Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songw… Read Full Bio ↴Christine Lavin (b. January 2, 1952) is a New York City-based singer, songwriter, and promoter of contemporary folk music. She has recorded numerous solo albums, and has also recorded with other female folk artists under the name Four Bitchin' Babes. She has also put together several compilation albums of contemporary folk artists, including On a Winter's Night.

She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".

Good Thing He Can
Christine Lavin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am at the opera
I don't like the opera
But he loves the opera
And I love him
I follow the libretto
I follow the conductor
When I follow the plot
My head begins to spin

I don't understand a word
Even when it's English
Everyone around me says
This is divine
I don't like the opera
but look I'm at the opera
It's a good thing
He can't read my mind.

(Yes, he's a wonderful Parsifal
and she's the best Tundra I've ever seen)

Look at me I'm skiing
When I do not like skiing
But he loves skiing
And I love him
I rent the boots and poles
I shiver in the cold
I'm charging down the mountain
Risking life and limb
There's no exhilaration
I am only feeling terrified
Everyone around me's having
Such a great time
I do not like skiing
But look at me I'm skiing
It's a good thing
He can't read my mind.

(Yes, exhilarating is just the very word
I was thinking of... scared of heights?
Oh no, not me)

I am not complaining
I'm just making observations
Expanding your horizons
Is a sign of maturation
Now I tolerate cigars
'Cause he's a smoker
I'm playing chess
Though I confess
Sometimes I long for poker.

I am eating sushi
When I do not like sushi
But he loves sushi
And I love him
I'm poking with a chopstick
At a living breathing fish stick
Oh my God!
I think it's trying to swim
Some say eating sushi
Is like chewing on your own cheek
Or sucking down a bucketful
Of tentacled slime
I do not like sushi
But look I'm eating sushi
It's a good thing
He can't read my mind.

(Yes, this is a very interesting texture
What is it? Ohhhhh....)

So if you see me in the sushi bar
See me in the mezzanine
See me on a ski slope
Looking scared
Hey don't feel sorry for me
I must be in love
Why in the hell else
Would I be there?
Before I met him life was dull
I never took any chances
Now I leap at every opportunity I find
I do not like sushi
I do not like skiing or the opera
Maybe I will in time
Maybe I will in time

(Seconds? Sure I'd love some
Mmmmmmm, yum!)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Christine Lavin’s song “Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind” are a humorous reflection of how far we might go for love. The singer in the song is caught up in her lover's interests - the opera, skiing, cigars, and sushi - even though she doesn't particularly enjoy them. She does it all to make him happy and because she is in love with him. Despite not finding pleasure in these experiences, she still manages to find humor and enjoyment in the situations. Even though everyone around her is having fun, she feels anything but. Through the chorus, “It's a good thing he can't read my mind," she highlights the disparity between what she feels and shows. She's pretending for the sake of love and would rather not be exposed.

In the second stanza, the singer despises skiing but goes skiing anyway. It's clear that she is uncomfortable and scared, but she continues skiing regardless. Then, she continues to explain that she's not complaining but instead expanding her horizons for the sake of love. Even though she does not find pleasure in these interests over time, she implies that someday she may. At the end of the song, she finally admits to her true feelings but is optimistic that someday she may learn to enjoy the things she has been doing for her lover.

The song highlights the lengths people will go to for love and the importance of compromise in relationships. It is easy to relate to the singer's predicament since many relationships involve toleration of things we would otherwise not tolerate. The song is filled with humor and irony, and the lyrics showcase the power of love to change interests and habits.

Line by Line Meaning

I am at the opera
I'm physically present at the opera

I don't like the opera
I don't enjoy the opera

But he loves the opera
My partner loves the opera

And I love him
I love my partner

I follow the libretto
I read the words of the opera

I follow the conductor
I watch the conductor

When I follow the plot
When I try to understand the story

My head begins to spin
I get overwhelmed and confused

I don't understand a word
I don't comprehend anything

Even when it's English
Even if the language is English

Everyone around me says
I hear others say

This is divine
They think the performance is amazing

I don't like the opera
I still don't enjoy the opera

but look I'm at the opera
I'm surprised I'm attending the opera

It's a good thing He can't read my mind.
I'm glad my partner can't read my thoughts because I don't want to hurt their feelings

I am not complaining
I'm not upset or unhappy

I'm just making observations
I'm just stating what I've noticed

Expanding your horizons
Trying new things and learning

Is a sign of maturation
Shows personal growth and development

Now I tolerate cigars
I'm willing to be around cigars even though I don't like them

'Cause he's a smoker
Because my partner smokes them

I'm playing chess
I'm participating in a game of chess

Though I confess
However, I admit

Sometimes I long for poker.
I sometimes wish to play poker instead

I am eating sushi
I'm consuming sushi

When I do not like sushi
Even though I dislike sushi

But he loves sushi
My partner enjoys eating sushi

And I love him
I love my partner

I'm poking with a chopstick
I'm using chopsticks to move the food

At a living breathing fish stick
I'm touching a fish being served as sushi

Oh my God!
I'm surprised or shocked

I think it's trying to swim
I believe the fish is still alive

Some say eating sushi
Many people believe that consuming sushi

Is like chewing on your own cheek
Feels like chewing on one's own flesh

Or sucking down a bucketful Of tentacled slime
Eating slimy, tentacled sushi can be unpleasant

I do not like sushi
I still dislike sushi

But look I'm eating sushi
I'm surprised I'm trying sushi

It's a good thing He can't read my mind.
I'm glad my partner can't read my thoughts because I don't want to hurt their feelings

So if you see me in the sushi bar
If you see me at a place where sushi is served

See me in the mezzanine
If you spot me in theater balcony

See me on a ski slope Looking scared
If you witness me being hesitant while skiing

Hey don't feel sorry for me
Don't pity me

I must be in love
I'm doing these things because I love my partner

Why in the hell else Would I be there?
If not for my love, why would I be there?

Before I met him life was dull
My life wasn't exciting before I met my partner

I never took any chances
I never wanted to try new things

Now I leap at every opportunity I find
Now I jump at every chance that comes my way

I do not like sushi
I still don't enjoy sushi

I do not like skiing or the opera
I still dislike skiing and the opera

Maybe I will in time
Perhaps my tastes will change over time

Seconds? Sure I'd love some Mmmmmmm, yum!
I'm enjoying the food despite my reservations

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