Girl Friend
The Modern Lovers Lyrics


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If I were to walk to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
Well, first I'd go to the room where they keep the Cezanne
But if I had by my side a girlfriend
Then I could look through the paintings
I could look right through them
Because I'd have found something that I understand
I understand a girlfriend
That's a girl, friend
Said G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N
That's a girlfriend, baby
That's something that I understand
Alright

I walk through the Fenway, I have my heart in my hands
I understand a girlfriend

That's a girl friend
Oh, that's a G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N
Well, that's a girlfriend, baby
That's something that I understand

Four o'clock in the afternoon in the Fenway
I have my heart in my hands

I understand a girlfriend
That's a girl, friend
That's G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N




That's a girlfriend, oh, baby
Well, that's something that I understand

Overall Meaning

The Modern Lovers' song "Girl Friend" is a testament to the power of companionship and romantic relationships. The singer, who is presumably the band's frontman Jonathan Richman, muses about the joy he would feel if he had a girlfriend by his side as he travels through the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He recognizes that having a significant other would provide him with a new perspective and level of understanding as he looks at Cezanne's paintings. The repetition of the phrase "I understand a girlfriend" emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding and connection in a relationship.


The singer's desire for a girlfriend is not limited to the museum, however. As he walks through Fenway, he continues to emphasize the importance of companionship, noting that having a girlfriend would make him feel complete and give him a new sense of purpose. The repetition of the phrase "that's a girlfriend, baby" reinforces the idea that a romantic relationship is an essential aspect of life. Ultimately, the singer's musings on love and companionship offer a window into the universal desire for human connection and the role romantic relationships play in fulfilling that desire.


Line by Line Meaning

If I were to walk to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
If I decided to stroll to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston


Well, first I'd go to the room where they keep the Cezanne
My first stop will be the room where Cezanne's works are displayed


But if I had by my side a girlfriend
If I had a girlfriend with me


Then I could look through the paintings
I will be able to browse through the paintings


I could look right through them
I will be able to fully appreciate the paintings


Because I'd have found something that I understand
I would have found something that I can relate to


I understand a girlfriend
I am able to comprehend the concept of having a girlfriend


That's a girl, friend
That's a girl who is a friend and a romantic partner


Said G-I-R-L-F-R-E-N
Spell it out, she is a girlfriend


That's a girlfriend, baby
That's a wonderful romantic partner


That's something that I understand
That's a concept that I can easily grasp


I walk through the Fenway, I have my heart in my hands
As I pass through the Fenway, I carry my emotions on my sleeve


Four o'clock in the afternoon in the Fenway
It's four o'clock and I am strolling through the Fenway area of Boston




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MODERN LOVE SONGS
Written by: Jonathan Richman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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