American Girl's
Counting Crow's Lyrics
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Stands out in a line
I could've been anyone she'd seen
She waits another week to fall apart
She couldn't make another day
I wish it was anyone but me
I could have been anyone you see
She had something breakable just under her skin
American girls all weather and noise
Playing the changes for all of the boys
Holding a candle up to my hand
Making me feel so incredible
She comes out of closets every night
Then she locks herself away
Where she could keep everything from me
I could have been anyone you'd seen
she's nothing but porcelain underneath her skin
American girls all weather and noise
Playing the changes for all of the boys
Holding a candle up to my hand
Making me feel so incredible
Little shiver shaking me every day
But I could get the same thing anywhere
So if she goes away
Well, it's all right and I'm OK
"Hey" she said, "Come back again tonight"
And I said "I might, I might, I might"
She said "well that's all right"
If it's alright with you
It's alright with me
I waited for an hour last Friday night
She never came around
She took almost everything from me
I'm going through my closet,
trying on her clothes almost every day
I could've been anyone you see
I wish it was anyone but me
There's nothing but pills and ashes under my skin
American girls all weather and noise
Playing the changes for all of the boys
Holding a candle up to my hand
Making me feel so incredible
If I made you cry, please tell me why
Cause I'll try again if you let me try
American girls all feathers & cream
Coming into bed so edible
American girls oh
American girls
American girls
Oh, oh, oh, oh
American girls oh
American girls
American girls
Oh, oh, oh, oh
You make me cry,
you make me cry,
you make me cry
Yeah, ya made me cry
You make me cry
Hey, miss American girl
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
Counting Crows’ “American Girls” portrays a story of a girl who has a tendency to fall apart every Friday night. The singer could have been anybody that the girl had seen but fate had chosen him. As the lyrics progress, we learn that this American girl is fragile and breakable, just underneath her skin. Despite her ability to lock herself away, the singer is infatuated with her. Throughout the song, the singer tries to find meaning and understanding in their relationship, but to no avail. The lyrics describe their relationship as weather and noise, playing the changes all for the boys, with the American girl only holding a candle to the singer's hand to make him feel incredible. In the end, the relationship ends with pills and ashes under the singer’s skin which begs the question if the relationship was truly worth the heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
She comes out on Fridays every time
Every Friday, she shows up
Stands out in a line
She stands out in a line of people
I could've been anyone she'd seen
It could've been anyone in her eyes
She waits another week to fall apart
She endures another week before breaking down
She couldn't make another day
She couldn't carry on for another day
I wish it was anyone but me
I wish she didn't focus on me
I could have been anyone you see
I could have been anyone, no different from others
She had something breakable just under her skin
She was vulnerable underneath
American girls all weather and noise
American girls are resilient and loud
Playing the changes for all of the boys
They adapt to boys' whims and changes
Holding a candle up to my hand
She sheds light on my worth
Making me feel so incredible
She makes me feel amazing
She comes out of closets every night
She appears from her hiding every night
Then she locks herself away
Then, she traps herself again
Where she could keep everything from me
Where she could conceal everything from me
she's nothing but porcelain underneath her skin
Vulnerable like a porcelain beneath the surface
Little shiver shaking me every day
Each day, an anxiety shake
But I could get the same thing anywhere
But I could find it anywhere else too
So if she goes away
So, if she leaves
Well, it's all right and I'm OK
Well, I'll be fine without her
"Hey" she said, "Come back again tonight"
"Come back again tonight," she said
And I said "I might, I might, I might"
I replied, "Maybe, maybe, maybe."
She said "well that's all right"
She said, "That's okay then."
If it's alright with you
If it's okay for you
It's alright with me
Then, it's okay with me
I waited for an hour last Friday night
Last Friday night, I waited for her for an hour
She never came around
But, she didn't show up
She took almost everything from me
She took away most of me
I'm going through my closet, trying on her clothes almost every day
I wear her clothes and look at them often
There's nothing but pills and ashes under my skin
I'm down to pills and ashes inside
American girls all weather and noise
American girls are strong and loud
Playing the changes for all of the boys
They adapt to boys' whims and changes
Holding a candle up to my hand
She sees my value as though it was a flame in her hand
Making me feel so incredible
She makes me feel amazing
If I made you cry, please tell me why
If I made you cry, let me know what went wrong
Cause I'll try again if you let me try
I'll try again, give me chance
American girls all feathers & cream
American girls, a combination of strength and beauty
Coming into bed so edible
So irresistible as a bed fellow
American girls oh
American girls
American girls
American girls
American girls
American girls
You make me cry,
You make me cry
you make me cry,
You make me cry,
you make me cry
You make me cry
Yeah, ya made me cry
Yeah, you made me cry
Hey, miss American girl
Hey, miss American girl
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, yeah
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM FREDRIC DURITZ, BEN G MIZE, CHARLES THOMAS GILLINGHAM, DANIEL JOHN VICKREY, DAVID A IMMERGLUCK, DAVID LYNN BRYSON, MATTHEW MARK MALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@olemattsmusak
Sheryl Crow adds so much to this brilliant song… Love it. Born in 85…anyone else a young teen with this release??
@mrmagorium12
His voice is crazy good.
@freedom4mealways
Counting Crows had this hit two decades ago. It still has appeal!
@Mintpepperoni
Have not heard this song in years, which is why I can't explain waking up this morning with the tune stuck in my head. Thank you, subconscious, for reminding me of how good this song is. I am teary-eyed listening to this for some reason.
@badtotheboneriff.
this song is so good it makes me wanna cry!
@Zyrath23
This song is my favorite by the Counting Crows. I can personally relate to the overall sentiment of the song. I've been down that road many times and this song speaks volumes to me.
@reggiemars2k8
All of this time I had no idea Sheryl Crow was singing background in this track. It just makes me love it even more. That is total irony though that Sheryl Crow sung with the Counting Crows. 😄😄😄😄😄
@Teagan_Ratsey134
Would you have thought any different
@starbell9962
@Garth Ratsey honestly when i first heard this song i thought it was Vanessa carlton because they collaborated with her on another song
@KristinaTurnerAquarius
And is from Kennitt Missouri.