Needle and Thread
Richard Thompson Lyrics

I see young girls with old faces
The young girls have experienced and endured difficult situations that have resulted in loss of innocence and experience beyond their years.

I see good girls in bad places
The good girls are caught in unfavorable conditions or situations that they cannot avoid or escape.

I see plain girls in finery
The plain and ordinary girls try to improve their appearances or impress others with superficial beauty.

And every one be the death of me
Each encounter or experience has a negative impact on the singer, causing him emotional pain and distress.

Needle and Thread, Needle and Thread
The singer is calling out for his needle and thread as a metaphor for his need to repair his inner self.

Hand me down my Needle and Thread
The singer is requesting his instrument to aid him in fixing his broken self.

Going to thread up my needle and then
The singer is preparing to start the process of repairing his soul.

Gonna sew my soul back together again
The singer is trying to repair his fractured soul, which has been damaged due to the negative experiences of his past.

Now pretty Caitlin she went too far
Caitlin has made a mistake or misjudgment that will have significant consequences.

Shaking all she had at the topless bar
Caitlin is behaving inappropriately or acting out due to her pain or lack of self-worth.

Right in the face of Ben and Bob
Caitlin's behavior is aimed at hurting or punishing those around her, specifically Ben and Bob.

Put a little too much into the job
Caitlin's actions are excessive or taken too far beyond acceptable limits.

Now sweet Myfanwe she took a shine
Myfanwe has taken a liking or fancy to someone other than the singer.

Dumped me for Dai worked down the mine
Myfanwe has chosen to end her relationship with the singer and pursue a romantic relationship with a man who works in a mine.

I was a temp, Dai was a keeper
The singer was not financially stable and secure like Dai, and hence, his relationship with Myfanwe was not deemed feasible or desirable.

He knew how to dig that little bit deeper
Dai was better at finding or accessing the hidden and valuable qualities of Myfanwe that the singer could not appreciate or understand.

Now Bonnie Jean meant everything
Bonnie Jean was significant to the singer and was everything he wanted in a relationship.

But she threw back my hard-earned ring
Bonnie Jean ended her relationship with the singer, thereby indicating that she did not want to commit to him or value him as a partner.

Said she had other men who dig her
Bonnie Jean had other men who were attracted to her or vying for her attention.

She was holding out for something bigger
Bonnie Jean wanted more out of her life or relationships, and hence, she did not want to settle for the singer or commit to him.