Girl
Rose Polenzani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a nine-slash stitch and I don't want you no more
you make me sick, you make me sad
you're the best damn lover that I ever had,
except for the girl with the golden pliers
(mama se, mama sa, mama, hey hey)
except for the son who slips and sires
(mama se, mama sa, mama se mama sa mama, hey hey)
Girl, you're a dealer, I'm the cement floor
you're the tracks on my body and I don't want you no more
you make me happy, you make me high
you slice me a piece of the apple pie
but the cross-hatch crust your heart requires
(mama se, mama sa, mama, hey hey)
is the last temptation of the humble prior
(mama se, mama sa, mama se mama sa mama, hey hey)
ah, nobody knows me, no know
ah, nobody hearts me, no heart
Girl, you're a kneeler and I wax your floor
you're a real believer and I don't want you no more
you make me hate you when you lock your jaw
you're the worst damn liar that I ever saw
except for the lover I left on the train
(mama se, mama sa, mama, hey hey)
except for the love I pushed off the plain
(mama se, mama sa, mama se mama sa mama, hey hey)
In Rose Polenzani's song "Girl," she speaks of a complicated relationship dynamic between two individuals. The lyrics speak to a push and pull between the two, with one party being described as a healer and the other a big sore. Initially, the singer does not want to be with the other person, describing the negative impact they have on their life even though they may be the best lover they've had. The chorus keeps returning to phrases that evoke a feeling of tribalism, "mama se, mama sa, mama, hey hey" which adds to the feeling that this is a complicated and primal relationship.
The second verse describes the singer as the "cement floor," inferring that they may be sturdy and dependable but not necessarily the most glamorous option. They initially resist the advances of the person who makes them happy and high, but ultimately, they give in to temptation. The chorus, with its rhythmic repetition, continues to emphasize this theme of temptation, with lyrics that sound like incantation.
In the final verse, the roles seem to have reversed. The singer takes on the role of the caretaker, waxing the floor for the other person. However, the relationship remains complicated and dysfunctional, with the singer resenting the other person's habits and dishonesty. The song culminates in the chorus, the incantation, with the final phrase being "mama se, mama sa, mama se mama sa mama, hey hey," bringing the listener back to the primal, tribal feeling of the beginning of the song.
Overall, "Girl" is a poignant and complex exploration of relationships and their complications. The lyrics paint a picture of love as a primal and sometimes dangerous force, operating outside of logic and reason.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you're a healer and I'm a big sore
The girl has a healing effect on the singer, but the singer is tired of being in pain and doesn't want help.
I'm a nine-slash stitch and I don't want you no more
The singer is wounded and has had enough of the girl's attempts to help heal them.
you make me sick, you make me sad
Although the girl has a healing effect on the singer, the singer finds interacting with her emotionally draining and negative.
you're the best damn lover that I ever had,
Despite the negativity, the artist acknowledges that their physical relationship with the girl is very strong.
except for the girl with the golden pliers
The artist has had a lover in the past who was even better than the current girl (represented by the 'golden pliers' as a symbol of excellence).
except for the son who slips and sires
The singer is referring to a romantic partner who was even better than the current girl, but who made a mistake by impregnating someone.
Girl, you're a dealer, I'm the cement floor
The girl has a power over the singer that the singer feels they cannot break away from (like cement on a floor).
you're the tracks on my body and I don't want you no more
The girl's influence has left visible marks on the artist and they are tired of being tied to her.
you make me happy, you make me high
Despite the negative aspects of their relationship, the artist experiences moments of genuine happiness and euphoria with the girl.
you slice me a piece of the apple pie
The girl takes care of the artist (represented by the apple pie) and gives them moments of sweetness in life.
but the cross-hatch crust your heart requires
The girl has needs and desires in the relationship that the singer cannot fulfill, represented by the 'cross-hatch crust' as a symbol of complexity.
is the last temptation of the humble prior
The artist sees the girl's needs as too much to bear and the final straw that will lead them to leave (represented by the 'humble prior' as a symbol of their past self).
ah, nobody knows me, no know
The singer feels misunderstood and like no one truly knows them.
ah, nobody hearts me, no heart
The singer feels unloved and like no one truly cares for them.
Girl, you're a kneeler and I wax your floor
The girl submits to the singer's desires and the singer takes care of her in return.
you're a real believer and I don't want you no more
The girl has strong convictions and beliefs that the artist no longer wants to be a part of.
you make me hate you when you lock your jaw
The girl's stubbornness causes frustration and anger for the artist.
you're the worst damn liar that I ever saw
The girl has lied to the singer and has lost their trust.
except for the lover I left on the train
The singer has had a past romantic partner who was even better than the current girl, but who they let slip away (represented by leaving on a train).
except for the love I pushed off the plain
Similar to the above line, the artist had another love they let go of (represented by pushing off a plane).
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.