Roadhouse Girl
Ray LaMontagne Lyrics


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Mama says that blue jeans
They ain't fit for a lady
Mama says the bar room
That's no place for a child
Annie takes to nine ball
Like a dog takes to lazy
She'll drive the boys crazy
She'll draw a fine line

She's a roadhouse girl
That's all I'm a-saying
After all
There ain't no law
Against you having a good time
A roadhouse girl
And I ain't complaining
She might be crass
Hard to please
But she's a good friend of mine

She got soft emotion, but she don't let it show none
She sure as hell won't let you know, son
Unless you take your time
I've seen the very best so far, she don't take no shine
To you at all
She'll just kick your ass at pinball and let you buy
The wine

She's a roadhouse girl
That's all I'm a-saying
After all
There ain't no law
Against you having a good time
She's a roadhouse girl
And I ain't complaining
She might be crass
Hard to please
But she's a good friend of mine

She's been thrown, one too many times
All the love that she has known
Is the hardest kind

Mama says that blue jeans
They ain't fit for a lady
Mama says the bar room
That's no place for a child
Annie takes to nine ball
Like a dog takes to lazy
She'll drive the boys crazy
She'll draw a fine line

She's a roadhouse girl
That's all I'm a-saying
After all
There ain't no law
Against you having a good time
Roadhouse girl
And I ain't complaining
She might be crass
Hard to please
But she's a good friend of mine
She might be crass




Hard to please
But she's a good friend of mine

Overall Meaning

"Roadhouse Girl" is a tribute to a woman who frequents bars and appreciates the game of nine-ball, a somewhat neglected pool game. The song highlights the dichotomy between the conservative standards expected of women and the unique characteristics of the roadhouse girl. The lyrics suggest that Annie, the roadhouse girl, is tough and skilled at nine-ball, making her a target of admiration and desire for the boys who frequent the bar.


Despite the social norms of the time, Annie is not afraid to be herself, even if she's a "crass" and "hard to please" friend to those who know her. The chorus points out that there's no law against having a good time, emphasizing that the roadhouse girl is an individual who's not afraid to live life to the fullest, regardless of expectations or judgements.


In conclusion, Ray LaMontagne's "Roadhouse Girl" is a tribute to an unconventional woman who lives life on her terms, despite social pressures and expectations. The song suggests that people should embrace their true selves and not be afraid to have a good time, even if it means going against conventional norms and expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

Mama says that blue jeans
According to her mother, a lady should not wear blue jeans


They ain't fit for a lady
Blue jeans are not suitable clothing for a woman


Mama says the bar room
Her mother believes that children should not be in a bar room


That's no place for a child
A bar is not an appropriate place for a young person to be in


Annie takes to nine ball
Annie is good at playing pool


Like a dog takes to lazy
Annie is really good at playing pool


She'll drive the boys crazy
The guys will really like her


She'll draw a fine line
She knows how to set boundaries


She's a roadhouse girl
She's a woman who spends time in bars


That's all I'm a-saying
That's the only thing I'm trying to say


After all
In the end


There ain't no law
There's no rule or regulation


Against you having a good time
Preventing you from enjoying yourself is not prohibited


And I ain't complaining
I have no problem with her being a roadhouse girl


She might be crass
She might be outspoken and have bad manners


Hard to please
It's not easy to satisfy her


But she's a good friend of mine
Despite her flaws, I value her friendship


She got soft emotion, but she don't let it show none
She has feelings, but she doesn't like to express them


She sure as hell won't let you know, son
She definitely won't tell you, my friend


Unless you take your time
Unless you invest time in getting to know her


I've seen the very best so far, she don't take no shine
I've seen a lot, but she's not impressed by anything


To you at all
To you, in particular


She'll just kick your ass at pinball and let you buy
She'll beat you at pinball and let you pay for the drinks


The wine
Wine or any other alcoholic beverage


She's been thrown, one too many times
She's been hurt many times


All the love that she has known
All the love she's experienced in her life


Is the hardest kind
It's not easy to love her




Contributed by Mason L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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