Norwegian Wood
Katie Noonan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I once had a girl
Or should I say, she once had me?
She showed me her room
Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair
I sat on a rug
Biding my time, drinking her wine
We talked until two
And then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke
I was alone, this bird had flown




So I lit a fire
Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Katie Noonan's song Norwegian Wood paint a picture of a brief encounter between two individuals, one of whom is recounting the memory to the other. The singer once had a girl, or so he thought. But as the conversation moves forward, it becomes apparent that it was merely a fling. He was invited to her room, which he describes as "Norwegian wood" – potentially a slang term for a type of cannabis that was popular during the 1960s when the song was originally released. The girl offers him a place to sit, but he discovers there isn't a chair. Instead, he settles for a rug, taking in his surroundings as he drinks her wine.


As the night progresses, they engage in conversation until the early hours of the morning when the girl informs him that it's time for bed. At this point, the song takes a comedic turn as the singer reveals that he crawled off to sleep in the bath, leaving the girl to go to work the next day. By the time he awakes, she has left with no trace. The final verse reveals that the singer lit a fire before departing and references the room which held so many memories.


Line by Line Meaning

I once had a girl
At one point in time, I was romantically involved with a girl


Or should I say, she once had me?
Perhaps it was she who was more in control of our relationship


She showed me her room
She invited me into her personal space


Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?
She seemed to take pride in her room's decor and furnishings


She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere
She made me feel welcome and comfortable in her home


So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair
I was perceptive enough to realize there was no seat for me


I sat on a rug
I made do with what was available


Biding my time, drinking her wine
I passed the time enjoying her company and hospitality


We talked until two
We conversed for an extended period of time


And then she said, "It's time for bed"
She decided it was time to end the evening and retire for the night


She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh
She found something amusing about the situation


I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath
I decided to make the most of the situation and found a place to rest


And when I awoke
After some time had passed


I was alone, this bird had flown
She had left while I was asleep, perhaps indicating a lack of interest


So I lit a fire
I responded by taking action and creating warmth and light


Isn't it good, Norwegian wood?
Despite what happened, I still found something positive in my experience




Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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