Produced by Saint Etienne
Rel… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs
Produced by Saint Etienne
Released September 1991 on Foxbase Alpha.
Notes The date mentioned, June 4th 1989, was the day of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.
"Originally called 'Militaria' because of the drum sound. The big list of names in the middle, which is what everyone remembers about it. We put it in at the end because we felt we needed something extra." (Pete Wiggs, 2009).
"It was because of Vogue by Madonna. I think Sarah had been to San Clemente but the places in it, at the time, most of us had never been to. There's a Hungarian football team in there from a Panini sticker book - see if you can spot it!" (Bob Stanley, 2009).
"When I came to sing 'Girl VII' live I had to come up with something for that repeated sample, so I went 'waving a wave boy'. So that's the lyric." (Sarah Cracknell, 2009).
Girl VII
Saint Etienne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From somewhere you won't find me
A different place
A different time
Together that summer
We raised some hell, yeah
But I couldn't forget
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend
June 4th, 1989, Primrose Hill, Staten Island
Chalk Farm, Massif Central, Gospel Oak, Sao Paolo
Boston Manor, Costa Rica, Arnos Grove
San Clemente, Tufnell Park, Gracetown, York Way
Videoton, Clerkenwell, Portobello, Maida Vale
Old Ford, Valencia, Kennington, Galveston
Holland Park, Studamer, Dollis Hill, Fougeres
London Fields, Bratislava, Haggerston
Lavinia, Canonbury, Alice Springs
Tooting Graveney, Baffin Island
Pollard's Hill, Winnepeg, Plumstead Common
Hyderabad, Silvertown, Buffalo
If I hadn't left you
Suppose we'd still be lovers
Still be the fights
And I'd ladder my tights
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend
...
In "Girl VII" by Saint Etienne, the singer is reflecting on a past relationship and the nostalgia that comes with it. The singer imagines running away from their current life to find the person they used to love, in a different place and time. They recall a summer where they had a wild time together, but the memory is tainted by the fact that the person they loved was a "kiss and tell." This means they were the type of person who would boast about their romantic conquests to others, which could have contributed to the dissolution of their relationship.
The remainder of the lyrics are a list of various places, both specific and general, that seem to represent memories or landmarks associated with the relationship. The specific dates and locations, such as June 4th, 1989, and Staten Island, suggest that these are significant moments in the relationship's history. The other place names become a sort of litany or catalog of the memories or experiences that are important to the singer. The chorus of "Carrie's got a boyfriend" repeats itself throughout the song, potentially signifying the singer's jealousy, regret or bitter feelings about the breakup.
Overall, "Girl VII" presents a nuanced portrait of nostalgia and lost love, where the singer yearns for a past relationship that wasn't necessarily perfect, but still holds an important place in their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll run to you now
I am moving towards you at the moment
From somewhere you won't find me
I am coming from a place that you are not aware of
A different place
I have traveled to a new location
A different time
I have entered a new period
Together that summer
We spent a summer together
We raised some hell, yeah
We had some wild and exciting experiences
But I couldn't forget
I was unable to erase from my mind
You're a kiss and tell
You talk about your romantic encounters with others
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Someone named Carrie is in a relationship
June 4th, 1989, Primrose Hill, Staten Island
A specific date and location
Chalk Farm, Massif Central, Gospel Oak, Sao Paolo
A list of places
Boston Manor, Costa Rica, Arnos Grove
More places on the list
San Clemente, Tufnell Park, Gracetown, York Way
Still more places on the list
Videoton, Clerkenwell, Portobello, Maida Vale
More places on the list
Old Ford, Valencia, Kennington, Galveston
More places on the list
Holland Park, Studamer, Dollis Hill, Fougeres
More places on the list
London Fields, Bratislava, Haggerston
More places on the list
Lavinia, Canonbury, Alice Springs
Even more places on the list
Tooting Graveney, Baffin Island
Still more places on the list
Pollard's Hill, Winnepeg, Plumstead Common
More places on the list
Hyderabad, Silvertown, Buffalo
The final places on the list
If I hadn't left you
If I had not gone away from you
Suppose we'd still be lovers
We might still be in a romantic relationship
Still be the fights
We would still be arguing and disagreeing
And I'd ladder my tights
I would still have ripped or snagged my stockings
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Repeating the previous statement
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Repeating the previous statement
Carrie's got a boyfriend
Repeating the previous statement
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB STANLEY, PETER STEWART WIGGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roiy Benkel
I'm writing you now from somewhere you won't find me
A different place, a different time
Together that summer, we raised some hell, yeah
But I couldn't forget, you're a kiss and tell
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
June 4th, 1989...
Primrose Hill, Staten Island, Chalk Farm, Massif Central
Gospel Oak, São Paolo, Boston Manor, Costa Rica
Arnos Grove, San Clemente, Tufnell Park, Gracetown
York Way, Videoton, Clerkenwell, Portobello, Maida Vale
Old Ford, Valencia, Kennington, Galveston, Holland Park
Studamer, Dollis Hill, Fougeres, London Fields
Bratislava, Haggerston, Lavínia, Canonbury, Alice Springs
Tooting Graveney, Baffin Island, Pollard's Hill, Winnepeg
Plumstead Common, Hyderabad, Silvertown, Buffalo
If I hadn't left you, suppose we'd still be lovers
There'd still be the fights and I'd ladder my tights
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend...
K K
this whole album was the bomb, every single song!
Bob Jackson
Second only to SCREAMADELICA
Me
When this album first came out…I wasn’t ready. Later it became indispensable.
John Seabury
One of the best tracks on the album. I love being alone on the road listening to this jam.
theo van staden
this was very good music for its time, 2019 i am still a saint etienne fan!
Andor Bereczk
You're not alone...
mickey n mallory knox did it
I really need to dig this cd out of my collection and upload it on my device -gold!
Stacey Agens
Try it on vinyl, seriously.
Jim Poe
This tune has been killing me for 29 years
Roiy Benkel
I'm writing you now from somewhere you won't find me
A different place, a different time
Together that summer, we raised some hell, yeah
But I couldn't forget, you're a kiss and tell
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend
June 4th, 1989...
Primrose Hill, Staten Island, Chalk Farm, Massif Central
Gospel Oak, São Paolo, Boston Manor, Costa Rica
Arnos Grove, San Clemente, Tufnell Park, Gracetown
York Way, Videoton, Clerkenwell, Portobello, Maida Vale
Old Ford, Valencia, Kennington, Galveston, Holland Park
Studamer, Dollis Hill, Fougeres, London Fields
Bratislava, Haggerston, Lavínia, Canonbury, Alice Springs
Tooting Graveney, Baffin Island, Pollard's Hill, Winnepeg
Plumstead Common, Hyderabad, Silvertown, Buffalo
If I hadn't left you, suppose we'd still be lovers
There'd still be the fights and I'd ladder my tights
Carrie's got a boyfriend, Carrie's got a boyfriend...