okay,
He'll be fine without her
I waited for an hour last Friday night,
He waited for her, but she never came
She never came around,
She stood him up
She took almost everything from me,
She had a strong emotional impact on him
I'm going through my closet,
He's dealing with the aftermath of their relationship
Trying on her clothes, almost every day,
He's still thinking about her
There's nothing but pills and ashes under my skin.
He's going through a dark time
If I made you cry, please tell me why,
He wants to know why she's upset
'Cause I'll try again if you let me try,
He wants to make things right with her
American girls all feathers and cream,
American girls are beautiful and glamorous
Coming into bed so edible.
They're irresistible
You make me cry,
She has emotional power over him
Hey, miss American girl, oh,
Addressing his thoughts to American girls in general
Contributed by Scarlett S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@olemattsmusak
Sheryl Crow adds so much to this brilliant songā¦ Love it. Born in 85ā¦anyone else a young teen with this release??
@mrmagorium12
His voice is crazy good. Ā
@freedom4mealways
Counting Crows had this hit two decades ago. It still has appeal!
@Mintpepperoni
Have not heard this song in years, which is why I can't explain waking up this morning with the tune stuck in my head. Thank you, subconscious, for reminding me of how good this song is. I am teary-eyed listening to this for some reason.
@badtotheboneriff.
this song is so good it makes me wanna cry!
@Zyrath23
This song is my favorite by the Counting Crows. I can personally relate to the overall sentiment of the song. I've been down that road many times and this song speaks volumes to me.
@reggiemars2k8
All of this time I had no idea Sheryl Crow was singing background in this track. It just makes me love it even more. That is total irony though that Sheryl Crow sung with the Counting Crows. ššššš
@Teagan_Ratsey134
Would you have thought any different
@starbell9962
ā@Garth Ratsey honestly when i first heard this song i thought it was Vanessa carlton because they collaborated with her on another song
@KristinaTurnerAquarius
And is from Kennitt Missouri.