What Does a Girl Do?
The Shirelles Lyrics
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That he wants to get to know
He just walks right up to her,
Introduces himself,
Then he tells her so
[Chorus]
But what does a girl do When she meets a boy
Who makes her feel
The same way too
Somebody tell me,
Tell me, tell me
What does a girl do?
(What does a girl do?)
And when a boy meets a girl
For the very first time
It's not wrong for him to say
"Darling, I want you to be mine"
[Chorus]
Now she can't stand on a portico
And whistle when
She goes walking by, oh no no
She must hope that he can see
The lovin' light burnin'
In her eyes, oh yeah yeah
She can't ask him
To let her walk him home, oh no
Nor can she ask him
The number on his telephone, oh no
When a boy meets a girl, yeah,
That he wants for the rest of his life
He just walks right up to her
And says, "darling, please be my wife"
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
Somebody tell me,
Tell me, tell me
What does a girl do?
(what does a girl do?)
The Shirelles's song "What Does a Girl Do?" poses a question that many women have asked themselves since time immemorial - what does a girl do when she meets a boy who makes her feel a certain way? The song highlights the traditional courtship norms of the time period and the gender-specific expectations and limitations that women faced. The lyrics suggest that when a boy meets a girl, he is expected to take the initiative and approach her directly, while a girl is expected to be more passive and expressive through her body language and subtle cues.
The chorus of the song repeats the question "what does a girl do?" emphasizing the confusion and powerlessness that women experienced when it came to pursuing romantic relationships. The song suggests that a woman's only option was to hope that the man she liked would notice her and approach her. The lyrics also suggest that a woman could not be too forward in expressing her interest and had to resort to more subtle means of communication.
Overall, the song reflects the gender norms and societal expectations prevalent in the 1960s when it was written. It highlights the restrictions placed on women during courtship and reinforces the idea that men are the ones who are expected to take the initiative in romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
When a boy meets a girl
It's common for a boy to approach a girl for the first time
That he wants to get to know
When he finds someone he's interested in
He just walks right up to her,
He directly approaches her
Introduces himself,
He introduces himself
Then he tells her so
He expresses his feelings for her
But what does a girl do
The question arises about what the girl should do
When she meets a boy
When she meets a boy she likes
Who makes her feel
A boy who has caught her attention and may have romantic feelings for her
The same way too
Feels the same towards her
Somebody tell me,
Seeking advice on what to do
Tell me, tell me
Asking for help and guidance
What does a girl do?
Specifically, what actions should a girl take in this situation?
And when a boy meets a girl
This is elaborating further on the context of the situation
For the very first time
At the beginning of a romantic interaction
It's not wrong for him to say
He's free to express his interest
"Darling, I want you to be mine"
He's being clear and direct with his intentions
Now she can't stand on a portico
There are limits to what she can do
And whistle when she goes walking by, oh no no
She can't simply show interest in that way
She must hope that he can see
She has to rely on him noticing her interest rather than being able to directly express it
The lovin' light burnin' in her eyes, oh yeah yeah
Her eyes can convey her feelings if he pays attention
She can't ask him to let her walk him home, oh no
Again, there are limits on what she can do and ask for
Nor can she ask him for the number
She can't make direct requests like asking for his phone number
The number on his telephone, oh no
She has to find more subtle ways of indicating her interest
When a boy meets a girl, yeah
Another restatement of the main scenario being described
That he wants for the rest of his life
He has long-term intentions with her
He just walks right up to her
He still has to take initiative to make things happen
And says, "darling, please be my wife"
He takes things to the next level by proposing
Somebody tell me,
Restating the earlier request for advice
What does a girl do?
Still seeking answers for what a girl should do in this situation
(what does a girl do?)
A final repetition of the main question being asked
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ED TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind