All Those Girls
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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You're treating me like all those girls
All those sweet girls go home to cry
And wonder why, all those sweet girls
The rain is coming down and petals on the ground
Like fallen snow you turn to go
And I walk away
I can't believe you're treating me
Like all those men, all those fine men
That took you in
Into their hearts with open arms
I looked up and wished
That I could disappear into the sky
Or else to dive
Into the core of this burning world
I can't believe
You're treating me like all those girls
All those sweet girls go home to cry
And wonder why, all those sweet girls
I can't believe
You're treating me like all those girls
All those sweet girls go home to cry
And wonder why, all those sweet girls
In Jolie Holland's song "All Those Girls," the lyrics describe a feeling of betrayal and disappointment in a relationship, specifically how the singer is being treated like all the other girls who have been hurt by their partners. The singer expresses disbelief that they are being treated in such a way, as if they were just like all those "sweet girls" who go home and cry, wondering why they were hurt. The rain and petals falling are metaphors for the sadness and loss the singer feels as they watch their partner leave.
The second verse reverses the roles, with the singer expressing their own disbelief that they are being treated like all the other men who have hurt their partner. This suggests a cycle of hurt and disappointment in relationships, and how the actions of one person can affect the actions of another. The chorus repeats the idea that being treated like all those other people is a painful and confusing experience.
This song captures the complicated emotions that come with feeling like you're just another bad experience in a cycle of hurtful relationships. It's a powerful reminder that hurt and betrayal can impact people deeply, and that the pain of being treated like all those other people is a feeling no one wants to experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe
Expressing disbelief over the treatment received by the person he/she is addressing
You're treating me like all those girls
Feeling like being treated like other girls that were ill-treated by the person he/she is addressing
All those sweet girls go home to cry
All the girls who faced this same treatment go home sad and helpless that they couldn't do anything about it
And wonder why, all those sweet girls
Pondering why they had to suffer such treatment and questioning the reasons behind it.
The rain is coming down and petals on the ground
Describing the setting/background where the conversation is taking place
Like fallen snow you turn to go
The person he/she is addressing is turning his/her back, giving him/her a cold shoulder, much like the snow that falls coldly on the ground
And I walk away
He/she walks away from the situation
And I hear you say
Even as he/she is walking away, he/she hears the other person's words ringing in his/her ears
I can't believe you're treating me
The other person is still treating him/her the same way and he/she can't believe it
Like all those men, all those fine men
Drawing a parallel between the other person's treatment to him/her with the way men have treated the other person in the past
That took you in
The men have taken the other person in, which is somewhat similar to the treatment that he/she is not receiving
Into their hearts with open arms
The men have opened their hearts to the other person, treating them with love and respect
I looked up and wished
Explaining the emotions of the person taking a moment to reflect and look up to the sky
That I could disappear into the sky
Wishing that he/she could vanish into the air (sky) and escape from this situation
Or else to dive
Trying to give an alternative scenario to escape from the situation
Into the core of this burning world
Imagining himself/herself diving into the center of a burning world and just forgetting about the pain and hurt he/she is experiencing
You're treating me like all those girls
Reiterating the unfair treatment being meted out by the other person
All those sweet girls go home to cry
Stating how all the other girls have been affected by this treatment and how it has caused them to cry
And wonder why, all those sweet girls
Again questioning the reasons behind the mistreatment of people and having the same doubts and concerns as the other girls
Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Liz de carlo
She is so talented and is one of my favorites. I love her singing voice.
Rex Gherkins
I was hooked on this song first time I heard it. And that guitar sound by Marc Ribot is just stellar.
Kat Karsecs
I heard this song on the radio this morning for the first time, came in at the end of it and thought "Is she singing in English? What language is that?" But the melody and the electric guitar, and her voice itself, gave me goose pimples. Hearing it now, I can get the lyrics, and I think her voice is really soulful. The 'accent' is odd, but I think it gives her music a lot of character. I love a voice that has a distinctive character.
JEMcreative
I agree her voice is very strange but I think I could get used to it. Not a fan of the southern drawl that much in music but she does have a nice singing voice and I like the lyrics/poetry
dobbsiancant
i've been listening to a lot of 'girl in a coma' and i find that their lead singer,nina diaz has a lot of the same vocal phrasing that jolie employs.i bet she's a big fan.anybody agree?
Birdsnest101
Just Brilliant.
Frank - GMail
where have you been jolie holland - i have missed you (or been lazy) - i LOVE this and you sound better than ever! *mwa!* -frank- / model daughters
samlamamma
Great accent!!!
MitchMb14
True that! I still like her a lot, though. I also wish Alela Diane would just stay in the lower register more without making her voice crack up into that high falsetto so much.
Liz de carlo
@yobhsiFehT I'm glade she does not hide her accent. That is why I like her voice.