Out of Jail
They Might Be Giants Lyrics


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Long before the screen door slammed, she was out of Xenia
A stranger could have loved that town but she had to leave

I wish I'd gotten to know her before I fell in love
I could say who's to blame, say who's the man in this cautionary tale
But I swore I'd be true and I'll swear and I'll swear 'til Kitten's out of jail

It was like a TV show, the way she stole that car
Easy now to criticize, easy now to talk

I thought my luck was changing, I guess I was wrong
I could say who's to blame, say who's the man in this cautionary tale
But I swore I'd be true and I'll swear and I'll swear 'til Kitten's out of jail

Didn't want to be a slave
Just turned out that way

I wish I'd gotten to know her before I fell in love





I could say she's to blame, say she's the man in this cautionary tale
But I swore I'd be true and I'll swear and I'll swear 'til Kitten's out of jail

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Out of Jail" by They Might Be Giants tells the story of a woman who leaves her hometown of Xenia, and the singer regrets not getting to know her before falling in love with her. The woman is later arrested for stealing a car and the singer pledges to wait for her until she is out of jail. The song presents a cautionary tale of a person who takes risks and is ultimately punished for their actions.


The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is a free spirit, someone who could have loved the town of Xenia, but is compelled to leave. The singer is left with regret for not knowing her better, emphasizing the idea that we often take things for granted until they are gone. The story takes a darker turn when the woman is arrested for stealing a car, and the singer promises to wait for her until she is released from jail. The idea of loyalty despite a person's mistakes is a central theme in the song.


The song could be seen as a commentary on the American dream, and the risks some people are willing to take to achieve it. The woman's desire to leave Xenia and take control of her life goes hand in hand with her later decision to steal a car. The song seems to suggest that those who are willing to take risks are often punished, yet the singer remains loyal to the woman despite her mistakes. Overall, "Out of Jail" is a cautionary tale of the risks we take in our pursuit of happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

Long before the screen door slammed, she was out of Xenia
She had left Xenia way before anyone else noticed.


A stranger could have loved that town but she had to leave
It's possible for someone to find love in Xenia, but she didn't stick around to find out.


I wish I'd gotten to know her before I fell in love
He wanted to know her better before he fell in love with her.


I could say who's to blame, say who's the man in this cautionary tale
He could point out who's responsible for everything, but that won't change the outcome.


But I swore I'd be true and I'll swear and I'll swear 'til Kitten's out of jail
He made a promise to be faithful, and he intends to keep that promise until Kitten is released from jail.


It was like a TV show, the way she stole that car
The way she stole the car seemed like something out of a TV show, not real life.


Easy now to criticize, easy now to talk
It's easy to judge from the outside, but things are rarely black and white.


I thought my luck was changing, I guess I was wrong
He believed things were getting better, but it turned out he was mistaken.


Didn't want to be a slave / Just turned out that way
She didn't intend to be a slave, but circumstances forced her into that position.


I could say she's to blame, say she's the man in this cautionary tale
He could blame her for everything, but that won't change the situation.


But I swore I'd be true and I'll swear and I'll swear 'til Kitten's out of jail
He is determined to keep his promise of fidelity until Kitten is out of jail.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN FLANSBURGH, JOHN LINNELL, JOHN C. FLANSBURGH, JOHN S. LINNELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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