Crush in the Ghetto
Jolie Holland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm talking to the weeds
Look what you've done to me
I'm still dressed up from the night before
Silken hose and an old Parisian coat
And I feel like a queen at the bus stop on the street
Look what you've done to me
It's a beautiful morning in the ghetto
Finer than the day before
The ants are crawling over my pants as if to say
They know where the honey is
There's really old roses blooming in the ghetto
Birds of paradise are taller than me
The weeds grow high, the birds flicker by
Children are walking to school
In the midst of all of this profusion
The bus pulls up to take me back home
The bus driver looks like an African prince
The babies have tears in their eyes
And I feel like a queen
On this sunny city bus
Look what you've done to me
The song Crush in the Ghetto by Jolie Holland is a reflection on the beauty that can be found in the unlikeliest of places. In the first verse, Holland describes feeling uplifted and joyful, as though floating with birds and conversing with weeds. She credits this sense of lightness and happiness to someone in her life, saying "Look what you've done to me." The second verse finds Holland still dressed up from the night before, feeling regal even as she waits for a bus in a less-than-glamorous part of town. She continues to marvel at the unexpected beauty she encounters in the midst of this urban landscape - old roses, exotic birds of paradise, and the simple but sweet sight of children walking to school. Even the ants crawling over her pants seem to hold a message for her, as if to say they know where the honey is.
The final verse sees Holland boarding the bus and encountering a variety of people - a bus driver who resembles an African prince, babies with tears in their eyes. Throughout it all, Holland maintains her sense of wonder and gratitude, feeling like a queen even as she rides through her city. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Look what you've done to me," is like a mantra of appreciation for the person or people who have brought this newfound joy and perspective into Holland's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm floating with the birds
I feel light and carefree, like I am soaring with the birds
I'm talking to the weeds
I am so at peace with nature that I am having conversations with the plants growing around me
Look what you've done to me
The listener has caused a transformation in my life that has led to my newfound happiness
I'm still dressed up from the night before
Despite the passage of time, I am still wearing the glamourous clothes from the night before
Silken hose and an old Parisian coat
I am wearing luxurious and stylish garments, adding to my sense of regalness
And I feel like a queen at the bus stop on the street
Despite being in an everyday setting like a bus stop, I feel dignified and majestic
It's a beautiful morning in the ghetto
The setting may be impoverished, but I still find beauty in the morning
Finer than the day before
The current day is even better than the previous, which is a cause for celebration
The ants are crawling over my pants as if to say
The ants are indicating that they know where the sweetest nectar is located, and are showing me their knowledge
They know where the honey is
The ants are suggesting that there is sweetness to be found in the surrounding environment
There's really old roses blooming in the ghetto
Even in a place known for being gritty and tough, beautiful things like old roses can still be found
Birds of paradise are taller than me
The flowers around me are so grand that they are towering above me
The weeds grow high, the birds flicker by
Despite the presence of weeds, life goes on as usual and birds fly by merrily
Children are walking to school
The innocence of children is still present in this neighborhood, which gives hope for the future
In the midst of all of this profusion
Despite the overwhelming beauty and activity, there is still a sense of calmness and peacefulness
The bus pulls up to take me back home
It's time for me to leave this beautiful place and return to my everyday life
The bus driver looks like an African prince
The bus driver is so majestic and regal that he resembles royalty from another continent
The babies have tears in their eyes
The innocence of the babies is evident in their emotional reactions
And I feel like a queen
Even though I am leaving, I still feel dignified and important
On this sunny city bus
Although I am leaving a beautiful place, the sun is still shining and the bus ride is pleasant
Look what you've done to me
The listener has impacted me so greatly that even after leaving a beautiful place, I still feel content and regal
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.