Degrees Of Separation
Badly Drawn Boy Lyrics

The lyrics to Badly Drawn Boy's song "Degrees of Separation" appear to be about a woman who has lost her way in life and become a shell of her former self. The repeated phrase "dumb, the dumb dumb girl" serves as a condemnation of her actions and choices, but also hints at a sense of sympathy or regret for what she has become. The second verse provides some context for her situation, with the lines "Another hand upon her hair / Time probably erased / Distaste and so she's left / Where guilt is out of place" suggesting that she may have been a victim of abuse or trauma in the past. The lines "More coins inside her hands / One time to learn respect / Now mercenary she stands" further reinforce the idea that she has resorted to desperate measures, perhaps selling herself or engaging in criminal activity to survive.

The chorus of the song features the line "I'm no boy / Stealing pennies from the poor," which can be interpreted as a declaration of the singer's own moral superiority in relation to the "dumb dumb girl." However, it's also possible to read this line as a commentary on broader societal issues such as poverty and injustice, highlighting the ways in which people who are already struggling can be taken advantage of and exploited.

Overall, "Degrees of Separation" is a haunting and melancholy song that touches on themes of loss, regret, and the human cost of social inequality.