Her Psychology Today
Guided by Voices Lyrics


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Yeah you know things could get much worse
You know things could get much worse
Could be better, yeah..

her psychology today is to play the crying game
To elicit a response to determine every gain
And I'm wanting to attain something in this turnabout
when she speaks the flag unfurls
And the heavens split in half
When she launches her attack
In her opening paragraph

and she is having the time of my life
She is having - she is

....?

hey you know things could get much better
Could be better
Hey you know things could get much better




Could be better
Gotta be better, you know..

Overall Meaning

The song "Her Psychology Today" by Guided by Voices is a sarcastic take on a dysfunctional relationship, with the male protagonist trying to navigate the complexities of his partner's mood swings and manipulations. The opening lines, "Yeah you know things could get much worse / You know things could get much worse / Could be better, yeah..", suggest that the situation is already bad, but it could potentially escalate further. The repetition of "could be better" seems to be a half-hearted attempt to maintain optimism in the face of uncertainty.


The singer goes on to describe his partner's tactics, stating that "her psychology today is to play the crying game / To elicit a response to determine every gain". This line implies that she is manipulating him by pretending to be vulnerable and emotional in order to get what she wants. Despite recognizing this, he still wants to "attain something in this turnabout", implying that he is still invested in the relationship despite its dysfunction.


The chorus of the song is a somewhat ironic juxtaposition of the seriousness of the situation with upbeat, optimistic language. The singer acknowledges that "things could get much better", but the fact that he has to say it at all suggests that he doesn't actually believe it. Overall, the song paints a picture of a relationship that is troubled, yet somehow still worth fighting for.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah you know things could get much worse
The situation may not be great, but it could always be worse.


You know things could get much worse
Reiterating the idea that the situation, though not great, still has the potential to be worse.


Could be better, yeah..
Despite acknowledging that the situation could be worse, there is still a hope for improvement.


Her psychology today is to play the crying game
She manipulates the situation by feigning sorrow to achieve her desired response and gain.


To elicit a response to determine every gain
Her tactic is to use the emotions of others to figure out what she can get out of a situation.


And I'm wanting to attain something in this turnabout
The singer is also seeking to gain something from the situation and is trying to maneuver to do so.


when she speaks the flag unfurls
Her words have a powerful impact and can cause a significant reaction in others.


And the heavens split in half
Her words have an immense impact, so much so that it feels as though the heavens themselves are affected.


When she launches her attack
Her use of words can feel like an attack to those around her.


In her opening paragraph
Her initial words have a strong impact on the events that follow.


and she is having the time of my life
She is enjoying the experience, despite the manipulative tactics being used.


She is having - she is
Reiteration that she is indeed enjoying the experience.


Hey you know things could get much better
Despite acknowledging the potential for things to be worse, there is still hope for improvement.


Could be better
Restating the idea that there is potential for improvement in the current situation.


Gotta be better, you know..
Emphasizing the need for things to improve, while still maintaining a level of hope for the future.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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