Pretty Girl Why
The Kennedys Lyrics


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Pretty Girl Why
Stephen Stills

Like the ghost of someone near
She comes to haunt me in my sleep
Still I'm able to sincerely
Get her heart away from his
Pretty Girl why?
Pretty girl why not love me?
Pretty girl why?
Pretty girl why?

There she leaves me twice as lonely
As I was but yesterday
Keeping such a hold upon my thoughts
So near yet far away

Pretty Girl why?
Pretty girl why not love me?
Pretty girl why?
Pretty girl why?

The minstrel boy has gone to war
Now burdened with his father's sword
Still she doesn't see how she can give him
Piece of lips to hold

Pretty Girl why?
Pretty girl why not love me?




Pretty girl why?
Pretty girl why?

Overall Meaning

The Kennedys' song "Pretty Girl Why" is a plaintive cry from the perspective of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman who has chosen someone else. The song opens with the haunting image of the woman as a ghost, coming to haunt the singer in his sleep. Despite this, he still holds out hope that he can win her heart away from the man she is currently with.


In the second verse, the singer laments that the woman has left him feeling even more lonely than he was before, despite the fact that she is still so present in his thoughts. He asks her why she won't love him, but there is no answer.


The third verse introduces the character of the minstrel boy, who has gone to war and is burdened with his father's sword. The woman still doesn't see how she can give him a piece of her lips to hold, which is a poignant reference to a kiss. The singer is left with the same unanswered question: why won't she love him?


Overall, "Pretty Girl Why" is a sad and melancholy song that captures the pain of unrequited love. The image of the woman as a ghost is particularly haunting, as it suggests that her memory is both present and inaccessible to the singer. The song is carried along by a simple, plaintive melody that perfectly captures the emotional content of the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Like the ghost of someone near
The feeling of being haunted by her presence is like a ghost that lingers around me.


She comes to haunt me in my sleep
Even in my dreams, her presence haunts me and I can't escape her.


Still I'm able to sincerely
Despite everything, I can truthfully say that I want her heart.


Get her heart away from his
I want her to leave him and be with me instead.


Pretty Girl why?
I can't help but wonder why she doesn't love me.


Pretty girl why not love me?
I can't understand why she has yet to show me any love.


There she leaves me twice as lonely
Even though she's not physically present, the thought of her leaves me feeling twice as lonely.


As I was but yesterday
Her absence hasn't made me feel any better since yesterday.


Keeping such a hold upon my thoughts
She still lingers in my thoughts and I can't seem to let her go.


So near yet far away
Although she's physically close to me, it feels like she's emotionally far away.


The minstrel boy has gone to war
The guy she's with is now away at war.


Now burdened with his father's sword
He's feeling the weight of his father's legacy and expectations.


Still she doesn't see how she can give him
Even though he's gone through so much, she still can't see how to love him.


Piece of lips to hold
She won't even give him a simple kiss to show that she loves him.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEPHEN STILLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

shandi

Check out my latest video to see how the Kennedy Curse played a huge role in the family's legacy: https://youtu.be/rr-0sPvhO0E

Chuk Anyanwu

Something about this family has always interested me . The tragedy was so sad.

s c

@Lorael Anderson I mean JFKs daughter Caroline Kennedy is still alive but yes, Jackie, JFK JR, and Bobbie Kennedy are all dead.

Bella

@LOVE IS EVERYTHING LOVEYOUSENPAISUGA there are still some Kennedy’s alive Caroline, JFK’s daughter and her children are still alive and RFK’s kids and grandchildren are alive

Lorael Anderson

@LOVE IS EVERYTHING LOVEYOUSENPAISUGA Wait! I recently just found out that there is one Kennedy that is still I alive😱. I'm not sure if she is the only Kennedy that is alive🤔😅👍

LOVE IS EVERYTHING LOVEYOUSENPAISUGA

@Lorael Anderson wait they are all dead 😳

Lorael Anderson

@Mirjana Borčić Agreed

8 More Replies...

John Murphy

So sad watching these films. In my opinion, the nation and the world never got over President Kennedy’s assassination. And Robert Kennedy’s granddaughter Saoirse Kennedy Hill dying the other day. The family’s sadness continues. RIP to all the Kennedys.

Kayte 0207

I was 12 when President Kennedy was assassinated. The country seemed to change drastically after that. I have always said that our country has never recovered from the murder of President Kennedy. I know I certainly have not…

Richard Milhous Nixon

You right the nation never got over the JFK assassination.

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