Rollerskate Skinny
Old 97's Lyrics


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Rollerskate skinny and the terrible two's
How can you have everything and nothing to lose?
You and nobody see eye to eye
You're gonna wake up with a ghost instead of a guy

Bulletin board on the wall of a church
Soaking up the city from a top-step perch
You're gonna break down on a midnight date
You're gonna curse this town, you're gonna run late

You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny
You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny

Do you want to meet up at the Pickwood Bowl?
We could knock nine down and leave one in the hole
Wouldn't be here if the Athenia hadn't sunk
Or if dear 'ol dad hadn't got so drunk

Every other day is a kick in the shin
Every other day it's like the day just went
But you make it alright, you make it okay
You make me sorta glad that I waited till today

You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny
You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny

Rollerskate skinny and the terrible two's
Two years in and it's time to choose
Love feels good when it sits right down
Puts its feet up on the table it and sends a bowl around

Ain't nobody gonna see eye to eye
With a girl who's only gonna stand collarbone high
Rain's gonna come in fair-sized drips
We're gonna go to heaven wearing paper-hat ships

You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny
You're pretty as a penny
Rollerskate skinny

I believe in love but it don't believe in
I believe in love but it don't believe in me
I believe in love but it don't believe in me





No it don't believe in
Don't believe in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Old 97's's song Rollerskate Skinny tell a story of a young woman, referred to as Rollerskate Skinny, navigating her way through life's obstacles in a city. The opening lines of the song are a reflection of her complicated situation: "Rollerskate skinny and the terrible two's, how can you have everything and nothing to lose?" Despite having everything she could want, Rollerskate Skinny finds herself feeling lost and disconnected from the world around her. The second stanza continues to outline her struggles as she attempts to find her place in the city, from observing the world around her to trying to maintain a social life.


As the song progresses, Rollerskate Skinny appears to have found some level of solace in a relationship with the singer. "Every other day is a kick in the shin...you make me sorta glad that I waited till today" speaks to the singer's appreciation for the stability that Rollerskate Skinny brings to his life. However, as the song concludes with "I believe in love but it don't believe in me," it becomes clear that the relationship is not without its challenges. This final line, sung repeatedly, is a nod to the ways in which Rollerskate Skinny, and perhaps the singer too, struggle to reconcile their idealized version of love with the harsh reality of everyday life.


Overall, the lyrics to Rollerskate Skinny tell a story of a young woman trying to find her place in the world, navigating the challenges of love and life in the city. The song is equal parts hopeful and melancholic, painting a picture of the complicated emotions that come with growing up.


Line by Line Meaning

Rollerskate skinny and the terrible two's
Describing the feeling of being young and reckless with nothing to lose.


How can you have everything and nothing to lose?
Questioning the paradoxical feeling of having it all but still feeling empty.


You and nobody see eye to eye
Feeling disconnected and misunderstood by others.


You're gonna wake up with a ghost instead of a guy
Worrying that the pursuit of love will lead to disappointment and heartache.


Bulletin board on the wall of a church
Observing the city around from a high vantage point.


Soaking up the city from a top-step perch
Absorbing the sights and sounds of the city from a high place.


You're gonna break down on a midnight date
Expecting something to go wrong on a romantic rendezvous.


You're gonna curse this town, you're gonna run late
Feeling frustrated and angry with the city and its shortcomings.


You're pretty as a penny Rollerskate skinny
Complimenting the attractiveness of the person being addressed.


Do you want to meet up at the Pickwood Bowl?
Asking the person if they want to go bowling.


We could knock nine down and leave one in the hole
Suggesting they could play a game of bowling where trying to miss the last pin would be the goal.


Wouldn't be here if the Athenia hadn't sunk
Reflecting on the twists of fate that led them to the present moment.


Or if dear 'ol dad hadn't got so drunk
Reflecting on the unpredictable influence of family in one's life.


Every other day is a kick in the shin
Feeling like every other day is a painful experience.


Every other day it's like the day just went
Feeling like days are slipping away without meaning.


But you make it alright, you make it okay
Finding comfort and stability in the presence of the person being addressed.


You make me sorta glad that I waited till today
Feeling grateful that they met the person when they did.


Rollerskate skinny and the terrible two's
Reiterating the feeling of youthful energy and recklessness.


Two years in and it's time to choose
Feeling pressure to make decisions about the future after reaching a certain point in life.


Love feels good when it sits right down
Describing the feeling of contentment and happiness when in a satisfying relationship.


Puts its feet up on the table it and sends a bowl around
Portraying love as a welcoming and hospitable entity.


Ain't nobody gonna see eye to eye
Accepting that not everyone will agree with one's choices and beliefs.


With a girl who's only gonna stand collarbone high
Feeling insecure about one's physical appearance and how it affects how others perceive them.


Rain's gonna come in fair-sized drips
Recognizing that hardships and obstacles will come in moderate amounts.


We're gonna go to heaven wearing paper-hat ships
Imagining an unconventional and improbable afterlife scenario.


I believe in love but it don't believe in
Expressing the belief in love, but also recognizing its unpredictable and sometimes unrequited nature.


I believe in love but it don't believe in me
Feeling like love is not reciprocated or not working out as hoped.


No it don't believe in
Emphasizing the sentiment that love is not guaranteed to work out in one's favor.


Don't believe in
Repeating the sentiment that love is not guaranteed to work out in one's favor.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KENDALL DEWAYNE BETHEA, MURRAY HAMMOND, PHILIP WAYNE PEEPLES, STEWART RANSOM MILLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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