Girl
Jim Sturgess/Across the Universe Lyrics
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All about the girl who came to stay?
She's the kind of girl
You want so much it makes you sorry
Still you don't regret a single day
Ah, girl, girl, girl
When I think of all the times
She will turn to me and start to cry
And she promises the earth to me
And I believe her
After all this time I don't know why
Ah, girl, girl, girl
She's the kind of girl who puts you down
When friends are there
You feel a fool
When you say she's looking good
She acts as if it's understood
She's cool, ooh, ooh, ooh
Girl, girl, girl
Was she told when she was young
That pain would lead to pleasure?
Did she understand it when they said
That a man must break his back
To earn his day of leisure?
Will she still believe it when he's dead?
Ah, girl, girl, girl
Ah, girl, girl, girl
The lyrics to Jim Sturgess’s “Girl” can be interpreted in numerous ways, but at their core, they seem to tell the story of a man who finds himself utterly captivated by a woman who doesn’t always treat him well. He begins by asking whether anyone will hear his story about this girl who has come into his life. She’s the kind of girl who he wants so much that it makes him sorry, but nevertheless he doesn’t regret a single day. Despite all the times he’s tried to leave her behind, she always manages to pull him back in. She turns to him and cries, and promises him the world, and he believes her every time. He doesn’t understand why he can’t seem to let go.
The chorus, which repeats the words “girl, girl, girl” three times, emphasizes just how important this woman is to him. It’s almost as if he’s trying to convince himself that just saying her name is enough to make everything okay. But then he admits that she’s not always easy to be with. She’s the kind of girl who puts him down in front of his friends, and acts as if being “cool” is the most important thing in the world. Despite this, he still finds himself drawn to her.
The final verses are perhaps the most enigmatic. Here the singer asks whether the girl was ever told that pain leads to pleasure, and whether she really believes that a man must work himself to death in order to earn a little bit of rest. He doesn’t seem to know the answers to these questions, but he does know that he can’t get this girl out of his head.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there anybody going to listen to my story
I have a story to tell about a girl, but I'm not sure if anyone will listen.
All about the girl who came to stay?
My story is focused on a girl who spent some time with me.
She's the kind of girl
Let me tell you what kind of person this girl is...
You want so much it makes you sorry
She's so desirable that it hurts.
Still you don't regret a single day
Despite the pain, I don't regret a moment with her.
Ah, girl, girl, girl
She's always on my mind...
When I think of all the times
Reflecting back on all the moments...
I tried so hard to leave her
I made many attempts to end things with her.
She will turn to me and start to cry
Whenever I tried to leave, she would break down in tears.
And she promises the earth to me
She would make grand promises to me...
And I believe her
... and I found myself trusting her.
After all this time I don't know why
Even now, I can't explain why I fell for her.
She's the kind of girl who puts you down
She has a habit of belittling people...
When friends are there
... especially when others are around.
You feel a fool
It's embarrassing to be treated that way.
When you say she's looking good
Even if you compliment her appearance...
She acts as if it's understood
... she won't appreciate it or acknowledge it.
She's cool, ooh, ooh, ooh
She puts up a facade of being unimpressed or aloof.
Was she told when she was young
I wonder if anyone ever warned her...
That pain would lead to pleasure?
... about the idea that pain can lead to pleasure.
Did she understand it when they said
I wonder if she grasped the concept...
That a man must break his back
... that one must work hard and struggle to enjoy life.
To earn his day of leisure?
... and that rewards come only after effort.
Will she still believe it when he's dead?
I wonder if she still holds onto these beliefs, even after experiencing loss.
Ah, girl, girl, girl
She continues to captivate my thoughts...
Lyrics © Roof Music Schallplatten- und Verlags GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind