Sister Shirley
The Badlees Lyrics
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But it's not as warm as I expected
I've paraded your photo through San Mateo
Dreamin' '86 was resurrected
And some thought they'd seen you, sister Shirley
I swear I saw you meeting them
With better clothes and a different smile
Northern California's got that brochure appeal
But where's the wine that you poeticized
Nineteen and pregnant and hatin' the means
You responded to your thought dream cries
And some thought they'd seen you, sister Shirley
I swear I saw you meeting them
With better clothes and a different smile
Where on Earth should I begin
Sun affirms the Bayshore Freeway, the moon burns bright in Burlingame
Two weeks straight our Daily Bread's conclusions turn the same
Face me if and when I face you, black and white, how we embrace you
We love you and we hate you
And some thought they'd seen you, sister Shirley
I swear I saw you meeting them
With better clothes and a different smile
Where on Earth should I begin
What's your name now, sister Shirley
Did you run to better ground
The Badlees's song Sister Shirley is an emotional ballad that captures the pain of a friend or family member who has lost touch with their loved one, Shirley. The opening lines set an eerie tone, describing how everyone who should be grieving is wearing dark glasses, implying a funeral or some other tragedy. The singer mentions parading Shirley's photo through San Mateo, which she imagines as the resurrection of 1986, implying that she's nostalgic for a time when they were closer. Yet, as she searches for Shirley, she realizes that she's changed: "some thought they'd seen you...with better clothes and a different smile." Despite the bitter disappointment of not being able to find her friend, the singer ultimately confesses her love for Shirley: "We love you and we hate you." The song ends on a poignant note, with the poignant question that will most likely go unanswered: "What's your name now, sister Shirley? Did you run to better ground?"
The lyrics of Sister Shirley are written with great attention to detail, which has contributed to its popularity among listeners. The central theme of the song is loss, specifically the loss of a cherished friend. The singer describes how they miss Shirley and long for the times when they were close. The references to "San Mateo" and "Northern California's brochure appeal" are evocative and imbue the song with a sense of nostalgia. The final lines of the song, where the singer asks Shirley what her name is now and if she's found "better ground," are open-ended and leave the listener wondering.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone that should has got their dark glasses on
The people who should be mourning are distant and uninvolved.
But it's not as warm as I expected
The situation is not as comforting or positive as it appeared to be.
I've paraded your photo through San Mateo
I displayed your image publicly in hopes of finding you.
Dreamin' '86 was resurrected
I long for the past when things were simpler and happier.
And some thought they'd seen you, sister Shirley
People believe they have spotted you, sister Shirley.
I swear I saw you meeting them
I am convinced that I witnessed you with those people.
With better clothes and a different smile
You appear to be doing well and have a more positive outlook on life.
Where on Earth should I begin
I am overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach the situation.
Northern California's got that brochure appeal
The area looks attractive and desirable from marketing materials and tourism guides.
But where's the wine that you poeticized
The reality does not quite live up to the romanticized ideal.
Nineteen and pregnant and hatin' the means
You were young and expecting a child while struggling to find your way.
You responded to your thought dream cries
You followed your heart and pursued your dreams.
Sun affirms the Bayshore Freeway, the moon burns bright in Burlingame
The environment is beautiful and captivating, with the natural elements in harmony.
Two weeks straight our Daily Bread's conclusions turn the same
We have been stuck in a cycle or routine, without any progress or change.
Face me if and when I face you, black and white, how we embrace you
Let's confront each other directly, regardless of our differences, and try to understand and support each other.
We love you and we hate you
Our feelings for you are complex and contradictory.
What's your name now, sister Shirley
What is your current identity and how can I find you?
Did you run to better ground
Did you leave in search of a better life and environment?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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