Girls & Boys
Blur Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Street's like a jungle
So call the police
Following the herd
Down to Greece
On holiday
Love in the nineties
Is paranoid
On sunny beaches
Take your chances
Looking for

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love

Avoiding all work
'Cause there's none available
Like battery thinkers
Count your thoughts
On one-two-three-four-five fingers
Nothing is wasted
Only reproduced
You get nasty blisters
Du bist sehr schön
But we haven't been introduced

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love

Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh

Looking for girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love





Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Blur's "Girls & Boys" speak to the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1990s that was characterized by a lack of responsibility and preoccupation with pleasure. The opening line, "Street's like a jungle, so call the police," sets the scene of a chaotic, crowded place where people are lost and directionless. The next line, "Following the herd, down to Greece on holiday," describes a group mentality that leads people to seek out fun and adventure in exotic locations. The song highlights the superficiality and fickleness of relationship and sexual encounters, with its repetition of the phrase, "Girls who want boys, who like boys to be girls, who do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boys," suggesting a fluidity of sexual identity and behavior.


The lyrics also touch on a sense of ennui or boredom, with the line, "Avoiding all work, 'cause there's none available," speaking to a generation that was struggling to find employment and meaning in a post-industrial society. The line, "Like battery thinkers, count your thoughts on one-two-three-four-five fingers," suggests a lack of deeper contemplation and self-reflection, leading to a cycle of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. The reference to "nasty blisters" may speak to the physical toll of this lifestyle, with people engaging in risky or unhealthy behaviors without regard for the consequences.


Overall, the lyrics of "Girls & Boys" capture the restless, pleasure-seeking spirit of the 90s, while also hinting at a sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction beneath the surface. By juxtaposing the energetic, danceable beat with somewhat nihilistic lyrics, Blur was able to create a song that was both a celebration and a critique of the cultural moment.


Line by Line Meaning

Street's like a jungle
The world can be a confusing and dangerous place, like a wild jungle


So call the police
People may need help navigating the jungle, so the police can act as a guide


Following the herd
People often follow others blindly, like a herd of animals


Down to Greece
Greece is a popular holiday destination, representing a desire to escape the confusion of everyday life


On holiday
Taking a break from the pressures of life can be refreshing and rejuvenating


Love in the nineties
The concept of love has evolved and changed over time, with the 90s representing a particular era in which love may have been more complex


Is paranoid
People may have become more suspicious or distrusting of others in regards to love


On sunny beaches
Despite this paranoia, people still seek love and happiness in idyllic settings such as beaches


Take your chances
Finding love can be a gamble, but it's worth taking the risk


Looking for girls who want boys
The search for love often involves looking for a specific type of person


Who like boys to be girls
Sexual orientation and gender identity are fluid, and people may find themselves attracted to non-traditional expressions of masculinity/femininity


Who do boys like they're girls
Gender norms are not necessarily tied to biological sex or sexual orientation, as men may embody feminine traits and behaviors without it being an issue


Who do girls like they're boys
Women may also embrace traditionally masculine behaviors or modes of dress without it being seen as unusual


Always should be someone you really love
Regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the most important aspect of any relationship is love


Avoiding all work
Sometimes people prioritize pleasure and leisure over responsibilities


'Cause there's none available
Economic conditions may make finding work difficult or impossible


Like battery thinkers
People may feel trapped or imprisoned by their own thoughts, like batteries powering their own confinement


Count your thoughts
People may obsess over their own thoughts and mental states, potentially leading to unhealthy fixation or anxiety


On one-two-three-four-five fingers
This could represent a limited or simplistic approach to counting one's thoughts, or that the thoughts are manageable and can be counted easily


Nothing is wasted
Even if experiences or thoughts may seem pointless or trivial, they can still contribute to one's overall growth and development


Only reproduced
These experiences or thoughts can also be a source of inspiration or creativity


You get nasty blisters
Pursuing certain activities or goals may be painful or difficult, but the rewards can be worth it


Du bist sehr schön
This is German for 'you are very beautiful,' and could represent a desire for beauty or attraction in one's life


But we haven't been introduced
Despite the desire for beauty or attraction, there may be barriers or obstacles preventing people from connecting with each other




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Alexander De Horne Rowntree, Graham Leslie Coxon, Steven Alexander James

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@AnomaliaDoEGS

Lyrics:
Street's like a jungle
So call the police
Following the herd
Down to Greece
On holiday
Love in the nineties
Is paranoid
On sunny beaches
Take your chances
Looking for
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Avoiding all work
'Cause there's none available
Like battery thinkers
Count your thoughts
On one-two-three-four-five fingers
Nothing is wasted
Only reproduced
You get nasty blisters
Du bist sehr schön
But we haven't been introduced
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Looking for girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone you really love
Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they're girls
Who do girls like they're boys
Always should be someone to really love
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh



All comments from YouTube:

@chicken

Its 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song💖

@Michelle-hb4kb

You're everywhere wtf 💀

@atebayam

we still love it! but it is a shame that @blur won't give us the 4k we need.

@danyv8207

I'm the third legend here hy everyone

@tamqq56

IM HERE

@PieroTM

​@@Michelle-hb4kbthat was so funny

6 More Replies...

@user-fb6cw6cb2i

when you change your background during a zoom meeting

@kiesytuts229966

Underrated comment X'D X'D X'D

@Reuben.Joshua

kiesytuts229966 eckz dee

@Mooney1018

I must discover how to do that!!!

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