Ugly Girls
The Goblin Market Lyrics
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Unfairest of them all
Drove away to disappear
In the camouflage of fall
Waiting tables for the locals
Nameless faceless Johns
Boss says looks don't matter
And when they think they know her
The sweet talk begins
Ugly girl's a good sport
Lets the losers win
That's the way it is
That's the way it is for ugly girls
In the kitchen grease and sweat
Melting pasted smile
Ugly girl works so hard
Choking on her bile
Boss knows about her hunger
And sick to death she eats
Second helpings of disgrace
Her starving heart still beats
And when he think he knows her
The sweet talk begins
Makes like she's a good sport
Lets the loser win
That's the way it is
That's the way it is for ugly girls
The Goblin Market's song "Ugly Girls" depicts a poignant narrative about a woman who has grown tired of being judged by her looks and decides to flee her old life as a beautiful girl. However, now that she's "ugly," she's reduced to waiting tables for nameless, faceless men who only see her as a way to mollify themselves. Her boss tells her that looks don't matter, but it's clear that her appearance is still a factor in the business. The woman, choking on her own bile, works tirelessly in the kitchen, taking in second helpings of disgrace, all while suppressing her own desires and hunger.
The lyrics also highlight how people often think they know her, assuming that her ugly appearance means she's open to whatever sweet talk comes her way. Unsurprisingly, the ugly girl is expected to be a good sport, letting herself be used and tossed aside by the losers who have no real interest in her. Ultimately, the song speaks to the heart-breaking reality that physical appearance is still central to many people's lives, and that those who fall outside of the traditional beauty baseline are often pushed to the margins and forced to work harder than their "prettier" peers.
Line by Line Meaning
Had her fill of mirrors
She's tired of constantly looking at her own appearance.
Unfairest of them all
She views herself as the least attractive person.
Drove away to disappear
She wants to escape and be unnoticed.
In the camouflage of fall
She feels hidden and unnoticed in the autumn scenery.
Waiting tables for the locals
She works as a waitress for regular customers.
Nameless faceless Johns
She serves customers who don't even know her name.
Boss says looks don't matter
Her employer claims that physical appearance isn't important.
When the summer season's gone
In the off-season, looks don't impact her job as much.
And when they think they know her
When customers feel they can read her emotions.
The sweet talk begins
The customers try to flatter her.
Ugly girl's a good sport
She tolerates their advances without complaint.
Lets the losers win
She allows these people to feel superior to her.
That's the way it is
This is the reality she faces every day.
In the kitchen grease and sweat
She's working hard in hot and dirty conditions.
Melting pasted smile
Her fake smile is falling apart due to the difficulty of her job.
Ugly girl works so hard
She has to put in more effort than others due to her physical appearance.
Choking on her bile
She's forcing herself to keep working despite the nausea.
Boss knows about her hunger
Her employer is aware of her desperation for money.
And sick to death she eats
She's exhausted and has no appetite.
Second helpings of disgrace
She must endure humiliation to make a living.
Her starving heart still beats
Despite the pain, she carries on and does what she must.
Makes like she's a good sport
She pretends to enjoy the flattery to make things easier.
That's the way it is
She must accept her situation and obediently follow expectations.
That's the way it is for ugly girls
This is the daily treatment that unattractive women are subjected to.
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.