Prior to joining the group, Jackson was a member of the now-defunct The Moondials, a band that released a single on Electric Honey, a label that would later issue Belle & Sebastian's first album, Tigermilk. The Moondials experience was a pleasant one for Jackson, and it took a great deal of work for nominal Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch to convince him to join his group. At the time, Murdoch was playing the open mic circuit in Glasgow as a solo act, and it was at one of these performances -- at The Halt Bar -- that Jackson first saw Murdoch play.
In the beginning, the band existed mostly as an outlet for Murdoch's songwriting. Since the band's third album, The Boy With The Arab Strap, other members have begun to contribute, Stevie Jackson chief amongst them. All of the band's subsequent full-lengths have featured compositions by Jackson, and he wrote the band's 2001 single "Jonathan David" as well as "To Be Myself Completely" for 2006's The Life Pursuit. His songs are noticeably different from Murdoch's compositions--they tend to be shorter and less introspective, opting for catchy 1960s-style pop more often that the folky melancholia that defined Belle & Sebastian's early releases.
Where Do All the Good Girls Go?
Stevie Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day after love did go
Chemin de fer may now take me there
En route to Julie Greco
Commencement, Arrondissement
Super intellectual
Philosophise, 'neath Parisian skies
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do they go in the City of Light?
Where do they go? Where is the beautiful life?
Where do they go?
Jean Michel at the bar, he's having a jar
Oxygene beginning to flow
Charlotte Rampling is starting to sing
"Where did Victor Hugo?"
I need a girl for this boy, a bundle of joy
Wrapped like a paquet cadeau
She'll appear on the tide and together we'll glide
Dans l'escalier Clemenceau
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do they go? There's none that I can see
Where do they go? Où est la belle vie?
Where do they go?
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
Where do all the good girls go?
The song ‘Where Do All the Good Girls Go?’ by Stevie Jackson is an ode to the search for a good woman in a city known for its romance, Paris. The lyrics paint a picture of a man wandering the Parisian streets, searching cafes and bars for a woman who is intellectually stimulating, beautiful, and good-hearted. The opening lines of the song describe the aftermath of lost love, with dead leaves on the street signifying the end of something. The singer sets out on a journey to find a new love in Paris, a city associated with romance and beauty.
The lyrics are filled with references to Parisian culture and intellectualism, with mentions of Chemin de fer, Julie Greco, Les Deux Magots, Victor Hugo, and Jean Michel. Jackson reveals his affinity for French culture through these references, showcasing his poetic knowledge of the city’s artistic and literary scene. The repeated refrain of ‘pardonne moi, excusez moi’ suggests that the singer is a foreigner in the city, attempting to navigate the social norms and language barriers of France while searching for a woman he can connect with on an intellectual and emotional level. The song ultimately ends with the question, ‘Where do all the good girls go?’ – a rhetorical question pondering the illusive nature of true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead leaves on the street
The remnants of something that has ended can be seen in everyday life
The day after love did go
This refers to the previous line, suggesting that the singer is looking for signs of the end of love everywhere
Chemin de fer may now take me there
The singer is considering new ways to get around and find what they are looking for
En route to Julie Greco
This may be a reference to the famous French singer, suggesting that the artist is on a journey to find someone like her
Commencement, Arrondissement
These are French words meaning 'beginning' and 'district', respectively, setting the scene for the Parisian setting
Super intellectual
The singer is surrounded by highly educated or intelligent people
Philosophise, 'neath Parisian skies
The people around the singer are discussing deep, philosophical ideas while looking up at the sky
Dans le café Les Deux Magots
This is the name of a famous café in Paris, adding to the image of a sophisticated and intellectual setting
Pardonne moi, excusez moi
These are French phrases meaning 'pardon me' and 'excuse me', suggesting that the artist is looking for forgiveness and guidance
Tell me where do all the good girls go?
The artist is expressing a desire to find someone special, and is asking for help in locating this person
Where do they go in the City of Light?
The singer is specifically looking for someone in Paris, the 'City of Light'
Where is the beautiful life?
The artist is searching for a certain type of lifestyle or atmosphere, possibly something romantic and glamorous
Jean Michel at the bar, he's having a jar
This line introduces a specific person, suggesting that the singer is looking for someone like this man
Oxygene beginning to flow
This may refer to the album 'Oxygène' by Jean-Michel Jarre, suggesting that the bar is playing music that the singer enjoys
Charlotte Rampling is starting to sing
This may be a reference to the actress and singer, adding to the image of a sophisticated setting
"Where did Victor Hugo?"
This may be a lyric from the song Charlotte Rampling is singing or a phrase overheard in conversation, further adding to the atmosphere of intellectual discussion and culture
I need a girl for this boy, a bundle of joy
The artist is looking for someone to bring happiness into their life
Wrapped like a paquet cadeau
This means 'wrapped like a gift', continuing the theme of finding someone special
She'll appear on the tide and together we'll glide
The singer is hopeful that they will find someone and will be able to navigate life with them seamlessly
Dans l'escalier Clemenceau
This may be a specific location in Paris, adding to the sense of adventure and excitement in the search for love
Where do all the good girls go?
This line is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the artist's search for someone special
Where do they go? There's none that I can see
The artist is becoming disillusioned with their search, as they have not yet found anyone who meets their standards
Où est la belle vie?
This is French for 'Where is the beautiful life?', repeating the earlier sentiment and adding to the Parisian atmosphere
Contributed by Austin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheYapy33
my favorite song on album, this should be a new single!
@bonniedooley8101
Bonnie bonnie bonnie is not the intended solely those of us have your number of the time of the intended solely for your help and advice and help me out of my resume is attached as requested I
@nobohoboful
WHOOPS! Come on Stevie!
@bonniedooley8101
there is anything I can be a good idea of what we have a nice weekend