Xiu Xiu (pronounced "shoo shoo") is an American experimental group, formed … Read Full Bio ↴Xiu Xiu (pronounced "shoo shoo") is an American experimental group, formed in 2002 in San Jose, California by original members Jamie Stewart, Lauren Andrews, Yvonne Chen, and Cory McCulloch. Currently, the line-up consists of Jamie Stewart (the only constant member since formation) and Angela Seo. The group is based out of Los Angeles and New York.

Over the life of the band, their music has taken influence from noise, modern classical, dance, post-punk, minimalism, Asian percussion music, and American folk music. Frequently noted as well are the films of Todd Solondz, Shohei Imamura, David Lynch, and Seijun Suzuki and the books of Elfriede Jelinek, V.S, Naipaul, Yukio Mishima, and Ingeborg Bachmann.

Over both song concepts or music videos, the art of Xiu Xiu is often memorable to a newcomer by its divisive response. The music of Xiu Xiu has been noted for the lead singer's bleakness either contrasting or complementing the chaotic instrumentation, lyrics commonly including references to depression, suicide, family issues, militarized violence, abuse, sexual disaffection, and body dysmorphia. The band's public image has taken a similar tone, including the insertion of a poster into an LP sleeve (for the album "Dear God, I Hate Myself") of photographs of band-related cuts, brands, and tattoos sent by listeners. They have been critically divisive.

To date, they have released well over 50 titles including albums, 7inches, books, film works and dance pieces. They have collaborated with a number of artistic and musical luminaries such as Carla Bozulich, Michael Gira, Merzbow, Dahn Vo, Monika Gryzmala, Grouper, Larsen, These Arches, Deerhoof, John Congleton, Dirty Beaches, Oxbow, and Shearwater.

The name Xiu Xiu is taken from the film "Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl." They currently release albums on Bella Union and Polyvinyl Records.

Sad Pony Guerilla Girl
Xiu Xiu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You say I am a looker
Because I am a girl
You say I'm stupid
Because I am your girl

Leave me out on the steps
Dress me up like a boy
Say I am your secret love

Say to be quiet, but I want to tell the whole world

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Driving my little car
I'm your girl and I will protect you

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Driving my little car
I'm your girl and I will protect you

Get into the back of my little car
Pull up my pants and fix my bra
Go on home, go home to your kids
I'm not gonna be quiet, I'm gonna tell the whole block

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Driving my little car
I'm your girl and I will protect you

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Driving my little car
I'm your girl and I will protect you

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun

Driving my little car
I'm your girl and I will protect you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Xiu Xiu's song Sad Pony Girl convey a complex mix of themes, including gender identity, power dynamics in relationships, and self-protection. The first two lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer is described as being both attractive and intellectually inferior simply because she is a female. This sets up a power dynamic that is reinforced throughout the rest of the lyrics as the singer is told to keep quiet about her love for a man, who seems to be ashamed of their relationship.

The singer refuses to stay silent, however, and declares that she will "tell the whole world". At the same time, the singer asserts her autonomy and strength through references to her neighborhood, gun, and car, indicating that she will protect herself and her partner despite societal expectations. The repeated refrain of "I'm your girl and I will protect you" is both a declaration of love and a rejection of gender norms that would have her be passive and submissive.

Overall, the lyrics of Sad Pony Girl highlight the ways in which gender and power intersect in relationships and how individuals can assert themselves and their agency despite societal expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

You say I am a looker
You think I'm attractive

Because I am a girl
My gender defines your perception of me

You say I'm stupid
You don't take me seriously

Because I am your girl
You believe you have power over me because of our relationship

Leave me out on the steps
You abandon me in public

Dress me up like a boy
You try to control the way I present myself to the world

Say I am your secret love
You want to keep our relationship a secret

Say to be quiet, but I want to tell the whole world
You want me to keep quiet about us, but I want everyone to know

I like my neighborhood
I enjoy where I live

I like my gun
I have a means of protection

Driving my little car
I have my own transportation

I'm your girl and I will protect you
I am devoted to you and will defend you if needed

Get into the back of my little car
Come with me in my car

Pull up my pants and fix my bra
I am preparing myself for the world outside

Go on home, go home to your kids
You should go be with your family

I'm not gonna be quiet, I'm gonna tell the whole block
I will not keep quiet about our relationship and will spread the word

I like my neighborhood
I enjoy where I live

I like my gun
I have a means of protection

Driving my little car
I have my own transportation

I'm your girl and I will protect you
I am devoted to you and will defend you if needed

I like my neighborhood
I enjoy where I live

I like my gun
I have a means of protection

Driving my little car
I have my own transportation

I'm your girl and I will protect you
I am devoted to you and will defend you if needed

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: James Cyrus Stewart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@agc2757

2y↑89

Here's my interpretation:

[Verse 1]
You say I am loca
Because I am your girl
You say I am stupid
Because I am your girl

[Verse 2]
You leave me out on the steps
You dress me up like a boy
You say that I am your secret love
You say to be quiet but I want to tell the whole world

Pretty self explanatory, the girl is being abused and the partner is saying she should stay quiet about it as the partner is saying it's the girls fault for staying with him because he's abusive.

