Sister
Jane. Lyrics

Oh my sister
The singer addresses her sister, implying some kind of kinship or bond between the two.

What did you say to them
Asking what the sister said to an unidentified group of people, possibly indicating the sister's tendency to speak her mind or be outspoken.

You've got to use a little tact
Offering advice to the sister about how to communicate effectively with others.

Leave out words like "bombs" , "gurus", or "India"
Explicitly naming some words that the sister might want to avoid using in conversation or else risk offending or alienating others.

You won't set the world on fire
Suggesting that the sister's previous way of speaking may have been passionate or intense, but it may not have had the desired impact or results.

If you separate yourself from them like that
Implying that the sister's previous communication style may have caused her to feel isolated or disconnected from others.

You are so critical
Commenting on the sister's tendency to be judgmental or harsh towards others.

How did you ever get this hard
Asking the question of how the sister became so jaded or cynical.

He only wanted to kiss you
Referring to a romantic encounter that the sister had with someone, possibly indicating a lack of experience or naivete on her part.

And when he couldn't "score"
Suggesting that the sister may have been too guarded or cautious in the pursuit of a romantic relationship with this person.

He told his friends
Implying that the sister's rejection of this person may have led to gossip or rumors among their mutual acquaintances.

And now all the boys are afraid of you
Speculating on how the sister's reputation or behavior may have affected her social interactions with others, particularly members of the opposite sex.

Of us all you were most modest
Praising the sister's maternal qualities, which may have included humility or generosity towards others.

Even though you were last to lower your hem
Drawing a contrast between the sister's modesty and her peers' more risque or daring behavior, while also implying that the sister may have been resistant to change.

Throw your jeans out the window
Encouraging the sister to take a risk or be more spontaneous in her actions.

Put them on behind the fence
Providing a specific scenario in which the sister could act out this advice, possibly indicating that the artist knows the sister's routines or habits.

Oh I laugh - you put such feeling
Commenting on the irony or humor of the previous advice, which may be difficult or uncomfortable for the sister to follow.

Into your indifference
Suggesting that the sister may try to hide her true feelings or emotions from others, possibly due to a fear of vulnerability or rejection.

You don't know why I love you it could be
Admitting uncertainty about the reasons behind the singer's affection for the sister, which may contain elements of admiration, nostalgia, or familial duty.

The untouchable innocence
Identifying one possible reason for the artist's love -- the sister's purity or naivete, which may be a rare or desirable quality in the artist's eyes.

That I see in you sometimes
Qualifying the previous statement by admitting that the sister's innocence is not always on display, but rather may appear intermittently or fleetingly.

Or the loss that I feel
Offering another possible explanation for the artist's emotional attachment to the sister -- a sense of longing or nostalgia for a simpler time in their shared history.

When you pass through my mind
Imagining the sister's presence in the singer's thoughts or memories, possibly indicating a distance or separation between them in the present moment.

Or maybe because I'm supposed to
Acknowledging the possibility that the artist's love for the sister may be a product of social or familial expectations, rather than genuine emotion.

Where are you living now
Asking the sister about her current living arrangements, which may have changed since their last interaction.

You left "nirvana" as your forwarding address
Referencing the sister's previous location or state of being, which may have been characterized by enlightenment, contentment, or spiritual fulfillment.

Well - that's very funny from a mile and a half
Expressing skepticism or amusement about the sister's message or behavior, which may be seen as ironic or unintentionally humorous from the singer's perspective.

But up close at home it's not like that
Acknowledging that the sister's reality may be different from how it appears from a distance, perhaps indicating that her life is more complicated or less perfect than she makes it seem.

Why don't you send us a letter
Suggesting a way for the sister to reconnect with her family or loved ones, which may have grown apart from her due to distance or ideological differences.

oh my sister...
Returning to the opening refrain of the song, which serves to remind the listener of the singer's relationship to the sister and the overall theme of familial or personal connection.