Plain Jane
B.J. Thomas Lyrics


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COME ALL TO THE JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM
BIGGEST OCCASION
OF THE YEAR
AND NOW THE TIME WAS HERE
ALL THE GIRLS WERE GOING
THEY ALL HAD A DATE
BUT WHAT ABOUT JANE
WHAT ABOUT PLAIN JANE

SHE WASN'T PRETTY
KIDS MADE FUN OF HER
BUT SHE WAS GENTLE AS A KITTENS PURR
STILL SHE HAD TO FEEL THE PAIN
WHEN THEY CALLED HER NAME
PLAIN JANE POOR PLAIN JANE

OH HOW SHE WANTED TO GO TO THE PROM
BUT NO ONE WOULD ASK PLAIN JANE
POOR LITTLE GIRL LIVING IN A COLD COLD WORLD
AND LONELY SHE WAS LONELY AS COULD BE

BUT THEN THE PHONE RANG
SOMEONE ASKED FOR JANE
TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW LIKE RAIN
BUT THEY WERE TEAR OF JOY THE CALL WAS FROM A BOY
ASKING JANE TO THE PROM PLAIN JANE WAS GOING TO THE PROM

SHE WAS ALL EXCITED COULDN'T WAIT
GOING ON HER VERY FIRST DATE
SPENT THE WHOLE DAY GETTING DRESSED
HAD TO LOOK HER VERY BEST
BUT NOW ITS HALF PAST EIGHT
GUESS HER DATES GONNA BE LATE

MEANWHILE AT THE PROM
EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING BOUT THE TRICK THEY'D PLAYED
AND THE BOY WHO MADE THE CALL
HE WAS LAUGHING LOUDEST OF ALL
BUT THERE JOY TURNED TO TEARS INSTEAD
WHEN THE MORNING PAPER SAID A GIRL WAS DEAD
TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE




JUST TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE
JUST TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE

Overall Meaning

The song "Plain Jane" by B.J. Thomas tells a story about a girl named Jane who was not popular or considered attractive by her classmates. She wanted to go to the junior/senior prom but did not have a date because no one wanted to go with her. However, one day she received a phone call from a boy who asked her to the prom, and she was overjoyed. She spent the whole day getting ready, but her date was late. Meanwhile, at the prom, the boy who made the call was laughing with his friends about the trick they played on Jane. Unfortunately, the next morning, the newspaper reported that Jane had died. The pain of being rejected and made fun of by her peers was too much for her to bear.


This song touches on the theme of bullying and the consequences it can have on an individual's mental health. Jane was treated poorly by her peers, and this ultimately led to her death. The song also highlights the importance of being kind to others and not judging people based on their appearance.


Line by Line Meaning

COME ALL TO THE JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM
Invitation to attend a high school prom


BIGGEST OCCASION
Most significant event of the year


OF THE YEAR
Happening annually


AND NOW THE TIME WAS HERE
The long-awaited moment has arrived


ALL THE GIRLS WERE GOING
All the girls had a prom date


THEY ALL HAD A DATE
All the girls had someone to go with


BUT WHAT ABOUT JANE
But there was one girl left without a date


WHAT ABOUT PLAIN JANE
What about the girl who's not considered attractive?


SHE WASN'T PRETTY
Jane was not conventionally beautiful


KIDS MADE FUN OF HER
She was bullied by others her age


BUT SHE WAS GENTLE AS A KITTENS PURR
Jane had a kind and gentle disposition


STILL SHE HAD TO FEEL THE PAIN
However, she still experienced hurtful comments and actions


WHEN THEY CALLED HER NAME
Jane became the target of mockery


PLAIN JANE POOR PLAIN JANE
Jane was known as unattractive


OH HOW SHE WANTED TO GO TO THE PROM
Jane had a deep desire to attend the prom


BUT NO ONE WOULD ASK PLAIN JANE
However, nobody wanted to go with her


POOR LITTLE GIRL LIVING IN A COLD COLD WORLD
Jane's life was difficult and lonely


AND LONELY SHE WAS LONELY AS COULD BE
She experienced a great deal of isolation and sadness


BUT THEN THE PHONE RANG
Unexpectedly, someone called her


SOMEONE ASKED FOR JANE
It was a boy who wanted to talk to her


TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW LIKE RAIN
Jane was overwhelmed with emotion and started crying


BUT THEY WERE TEAR OF JOY THE CALL WAS FROM A BOY
The tears were tears of happiness because the boy asked her to prom


ASKING JANE TO THE PROM PLAIN JANE WAS GOING TO THE PROM
Jane's dream finally came true and she was going to the prom


SHE WAS ALL EXCITED COULDN'T WAIT
Jane was filled with anticipation and joy


GOING ON HER VERY FIRST DATE
This was Jane's first real date


SPENT THE WHOLE DAY GETTING DRESSED
She took her time to look her best


HAD TO LOOK HER VERY BEST
Jane wanted to make a good impression


BUT NOW ITS HALF PAST EIGHT
Jane's prom date was running late


GUESS HER DATES GONNA BE LATE
Jane tried to remain optimistic despite the delay


MEANWHILE AT THE PROM
At the same time, the prom was happening


EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING BOUT THE TRICK THEY'D PLAYED
Others were making fun of Jane behind her back


AND THE BOY WHO MADE THE CALL
The boy who asked Jane to prom was also present


HE WAS LAUGHING LOUDEST OF ALL
He found the situation particularly amusing


BUT THERE JOY TURNED TO TEARS INSTEAD
However, the situation took a dark turn


WHEN THE MORNING PAPER SAID A GIRL WAS DEAD
The next day, the tragic news broke that a girl had died


TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE
It was too much for Jane to bear, especially given her difficult past


JUST TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE
The tragedy emphasizes the pain experienced by those excluded by others


JUST TO MUCH PAIN FOR A GIRL WITH A NAME PLAIN JANE
As the song ends, the audience is left to contemplate the harsh realities of bullying and exclusion.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SONNY ROLLINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Carl Wilkinson

One of the most under-rated BJ Thomas songs

patrick ryan

Yes, it was.

T Deschenes

Thank you for posting. Great song, well sung, well written, life long message. The power of music is amazing.

John Slomski

You don't even have to listen very hard, the brass section is crazy good!!!

Vance Howard

I had forgotten all about this song, good song.

Jack LaBloom

Great song.

Mel Scherek

I have always loved this song.

Michael Sauro

This song reminds me of a girl I knew back in elementary school that Almost everybody made fun of I really hope she had a good life in the last 45 years And found someone special

Stella Ercolani

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

lindapriorirish8

my very favorite BJ song.... Β yes thanks much... for posting...

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