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 SHE Can't Read My Mind: A Dude's Eye View
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am at a shopping mall
I do not like shopping malls
but she loves shopping malls
and I love her
each time she stops to look at shoes
I'm reacquainted with the blues
there are men here
who I think concur
I wanted to stay home today
to watch the Green Bay Packers play
A monumental pigskin contest
of the manly kind
instead I'm at a shopping mall
I can't stand shopping malls
it's a good thing she can't read my mind
Sure I'll hold your purse while you try that on
No, I don't think it makes you look f . . .
I am at a craft fair
I do not like craft fairs
but she loves craft fairs
and I love her
there's topiary, origami
face painting, scrapbooking
and her favorite . . .
dreamcatchers!
what the hell's a dreamcatcher?
what the hell is decoupage?
rug hooking?
now that's something I might get behind
I can't stand craft fairs
I am at a craft fair
It's a good thing she can't read my mind
Learn to make my own soap?
how did you know that's been my dream?
I am not complaining I'm just making observations
expanding your horizons is a sign of sophistication
I'm in a tai chi class every Sunday morning
though sometimes thoughts of boxing
overcome me without warning
I am at a chick flick
I do not like chick flicks
but she loves chick flicks
and I love her
Uh-oh it's a double bill
now I'm really feeling ill
it's "Beaches" followed by "The Way We Were"
now I'm in an awful mood
plus I'm eating awful food
when all I wanted was to kick back and unwind
I can't stand chick flicks
I'm gonna watch two chick flicks
it's a good thing she can't read my mind
Tomorrow night is "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Terms Of Endearment"?
oh . . . pinch me . . .
So if you see me at a chick flick
see me in a craft booth
see me at a shopping mall wallowing in despair
don't feel sorry for me
I must be in love
why in the hell else would I be there?
Before I met her life was dull
I never took any chances
now I leap at every opportunity I find
I do not like chick flicks
I don't like craft fairs can't stand shopping
but maybe I will in time
maybe I will in time
join your book club?
Oh sure, I'd love to . . .
The song "Good Thing SHE Can't Read My Mind: A Dude's Eye View" by Christine Lavin is a humorous take on a man's perspective while accompanying his partner to activities he would not necessarily find enjoyable. The song starts with the man expressing his displeasure of being at a shopping mall, and how he would have preferred to stay at home and watch a football game instead. However, he accompanies his partner to the mall because he loves her. As he loiters around the mall, he hears other men groaning, and he assumes they share his discomfort being there. He then goes to a craft fair, and despite his earlier experience at the mall, he does not find it any more enjoyable. But his partner's enthusiasm for the fair, specifically for dreamcatchers, puzzles him. He wonders why anyone would want to learn how to make their soap.
The man then talks about his participation in a Tai Chi class, which he takes every Sunday morning. However, he sometimes struggles with thoughts of boxing taking over, which is an indication that he likes activities that are stereotypically associated with men. The final section of the song talks about being at a "chick flick" double feature, where the man had to endure "Beaches" and "The Way We Were," making him feel even more miserable since he was eating unhealthy food. Nevertheless, he confesses that he loves his partner and accompanies her to these activities because they make her happy.
Line by Line Meaning
I am at a shopping mall
I am currently at a shopping mall despite not enjoying being here
I do not like shopping malls
I generally do not enjoy being at shopping malls
but she loves shopping malls
However, my partner enjoys being at shopping malls
and I love her
Because of my love for her, I willingly accompany her to shopping malls
each time she stops to look at shoes
When my partner stops to look at shoes at the mall
I'm reacquainted with the blues
I become sad and unhappy once again
by the groans I hear
As I hear others around me groaning, I realize I am not alone in my misery
there are men here
Other men are present in the mall
who I think concur
And I believe they share my feelings about being here
I wanted to stay home today
I would have preferred to stay home
to watch the Green Bay Packers play
And watch the Green Bay Packers play football
A monumental pigskin contest
A significant and important football game
of the manly kind
A game typically associated with masculinity
instead I'm at a shopping mall
But I ended up at the mall anyway
it's a good thing she can't read my mind
I am glad that my partner cannot hear my thoughts
Sure I'll hold your purse while you try that on
Despite being unhappy to be at the mall, I am willing to help my partner try on clothes
No, I don't think it makes you look f . . .
I was hesitant to answer my partner's question honestly, but I will not finish my sentence out of politeness
I am at a craft fair
I am currently at a craft fair
I do not like craft fairs
I generally do not enjoy being at craft fairs
but she loves craft fairs
However, my partner enjoys being at craft fairs
and I love her
Because of my love for her, I willingly accompany her to craft fairs
there's topiary, origami
At the craft fair, there are various crafts including topiary and origami
face painting
Face painting is another craft my partner seems interested in
scrapbooking
Another interesting and popular craft is scrapbooking
and her favorite . . .
And my partner's most favorite craft is
dreamcatchers!
Making dreamcatchers is something my partner really enjoys
what the hell's a dreamcatcher?
I am confused and do not understand what a dreamcatcher is
what the hell is decoupage?
I am also unsure about what decoupage is
rug hooking?
Rug hooking is another craft that I do not understand
now that's something I might get behind
However, rug hooking is something that I think I might enjoy
I can't stand craft fairs
Despite being there, I really do not like being at craft fairs
I am at a craft fair
I am still currently at the craft fair despite my dislike towards it
It's a good thing she can't read my mind
Once again, I am glad that my partner cannot hear my thoughts
Learn to make my own soap?
I was presented with the opportunity to learn how to make soap?
how did you know that's been my dream?
I am excited and happy that my partner knew it was my dream to learn how to make soap
I am not complaining I'm just making observations
Despite not liking where I am, I am not actually complaining
expanding your horizons is a sign of sophistication
I believe that trying new things and expanding one's interests is a way of demonstrating sophistication
I'm in a tai chi class every Sunday morning
To show my own commitment to expanding my horizons, I have started attending a tai chi class every Sunday morning
though sometimes thoughts of boxing
However, sometimes I do still think about things I traditionally enjoy such as boxing
overcome me without warning
These thoughts unexpectedly enter my mind
I am at a chick flick
I am currently at a screening of a chick flick
I do not like chick flicks
I generally do not enjoy watching chick flicks
but she loves chick flicks
However, my partner enjoys watching chick flicks
and I love her
Because of my love for her, I am willing to watch chick flicks with her
Uh-oh it's a double bill
Unfortunately, there are two movies to watch rather than just one
now I'm really feeling ill
This is making me feel even worse than I was before
it's "Beaches" followed by "The Way We Were"
The two movies we must watch are Beaches and The Way We Were
now I'm in an awful mood
This has put me in a very bad mood
plus I'm eating awful food
The food I am eating is not helping my mood either
when all I wanted was to kick back and unwind
What I really wanted was to relax and unwind
I can't stand chick flicks
Despite being here, I still do not like chick flicks
I'm gonna watch two chick flicks
I am going to have to endure watching two chick flicks
it's a good thing she can't read my mind
Once again, I am glad that my partner cannot hear my thoughts
Tomorrow night is "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Terms Of Endearment"?
I am worried about what I will have to endure tomorrow night if these movies are what we watch
oh . . . pinch me . . .
I am so surprised by what I am hearing that it feels unreal
So if you see me at a chick flick
If you happen to see me while we are watching a chick flick
see me in a craft booth
See me in a booth at a craft fair
see me at a shopping mall wallowing in despair
See me in the mall looking very unhappy
don't feel sorry for me
Despite my unhappiness, I do not want anyone to feel bad for me
I must be in love
The only reason I would put myself through being in these situations is because I am in love with my partner
why in the hell else would I be there?
Since I do not actually enjoy any of these activities, this must be why I am here
Before I met her life was dull
Before meeting my partner, my life was not very exciting
I never took any chances
I did not often take risks or try new things before
now I leap at every opportunity I find
Since being with my partner, I have been more open to trying new things and taking risks
I do not like chick flicks
Despite being more adventurous, I still do not like chick flicks
I don't like craft fairs can't stand shopping
I still dislike craft fairs and shopping even though I am more open to participating in them
but maybe I will in time
I am open to changing my mind and learning to like these activities in the future
maybe I will in time
I am hopeful that I may come to like these activities in the future
join your book club?
When my partner mentioned their book club, they invited me to join as well
Oh sure, I'd love to . . .
I am enthusiastic about their invitation and agree to join
Contributed by Ellie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.