That's Not Her Way
Eels; Mark Oliver Everett Lyrics

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Yeah, she's alright
Just floatin' through her day
People throwin' words 'round
And talkin' such trash
There's so much she could say
That's not her way

That's not her way

Oh, I've been a fool
Other things on my mind
It's not hard to assess
The many terrible things she could say
But that's not her way

People, that's not her way

Yeah, she's alright
She knows who she is
She could stop and remind me of
The many ways she brightens my day
That's not her way

People, that's not her way

Overall Meaning

In this song, Mark Oliver Everett describes a person who goes through life quietly, not engaging in the drama and negativity that surrounds her. She is content with just floating through life while others throw words and talk trash around her. Despite having the ability to speak up and say things that could put others in their place, that's not her way. The singer recognizes that he has been a fool with other things on his mind and hasn't been appreciating the many ways in which this person brightens his day. He acknowledges that she knows who she is and could easily remind him of this fact, but that's not her way.

The song conveys a sense of admiration for this person's peaceful and positive approach to life. Her reluctance to engage in negativity and drama is an admirable trait that the singer wishes he could embody. The repetition of the line "that's not her way" emphasizes that this is a conscious choice on her part and a defining part of her character. It's a reminder that everyone has their own way of approaching life, and that the quiet ones who don't engage in drama and negativity can be some of the strongest and most admirable people out there.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, she's alright
She is doing well

Just floatin' through her day
She is taking her time and not worrying too much

People throwin' words 'round
There are people who are talking a lot

And talkin' such trash
And saying negative things

There's so much she could say
She has a lot of things she could say in response

That's not her way
But she doesn't typically respond in that way

Oh, I've been a fool
I have made a mistake

Other things on my mind
I have been preoccupied with other thoughts

It's not hard to assess
It is easy to see

The many terrible things she could say
That there are many negative things she could say

But that's not her way
But that is not typically how she responds