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.
Wild Thing
Girlysound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You made the boys spring
You made everything expensive
Spend it, spend it, wild thing
There's hardly a man left around that you haven't sought out
There's hardly a dress shop in town that you haven't bought out
In case you're wondering why the hair salon wouldn't take you
There's hardly a woman left in any state that doesn't hate you
Wild thing
You made the boys spring
You made everything expensive
Spend it, spend it, wild thing
It's truly awesome
When she was younger she thought her mother had missed her calling
And she, in turn, thought that her daughter's conduct was appalling
After each date she had the boys, went home and dreamed of spiders
She never fell for any man who wasn't rich as Midas
Wild thing
You made the boys spring
You made everything expensive
Spend it, spend it, wild thing
It's truly awesome
If there's a lesson to be learned then I'm sure I don't know it
We've all been waiting twenty years to see her finally blow it
But as far as I can tell she's happy, rich, and worry-free
And that's a hell of a lot more than I can say for me
Wild thing
You made the boys spring
You made everything expensive
Spend it, spend it wild thing
Wild thing
You made your heart sing
You bought everything you wanted
Spend it, spend it, wild thing
It was truly awesome
That's my girl, go baby
The song "Wild Thing" by Girlysound is a satirical take on the idea of a woman who uses her sexuality and money to manipulate men to get what she wants. The lyrics describe a woman who is so alluring and attractive that she can get any man she wants, but also so wealthy that she can buy anything she desires. The line "you made the boys spring" implies that her beauty and allure is so powerful that it can make men feel youthful and energetic.
The song also reflects on the jealousy that other women may feel towards her, as she is described as having bought out every dress shop in town, and women across the country hate her. Despite this negative perception, the chorus repeats the idea that this lifestyle is "truly awesome," perhaps suggesting that the woman's power and control is admirable in some sense.
The final verse offers a slight twist on this narrative, as the singer admits that despite everyone's expectations for this woman to fail or be unhappy, she is in fact living a happy, worry-free life with her wealth and power. The song ultimately leaves open the question of whether the woman's approach to life is ultimately positive or negative.
Line by Line Meaning
Wild thing
Addressing someone who is wild and uncontrollable
You made the boys spring
You attract and excite men with your behavior and actions
You made everything expensive
You spend a lot of money on whatever you want
Spend it, spend it, wild thing
Encouraging the person to continue spending and indulging in their wild behavior
There's hardly a man left around that you haven't sought out
You have been with many men and have a reputation for being promiscuous
There's hardly a dress shop in town that you haven't bought out
You have a lot of money and frequently shop for expensive clothes
In case you're wondering why the hair salon wouldn't take you
You have a reputation for being difficult to deal with and are not well-liked by certain people
There's hardly a woman left in any state that doesn't hate you
Your behavior has caused you to be disliked by many women
It's truly awesome
Your behavior and reputation are both impressive and awe-inspiring
When she was younger she thought her mother had missed her calling
The subject of the song had an unconventional upbringing and did not learn traditional values
And she, in turn, thought that her daughter's conduct was appalling
The subject's mother was not pleased with her daughter's behavior
After each date she had the boys, went home and dreamed of spiders
The subject was not interested in the men she dated and had nightmares about them
She never fell for any man who wasn't rich as Midas
The subject was only interested in wealthy men
If there's a lesson to be learned then I'm sure I don't know it
The singer does not have advice or a moral to share
We've all been waiting twenty years to see her finally blow it
Many people have hoped for the subject to fail or face consequences for her behavior
But as far as I can tell she's happy, rich, and worry-free
Despite criticisms, the subject seems content with her life
And that's a hell of a lot more than I can say for me
The singer admits to being less content with their own life than the subject seems to be
You made your heart sing
Your behavior has brought joy and satisfaction to yourself
You bought everything you wanted
Your wealth has allowed you to purchase whatever you desire
That's my girl, go baby
The artist is supportive of the subject's behavior and actions
Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.