Although originally consisting of a total of 3 cassettes, the most common version of the Girly Sound tapes that circulated among Phair's fans was an incomplete 2 disc compilation of songs from all 3 tapes released on the "Bliss and Phetish" bootleg label. An earlier bootleg compilation of Girly Sound material, "Secretly Timid", was also released. Early in 2006, mp3s of first generation copies of the first 2 tapes were introduced via Phair's online community, bringing to light the original track listing, correct song names, and album titles and more importantly introducing a number of songs that did not appear on the previous Girly Sound bootlegs. The third Girly Sound tape and information of its complete contents remains elusive.
Divorce Song
Girlysound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was late at night, and we'd been driving since noon
But if I'd known how that would sound to you
I would have stayed in your bed for the rest of my life
Just to prove I was right:
That it's harder to be friends than lovers
And you shouldn't try to mix the two
'Cause if you do it and you're still unhappy
And it's true that I stole your lighter
And it's also true that I lost the map
But when you said that I wasn't worth talking to
I had to take your word on that
But if you'd known how that would sound to me
You would have taken it back,
And boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Boxed it up and buried it in the ground
Burned it up and thrown it away
You put in my hand a loaded gun
And then told me not to fire it
When you did the things that you said were up to me
And then accused me of trying to fuck it up
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be all right
And the license said you had to stick around until I was dead
But if you're tired of looking at my face, I guess I already am
But you've never been a waste of my time
It's never been a drag
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
And maybe you'll be all right.
In Girlysound's song, "Divorce Song," the first few lines seemingly recount a conversation between lovers. The singer asks for a separate room after a long day of driving, indicating that they are tired and perhaps seeking some space. However, the response from the partner is a rejection of this request, leading the singer to rue the fact that they didn't stay in bed with their partner for the rest of their life to prove a point. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer reflects on the difficulty of navigating a friendship after a romantic relationship has ended. They question the wisdom of mixing these two types of relationships, as it only leads to unhappiness when it inevitably fails.
The second verse delves into specific examples of the breakdown in communication between the singer and their partner. The partner accuses the singer of not being worth talking to, leading the singer to contemplate what the partner might have said differently had they known how those words would land. The singer then goes on to lament a perceived injustice, that the partner gave them a loaded gun by putting them in charge of decision-making, only to turn around and blame them for any perceived failures.
Overall, "Divorce Song" is a thoughtful reflection on the complex web of emotions that can arise when a romantic relationship ends. The singer grapples with feelings of hurt, anger, and regret, but ultimately comes to the realization that their partner was never a waste of time and that they must count back from ten and move on to better days.
Line by Line Meaning
And when I asked for a separate room
I requested a separate room from you when we were on a long trip at night.
It was late at night, and we'd been driving since noon
We had been driving all day and it was already nighttime when I made my request.
But if I'd known how that would sound to you
If I had understood how much my request would hurt you, I wouldn't have asked.
I would have stayed in your bed for the rest of my life
I would have stayed with you forever to prove my love instead of pushing you away.
Just to prove I was right:
I wanted to prove that being friends is harder than being lovers, and that mixing the two doesn't work.
That it's harder to be friends than lovers
Being friends is more difficult than being in a romantic relationship.
And you shouldn't try to mix the two
Trying to turn a romantic relationship into a friendship is usually unsuccessful.
'Cause if you do it and you're still unhappy
If you attempt to be friends and still feel unsatisfied, it's likely that the issue is with you.
Then you know that the problem is you.
The issue is not with being friends with an ex, but with the person who can't make it work.
And it's true that I stole your lighter
I admit to taking your lighter without permission.
And it's also true that I lost the map
I am also responsible for losing our map while we were on a trip.
But when you said that I wasn't worth talking to
When you said that I was not worth talking to, I believed you.
I had to take your word on that
I trusted your opinion of me and internalized it.
But if you'd known how that would sound to me
If you had understood how much your words would hurt me, you would have taken them back.
You would have taken it back,
You would have withdrawn your hurtful statement.
And boxed it up and buried it in the ground
You would have apologized and attempted to repair the damage done to our relationship.
Burned it up and thrown it away
You would have gotten rid of the damaging idea completely.
You put in my hand a loaded gun
You gave me too much responsibility and then blamed me for making mistakes.
And then told me not to fire it
You told me I was responsible for my actions and their consequences, but then told me not to act in ways that you disapproved of.
When you did the things that you said were up to me
When you encouraged me to make decisions, but then disagreed with the choices I made.
And then accused me of trying to fuck it up
And then blamed me for damaging our relationship after placing me in a difficult situation.
But you've never been a waste of my time
Despite our troubles, I never regretted being with you.
It's never been a drag
Being with you has always been a meaningful experience for me.
So take a deep breath and count back from ten
Take a moment to calm down and reassess this situation.
And maybe you'll be all right.
Perhaps there is still a chance for us to work things out.
And the license said you had to stick around until I was dead
Our marriage license stated you were obligated to remain with me until death.
But if you're tired of looking at my face, I guess I already am
However, if you have lost interest in being with me, I suppose I am already as good as dead to you.
Contributed by Christian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheJrpkid
Holy damn. This is better than the album release. Waaaaaaay better. I’ve fallen in love with this song all over again. My favorite Phair track ever. Demo my backside. This is the real thing. Frack this is good.
The Omaha Introvert
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this demo. So damn good. Liz forever! ✌️
Ryan Kenyon
The Dundee introvert couldn't agree more.
lyricmoon
Liz’s songs have Always been one of my safe places
Hew Grebe
I have always liked this woman. Have the album with this song, but a different version. Still good, though.
Jackie Ade
Same. One of my many safe harbors that was introduced to me in theater school, lyricmoon77.
Emm Bee
Classic Liz! Absolutely awesome!!
pink love
Preordered mine but didn’t bother with the cassettes. So excited. Honestly have never heard a better collection of demos than Girly Sound.
smelly lorenny
I AM ONLY Buying the tapes!!!
Brad Field
They’re not demos! They were like three different albums, each one with a different title and artwork, and they were reviewed in zines and sold for $10 apiece. She wasn’t working toward a proper studio album at that point—the Girly-Sound tapes were considered the finished product. It’s a common misconception, though, and just the other day in a Tweet, Liz herself referred to them as demos. But that’s not how they were conceived/received at the time of their original release.