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.
Miss Lucy
Girlysound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miss Lucy had a steamboat
Miss Lucy had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Miss Lucy went to Heaven
And her steamboat went to...
Hello operator
Can't know my number
I'll cut off the...
Lyin' by the refrigerator
There was a piece of glass
Miss Lucy fell upon it
And she cut her little...
Ask me no more questions
I'll tell you no more lies
The boys in the parlor
Zipping down their flies
I'm in the meadows
The boys are in their pockets
And the boys and the girls, they are fucking
And the girls and the girls, they are fucking
And the girls and the boys, they are fucking
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
The lyrics of Miss Lucy by Girlysound are open to interpretation by the listener due to their abstract nature. The lines seem disconnected but are held together by the recurring phrase of Miss Lucy and her steamboat, which gives them a semblance of structure. The mention of a steamboat with a bell that rang, followed by Miss Lucy going to heaven is a metaphor for death. This is reinforced by the line 'And her steamboat went to...'. The answer is left unsaid, as the steamboat is seen as a vehicle taking its owner to the afterlife. The subsequent lines take on a more gruesome turn with Miss Lucy cutting herself on broken glass, which could represent the sudden, unexpected nature of death.
The second half of the lyrics take on a more sexual tone with a mention of boys in a parlor unzipping their flies. The singer is in the meadows, possibly representing their separation from the group, and the lines 'Ask me no more questions, I'll tell you no more lies' indicate their reluctance to reveal any more information. The final few lines about people having sex in the dark appear to be a commentary on how people tend to hide their sexual behaviors, even if it is consensual. It also highlights the fact that humans are prone to indulging in such encounters regardless of gender, thereby breaking societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Miss Lucy had a steamboat
Miss Lucy owned a boat that was powered by steam.
The steamboat had a bell
The boat had a bell on it.
Miss Lucy went to Heaven
Miss Lucy died and went to the afterlife.
And her steamboat went to...
The fate of the steamboat is unknown or unspecified.
Hello operator
Addressing or calling for the attention of a telephone operator.
Can't know my number
The singer's phone number is unknown or not to be disclosed.
And if you disconnect me
If the phone call is disconnected or ended prematurely.
I'll cut off the...
The artist will retaliate or take action in some unspecified way.
Lyin' by the refrigerator
Someone or something is resting or positioned near the refrigerator.
There was a piece of glass
A fragment of glass was present in the vicinity.
Miss Lucy fell upon it
Miss Lucy accidentally came into contact with the shard of glass.
And she cut her little...
Miss Lucy sustained an injury by cutting a part of her body, possibly a finger or toe.
Ask me no more questions
The singer does not want to answer any further questions.
I'll tell you no more lies
The singer claims to have been truthful up until this point.
The boys in the parlor
There are boys present in a location referred to as the 'parlor.'
Zipping down their flies
The boys are unzipping their pants or lowering their trousers.
I'm in the meadows
The artist is situated in a field or grassy area.
The boys are in their pockets
The boys are involved in some sort of activity that is not revealed by the lyricist.
And the boys and the girls, they are fucking
Individuals of both genders are engaged in sexual activity.
And the girls and the girls, they are fucking
Women are engaging in sexual activity with one another as well.
And the girls and the boys, they are fucking
Both men and women are involved in sexual activity with one another.
In the dark
The sexual activity is taking place in a place with little or no light.
In the dark
The sexual activity is taking place in a place with little or no light.
In the dark
The sexual activity is taking place in a place with little or no light.
In the dark
The sexual activity is taking place in a place with little or no light.
Contributed by Kennedy D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.