The Word Girl
Scritti Politti Lyrics
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To long for you to hear
I open up my heart
And watch her name appear
A word for you to use
A girl without a cause
A name for what you lose
When it was never yours
The first time baby that I came to you
Swore I'd do things that you want me to
The second time baby that I came to you
For oh you found my love for you
The third time baby that I came to you
Oh, oh, oh, I knew
The last time baby that I came to you
Oh how your flesh and blood became the word
A name the girl outgrew
The girl was never real
She stands for your abuse
The girl is no ideal
It's a word for what you do
In a world of broken rules
She found a place for you
Along her chain of fools
The first time baby that I came to you
Swore I'd do things that you want me to
The second time baby that I came to you
For oh you found my love for you
The third time baby that I came to you
Oh, oh, oh, I knew
The last time baby that I came to you
Oh how your flesh and blood became the word
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
Oh how
Your flesh and blood
The Word Girl by Scritti Politti is a song that delves into the complex relationship between two individuals. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been longing for the attention of this person, and has opened up their heart to reveal their feelings. The person or protagonist is represented by the word, 'girl', which she outgrows, suggesting that the relationship is not sustainable, and has no real foundation. Rather than existing as a person, the 'girl' is a representation of the singer's abuse and idealization of another.
The chorus of the song reinforces this idea with the use of repetition, suggesting that the singer has tried several times to come to terms with the reality of their situation, but has been unable to move on. The last time he came to the person he is addressing, she became the very word that he uses, representing his flesh and blood. The use of this metaphor highlights the significance of this person in his life and his inability to detach himself from his emotions.
Overall, The Word Girl is a commentary on the complexities of a relationship, and how it can be difficult to move on from someone who has had such a profound effect on your life.
Line by Line Meaning
To do what I should do
I must follow my duty
To long for you to hear
I desire your attention
I open up my heart
I reveal my emotions
And watch her name appear
And think of her
A word for you to use
I give you a term to describe her
A girl without a cause
A woman lacking purpose
A name for what you lose
A label for your lost love
When it was never yours
Even though you never owned her
The first time baby that I came to you
When I first met you
Swore I'd do things that you want me to
Promised to fulfill your wishes
The second time baby that I came to you
On our second meeting
For oh you found my love for you
You discovered my affection for you
The third time baby that I came to you
During our third encounter
Oh, oh, oh, I knew
I realized something
The last time baby that I came to you
On our final time together
Oh how your flesh and blood became the word
Your physical presence became associated with her name
A name the girl outgrew
The woman no longer identified with the label
The girl was never real
She was a figment of your imagination
She stands for your abuse
Her existence justifies your mistreatment of her
The girl is no ideal
The woman is not an ideal partner for you
It's a word for what you do
Her name is used to describe your actions
In a world of broken rules
In a society where norms are shattered
She found a place for you
She gave you a role in her world
Along her chain of fools
Among those who followed her blindly
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your physical being
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your physical existence
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your embodied self
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your corporeal form
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your material body
Oh how
How
Your flesh and blood
Your physical composition
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID GAMSON, DAVID H. GAMSON, GREEN GARTSIDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guruuvy
In the NYC area we had a New Wave station called 92.7 WLIR that had a sunday night show where they would play promos of Imports-called ‘Off The Boat’.
Their theme song was the opening xylophone intro to The The’s ‘Uncertain Smile’.
In very late 1984, I heard the Ranking Ann ‘Flesh and Blood’ version of Word Girl and lost my MIND when I heard the bass line when she started singing ‘No use me . . . Abuse me . . . I’m flesh and blood’!
I know it was very late 1984 because we moved to our new house in 1985 and I was in my old bedroom when I first heard the song.
A couple of years later, my Dad (who disliked the colonizer aspect of much of my New Wave dance music) loved Word Girl so much that he borrowed the 12” that I hunted down at Record World at the mall for $15 (in 1986) and recorded it on his state of the art stereo.
I was amazed that he put it into his regular rotation of R&B, Soca, Disco and Reggae music that he would blast on his stereo throughout the weekend.
That’s when I began to realize that these songs are transcendent.
That stereo is still working and I converted the tapes that I made of my Scritti Politti vinyl 12”s and albums into MP3’s (before the CD’s were available) and my MP3’s sound as good as the remastered CDs!
@12hornets
Who was there in the 80s 🙋
@stevejelly3161
It was the summer of 1985 ............. i was 20 and the years had themes 🙂
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I worked in a Vauxhall garage as a mechanic
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Those Astra GTEs and Cavalier SRi's ..... major service.....clutch....head gasket HALF HOUR
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Great record ........ Live Aid ......... wow times are dark now 😞
@billodriscoll-iz8br
I was 6 going on 7 when this was released way back in '85
I remember it well
80s music lives on and stood the test of time ⏲ 🙌
@micpin6810
Amazing. Normally kids get interested in pop-music in their early teens starting at about 13!
@ark1492
The cleanest recorded engineered reggae song I’ve ever heard, that bassline and those keyboards are so elegant coupled with that voice of his
@michaelfrazia4569
yes...I always think that...when those green guitar stabs come in it is crystal clear. love the sound of this song
@michaelfrazia4569
he is one of my favorite musicians and the only one I'm wishing I could see live.
@ark1492
@@michaelfrazia4569 these songs are about to become a hell of alot cleaner next month in August….as Scritti Politti albums are getting the remastered treatment if you weren’t aware….his the link below….can’t wait….
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/scritti-politti-albums-re-released-on-vinyl-and-cd/
@ark1492
@@michaelfrazia4569 I saw him live in 2004 I think it was, At Royce Hall Auditorium on the UCLA campus here in California….it’s very oft-putting to see that voice of his come from a singer who stands about 6ft 7inchs🤣 tall,…but believe me, that voice is all him and not studio vocal effects and vocal pitch tools, he was singing acoustic, electric and rock with a full band behind him, about 7 musicians and it was astounding…..he opened up for Brian Wilson that evening. Was a true honor to see him sing live👍
@JohnH108
@@michaelfrazia4569 I have my tickets for Manchester later this year, really looking forward to it.