Girlfriend
Sophie Cates Lyrics
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You′re so selfish and impatient
Looking me dead in the eyes
Why do you put me in this situation?
Where you say "Stay over a while
We can sleep on the floor next to my bed"
And we both know why I agree every time
And then regret it, because
You keep me in the wings until she needs a stand-in
Like I don't know
Seen it so many times, I know all the lines
I′ll be ready to go
Yeah, when you need me, I'll be ready to go
I watched your every move
I watched as you made your decision
Keeping her further from you
Moving me into position
And you'll say it′s over with her, you can kiss me again
In the back room
We both know why I agree every time
And I let you, because
You keep me in the wings until she needs a stand-in
Like I don′t know
Seen it so many times, I know all the lines
I'll be ready to go
Yeah, when you need me, I′ll be ready to go
And ooh, I can't lie
I think I′m addicted to all of your issues
And ooh, I can't lie
I think I′ll keep living for your bad decisions
And I'm miles away from you, because
You keep me in the wings until she needs a stand-in
Like I don′t know
Seen it so many times, I know all the lines
I′ll be ready to go
Yeah, when you need me, I'll be ready to go
Oh, when you need me, I′ll be ready to go
When you need me, I'll be ready to go
Sophie Cates's song "Girlfriend" is an introspective look into a toxic love triangle. The song details the singer's experience of being the side chick, waiting in the wings until the primary relationship falls apart. The lyrics start with the girlfriend leaving for the night and the singer being left alone with her selfish and impatient lover. The chorus talks about how the singer is ready to go whenever the lover needs her, even though she knows all the lines. She is aware of the situation and regrets giving in to the lover's advances every time. The lover's promise of ending things with the girlfriend and coming back to the singer is a cyclical pattern with no end.
The line "I think I'm addicted to all of your issues," suggests that the singer is aware of the flawed nature of the relationship but can't seem to stay away from it. The singer is well aware of the situation and her place in it. She is waiting for someone to come and pull her away from this toxic dynamic.
In conclusion, "Girlfriend" is a song about a woman trying to navigate a love triangle where she is the second choice. She is aware of the situation but can't seem to break free from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Your girlfriend left for the night
The singer is speaking about a situation where the person she is interested in is in a relationship, but his girlfriend is not present at the moment.
You're so selfish and impatient
The person the singer is talking about is selfish and impatient when it comes to his romantic relationships.
Looking me dead in the eyes
The person the singer is talking about is looking at her with a lot of intensity.
Why do you put me in this situation?
The singer is questioning why the person she is speaking to continues to involve her in his romantic problems.
Where you say "Stay over a while / We can sleep on the floor next to my bed"
The person the singer is speaking with is suggesting that she stay over for the night and sleep on the floor next to his bed.
And we both know why I agree every time
The singer knows that staying over and sleeping next to him will lead to something more every time.
And then regret it, because
The singer regrets her decision to sleep with him every time it happens.
You keep me in the wings until she needs a stand-in / Like I don't know / Seen it so many times, I know all the lines / I'll be ready to go / Yeah, when you need me, I'll be ready to go
The person the singer is speaking about keeps her on the side until he needs someone to replace his girlfriend temporarily. The singer has seen this happen multiple times and is ready to fill this role whenever he needs her.
I watched your every move / I watched as you made your decision / Keeping her further from you / Moving me into position
The singer has been watching the person she is interested in make a decision that will push his girlfriend further away from him and bring her closer to him.
And you'll say it's over with her, you can kiss me again / In the back room / We both know why I agree every time / And I let you, because
The person the singer is speaking about will tell her that his relationship is over and then become intimate with her in private. She knows why she agrees every time and continues to let it happen.
And ooh, I can't lie / I think I'm addicted to all of your issues / And ooh, I can't lie / I think I'll keep living for your bad decisions / 'Til somebody comes and they pull me along / And I'm miles away from you, because
The singer is admitting that she is addicted to the drama that comes with the person she is interested in, but she knows she needs to move on and be pulled out of this situation by someone else.
Oh, when you need me, I'll be ready to go / When you need me, I'll be ready to go
The singer is telling the person she is interested in that she will always be ready to fill in for his girlfriend whenever he needs her.
Writer(s): Sophie Cates, Charlie Hickey
Contributed by Evan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.