Mike Batt says: “There is a strong, womanly thread to Andrea’s lyrics, and her tunes and voice lend her work something of a Joni Mitchell quality”.
Alibi
Andrea McEwan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A victim to each call on the telephone
He’s the criminal and the crime
She’s given bail just one last time
When he enters she can smell
Another scent mixed with tobacco
Crushed magnolia, sweaty skin
A lipstick mark under his chin
When a man has a smile like that - It’s his alibi
He creeps in across the room
Noisily removes his shoes
Slides beside her, smells her hair
Like he’s not been anywhere
Whispers softly in her ear
Sweet excuses, like they’re a lullaby
Tells her that he loves her so
And holds her like he won’t let go
Oh, don’t you see baby - He’s only gonna make you cry
When a man has a smile like that - It’s his alibi
Bye bye, goodbye to all the plans you made
Of showing him the door,
Of making him lie in the bed he made
He pulls you under, catches your tears with a kiss
Then flashes a smile to remind you
Just why you fell for a man like this…
Memory selects the truth, puzzle pieces are removed
He’s her reason, he’s her rhyme
A reason to try one last time
Everybody makes mistakes - a secret sin, a tiny lie
He tells her that he loves her so
Winds her up and ties a bow
Oh, don’t you see baby - He’s only gonna make you cry
When a man has a smile like that - Oh, don’t you see baby
He’s only gonna make you cry - When a man has a smile like that,
A girl never smells a rat,
When a man has a smile like that
It’s his alibi
Andrea McEwan's song "Alibi" tells the story of a woman who is caught in a toxic and abusive relationship. She sits alone night after night waiting for her partner's call, even though he's the one who repeatedly hurts her. When he returns home late, she can smell the traces of another woman on him, but he lies and manipulates her into believing he still loves her. The chorus warns that his charming demeanor and winning smile is just an alibi for his abusive behavior, and that he's only going to continue making her cry. The bridge suggests that the woman knows deep down their relationship is doomed, but still hopes that he'll change.
The lyrics in "Alibi" are powerful and evoke a range of emotions, from frustration and anger to heartbreak and resignation. The imagery of the scent of magnolia mixed with tobacco, and the lipstick mark under his chin, adds a visceral quality to the song. The small details paint a picture of a woman who is trapped in a cycle of abuse and manipulation, and the haunting melody adds to the overall mood of hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
She sits one more night alone
The woman is alone for yet another night
A victim to each call on the telephone
Every phone call she receives is harmful to her
He’s the criminal and the crime
The man is both the perpetrator and the offense committed
She’s given bail just one last time
She has been granted one final chance to escape the situation
When he enters she can smell
She detects a distinct odor when the man comes in
Another scent mixed with tobacco
There's a different smell that combines with the scent of tobacco
Crushed magnolia, sweaty skin
The other scent is of magnolia, indicating possible infidelity or betrayal, and the man is sweaty
A lipstick mark under his chin
The man has a mark of an unknown woman's lipstick on his chin
Oh, don’t you see baby - He’s only gonna make you cry
The woman is warned that the man will only cause her pain and sadness
When a man has a smile like that - It’s his alibi
The man uses his charming smile to deflect suspicion and escape accountability
He creeps in across the room
The man sneaks into the room without making too much noise
Noisily removes his shoes
He takes off his shoes loudly, which could be a sign of guiltiness or carelessness
Slides beside her, smells her hair
He moves quietly next to her and sniffs her hair
Like he’s not been anywhere
He acts as if he hasn't been out and about, suggesting he has something to hide
Whispers softly in her ear
The man speaks gently and tenderly
Sweet excuses, like they’re a lullaby
He makes up excuses and apologies that sound like a soothing song
Tells her that he loves her so
He assures her of his love for her
And holds her like he won’t let go
He embraces her tightly, almost desperately
Bye bye, goodbye to all the plans you made
The woman has to abandon all the schemes she had in mind
Of showing him the door,
The idea of kicking him out the door
Of making him lie in the bed he made
Making him face the consequences of his actions
He pulls you under, catches your tears with a kiss
He pulls her closer and kisses away her tears
Then flashes a smile to remind you
He uses his smile to remind her why she fell in love with him in the first place
Just why you fell for a man like this…
The man wants her to remember why she fell for him despite his flaws and transgressions
Memory selects the truth, puzzle pieces are removed
The woman's memory gradually reveals the truth, and the puzzle pieces are coming together
He’s her reason, he’s her rhyme
Despite the doubts and chaos, the man still serves as her motivation and source of inspiration
A reason to try one last time
She's convinced to give him one more chance
Everybody makes mistakes - a secret sin, a tiny lie
The man justifies his wrongdoings by claiming that everyone makes mistakes and has hidden sins and lies
He tells her that he loves her so
His constant declarations of love keep her from leaving him
Winds her up and ties a bow
He seduces and manipulates her into staying with him
When a man has a smile like that - Oh, don’t you see baby
The woman is reminded yet again that the man's smile is his means of avoiding accountability and concealing his misdeeds
He’s only gonna make you cry - When a man has a smile like that,
No matter how much love the woman has for him, his smile is only a facade that hides his true intentions and behavior
A girl never smells a rat,
The woman is so blinded by love that she fails to sense any deception or treachery
It’s his alibi
The man's smile is his alibi, the justification for any wrongdoing and the ticket out of responsibility
Contributed by Claire G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.