Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you re… Read Full Bio ↴Your tells are so obvious
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you reminded
Helps you to remember where
You come from
Lyrics:
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see any other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
Wish I could have spent the
Whole day alone with you
You've got no cunt in your strut
You've got no hips to shake
And you know it's obvious
But we can't choose how we're made
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see any other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
Wish I could have spent the
Whole day alone with you
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see any other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
Wish I could have spent the
Whole day alone with you
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Against Me! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Keeps you reminded
Helps you to remember where you come from
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You've got no cunt in your strut
You've got no hips to shake
And you know it's obvious
But we can't choose how we're made
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
You want them to notice
The ragged ends of your summer dress
You want them to see you
Like they see every other girl
They just see a faggot
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Rough surf on the coast,
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone with you
With you, with you
The song "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" by Against Me! is a cathartic expression of the experience of being a transgender person in a world that only recognizes the gender binary. The lyrics describe the frustration of trying to fit into society's expectations of gender and feeling trapped in a body that doesn't match one's identity. The opening lines "Your tells are so obvious / Shoulders too broad for a girl / Keeps you reminded / Helps you to remember where you come from" are a poignant commentary on the societal norms surrounding gender expression, which often lead to feelings of shame and guilt in individuals who don't conform. The singer tries to present themselves as feminine by wearing a "summer dress" but is still seen as a "faggot." This line encapsulates the judgment and ridicule that transgender individuals face every day.
The chorus of the song repeats the same lines, "You want them to notice / The ragged ends of your summer dress / You want them to see you / Like they see every other girl / They just see a faggot / They hold their breath not to catch the sick." The repetition reinforces the feelings of hopelessness and defeat that can arise from constantly feeling misunderstood and alienated. The song's bridge further expresses the longing to be accepted and loved for who the singer is, irrespective of their gender: "Rough surf on the coast, / I wish I could have spent the whole day alone / With you, with you."
"In this song, I was trying to get at the heart of what gender dysphoria feels like, which is a lot like being homesick, or like the grieving of a loss that you can't quite identify. It's about longing for something that's been taken away from you, that you never had to begin with," explained lead vocalist and songwriter Laura Jane Grace in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Line by Line Meaning
Your tells are so obvious
The ways in which your physical appearance gives away your transgender identity are clear to others
Shoulders too broad for a girl
Your masculine shoulders do not align with traditional female body types
Keeps you reminded
Serves as a constant reminder of your trans identity
Helps you to remember where you come from
Serves as a reminder of your pre-transition self and how far you have come in your journey
You want them to notice
You desire recognition and acceptance of your transgender identity from others
The ragged ends of your summer dress
Your feminine clothing choices, despite not fitting your body type, express your gender identity
Like they see every other girl
You want to be seen as a normal and valid girl, just like any other
They just see a faggot
Others may misgender or insult you, reflecting a lack of understanding or acceptance
They hold their breath not to catch the sick
Transphobic individuals may fear or reject transgender people as if they carry a contagious disease
Rough surf on the coast,
Metaphor for the instability and turbulence of life and personal identity
I wish I could have spent the whole day alone
Would prefer to avoid the pain and judgement of others related to gender identity
With you, with you
Yearning for understanding and connection with someone who accepts and supports the journey
You've got no cunt in your strut
Your walk and body language does not align with traditional female gender expression
You've got no hips to shake
Your body type does not align with traditional female gender expression
But we can't choose how we're made
Acknowledging the uncontrollable nature of one's biology and genetics, and accepting oneself as they are regardless of societal expectations
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind