The Girl
City and Colour Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

You don't ask for no diamond rings
No delicate string of pearls
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

And when you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond rings)
No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond rings)
No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)




That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl (my beautiful girl)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to City and Colour’s song, The Girl, depict the struggles and sacrifices made within a relationship. The singer wishes he could do better by his partner because she deserves it after sacrificing so much for their relationship. He recognizes that he is off chasing his own dreams, but assures her that she is his to keep. The lyrics take a melancholic turn when the singer acknowledges that if his partner were to leave to fulfill someone else’s dreams, he would be lost. He appreciates that his partner does not demand anything from him, and that is why he wrote this song to sing for her.


Overall, this song embodies the recognition of the difficulties that come with relationships and the appreciation for the sacrifices made within them. The singer understandingly acknowledges the potential for fault within their relationship, but also legitimizes the loyalty and commitment that his partner has towards him.


Line by Line Meaning

I wish I could do better by you
I want to be a better person for you.


Cause that's what you deserve
You deserve the very best.


You sacrifice so much of your life
You give up so much to be with me.


In order for this to work
We need to make this relationship work.


While I'm off chasing my own dreams
I am pursuing my own goals and aspirations.


Sailing around the world
Exploring the world.


Please know that I'm yours to keep
I belong to you.


My beautiful girl
You are my beautiful partner.


When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Your sadness affects me deeply.


Knowing that I may have been the cause
My actions might have caused your tears.


If you were to leave
If you decided to end this relationship.


Fulfill someone else's dreams
To make someone else happy instead of me.


I think I might totally be lost
I would feel completely lost without you.


You don't ask for no diamond rings
You don't expect expensive gifts.


No delicate string of pearls
You are not materialistic.


That's why I wrote this song to sing
That's why I wrote this song for you.


Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh


But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond rings)
You don't care about material possessions.


No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)
You value me, not what I can give you.


My beautiful girl (my beautiful girl)
You are beautiful to me.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dallas John Green

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@GladsonIzidoro

I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

You don't ask for no diamond rings
No delicate string of pearls
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

And when you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond rings)
No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond rings)
No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl (my beautiful girl)



@sriezankoirala9889

[Verse 1]
I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

When you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

[Chorus]
You don't ask for no diamond rings no delicate string of pearls
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

Verse 1
I wish I could do better by you
Cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work

While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl

And when you cry a piece of my heart dies
Knowing that I may have been the cause
If you were to leave
Fulfill someone else's dreams
I think I might totally be lost

[Chorus]
But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond ringts)
No delicate string of pearls ( string of pearls)
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl

Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh
Ooooo ooo ohhh ohh oh oh

[Chorus]
But you don't ask for no diamond rings (diamond ringts)
No delicate string of pearls (string of pearls)
That's why I wrote this song to sing
My beautiful girl (my beautiful girl)



All comments from YouTube:

@DineAloneRecords

Watch the latest music videos from City and Colour's new album, The Love Still Held Me Near: http://youtube.com/@cityandcolour

@johncoleman3188

I had heard this song years ago. I never knew much about city and colour. I played it for my girlfriend once before she took a bus across the country, it was definitely a sad time that tested our love for each other...two months ago I remembered this song, not the lyrics or the name or even the band, but the feel of the song is what I remembered. I searched online so hard to figure it out and just couldn't. Well today I finally got a random suggested video and here I am, listening to it with my wife (same woman) reminiscing the road we've been on :)

@larrylabrecque8491

Ù

@gully1983

That's freaking awesome man! Congrats on you finding the song and congrats on your marriage!

@daleonov

what a story!

@FruitoftheVine114

❤❤❤🎉

@richardeckert1050

Perfect description of life with Songs & Artists. ❤

9 More Replies...

@connordiaz725

I wasn’t able to keep her but this song is a good reminder of what our love was, and for that I’ll be forever grateful

@dougshakes8776

Bro go to therapy

@bubbsgaminghorror6286

I'm in the armed forces and I would like to say thank you for writing this beautiful song. It perfectly matches my fiance and I's relationship. We're getting married this November and I'm hoping to use this as our wedding :) Love your lyrics and voice, both as a musician and as a member of the armed forces!

More Comments

More Versions