Girls With Accents
Fences Lyrics

In Fences’s song “Girls With Accents,” the singer seems to be reflecting on his own shortcomings and the consequences that come with them. He admits to himself that all he wanted was a chance with a girl, someone who would notice him in passing and give him a second glance. But when he finally finds that opportunity, he finds himself too drunk to act on it, and regrets his missed chance. Later, he gets what he thought he wanted – a pretty girl to live with him – but again, he feels like he has messed everything up. The repetition of the chorus, where he continuously admits to “fucking up everything,” demonstrates the singer’s feeling of inadequacy and inability to get what he wants, even when he finally gets what he thinks he wants.

The song is a poignant reflection on how unfulfilling it can be to get what you thought you wanted, and then realizing that you’re still not happy. The singer is unable to appreciate what he has as he’s too focused on what he’s missing. The upbeat tempo of the song contrasted with the melancholic lyrics give the song an air of bittersweet nostalgia.