The original band, billed simply as "The Modern Lovers", existed from 1970–74 but their recordings were not released until 1976 or later. It featured Jonathan Richman and bassist Ernie Brooks with drummer David Robinson (later of The Cars) and keyboardist Jerry Harrison (later of Talking Heads). The sound of the band owed a great deal to the influence of The Velvet Underground, and is now considered one of the leading bands of the "proto-punk" scene. It pointed the way towards much of the Punk, New Wave and Indie rock music of later decades. Their only album, the eponymous The Modern Lovers, contained stylistically unprecedented[citation needed] songs about dating awkwardness, growing up in Massachusetts, and love of life and the USA.
After recording several tracks in 1972 and '73, including "I'm Straight" (referring here to abstaining from drug use), and "Government Center", Richman wanted to scrap the tracks that were recorded and start over with a mellower, more lyrical sound. The rest of the band, while not opposed to such a shift later, insisted at the time that they record as they already sounded. They continued and eventually, the first album was released in 1976. Long before its release, however, creative differences split the band apart.
Later, Richman used the name Modern Lovers for a variety of backing bands, always billed as "Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers." These bands were quieter and featured more low-key, often near-childlike, songs, as Richman drew on folk-rock and other genres. Out of Richman's original bandmates, only Robinson was part of any of the other Modern Lovers incarnations.
Girl Friend
The Modern Lovers Lyrics
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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
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
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