[Chorus]
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

The repetition makes it sound like it's being drilled into your head, but what if the girl is repeating it because her partner keeps saying it to her to make HER think that way?

[Verse 3]
We do it in the back of our little car
Pull up my pants and fix my bra
Go on home, go home to your kids
I'm not going to be quiet and I'm going to tell the whole block

The 2 have had sex, likely non-consensual and it's here the first gut punch comes in. The partner goes home to their children. He is not only cheating on his wife, but abusing his mistress. Seeing this the girl finally decides to tell the neighbourhood

This vocals sound out of tune/out of time until the noise section. When a cartoon characters TV is out of tune, they hit it. After this the song is in tune.

[Chorus]
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

The vocals are now in tune: The block didn't believe her and she was punished for lying. The Girl also sounds slightly happier here, having accepted this is now her life.

@crocutacrocuta2193

5y↑137

You say I am loca
Because I am your girl
You say I am stupid
Because I am your girl

You leave me out on the steps
You dress me up like a boy
You say that I am your secret love
You say to be quiet but I want to tell the whole world

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

We do it in the back of our little car
Pull up my pants and fix my bra
Go on home, go home to your kids
I'm not going to be quiet and I'm going to tell the whole block

I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

@diesehnswurdigkeit9019

2y↑1

You say I am loca
Because I am your girl
You say I am stupid
Because I am your girl
You leave me out on the steps
You dress me up like a boy
You say that I am your secret love
You say to be quiet but I want to tell the whole world
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
We do it in the back of my little car
Pull up my pants and fix my bra
Go on home to your kids
I'm going to be quiet
And I'm going to tell the whole block
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

@dariolotti7746

5y↑31

All comments from YouTube:

@nate3049

3y↑320

this is the most song ever

@chungkingxp4785

2y↑5

runescape

@TheMrbasebll

2y↑2

well one day i

@beachsideproperty_

1y↑1

i like my gun :)

@regzzuse280

23w↑3

Xiu Xiu

@jayjayfeday7304

4y↑462

This album as a whole is genuinely one of the saddest things I've ever heard

@evangelinakakava1995

4y↑38

and your profile is the cover for have a nice day, that shows a lot....

@kierovacaciones

4y↑12

What about deathconciousness

@jayjayfeday7304

4y↑42

@enemaofthejos if I'm being honest, this album is now more heartbreaking than dc for me personally

@theofficialassmob

4y↑6

ive been on a spree, deathcon and this are on the same level for me personally

@faune5266

4y↑20

@jayjay feday a crow looked at me? dc is one of my favorite albums, but the sadness of it has mostly worn off for me, aside from a few tracks like earthmover or i don't love. also i agree that a promise is more sad, it just feels more personal considering his father and everything

5 More Replies...

@b00sted33

15w↑6

We ruining karaoke night with this one

@thehowardcneal

9y↑816

the first time i heard this song was the first time i heard it.

@rj5073

9y↑51

same.

@KolKay

5y↑24

so deep

@rinar5643

5y↑12

What a strange coincidence, mate...

@isabellameow2745

5y↑4

@skiddzie2708

4y↑2

yeah

10 More Replies...

@brinoh

42w↑60

the whole album smells like sweat.
i dont know how to express it more than this.

@zaphyra-

42w

Hello

@dharmaeatspennies

40w

@everyvillanislemons7583

@savannahsav91824

32w

real

@youtubeisevil

23w↑1

Exactly my thoughts since I first listened to it years ago

@Diplipito

8y↑310

This song genuinely scared the sh!t out of me as I listened to this cd while I was driving at night and that loud noisy bit at 2'06" came unexpected.

@123candygirl345

8y↑35

oh man that must be brutal

@rickiraton

2y↑1

I wanna have that kind of experiences 🌞

@chanss9698

1y↑1

Bro who has this on a CD.

@jimwolfgang9433

1y↑2

@chanss bro?

@oo-xv6dq

3y↑156

The noise section is supposed to sound like someone getting hit, right? I assume the girl's getting hit by the person who she's the girl of and I think it makes sense considering the lyrics that come right before it.

@Missjunebugfreak

3y↑41

Oh fuck! That makes the song even more harrowing.

@IMONFIREPLEASEPUTMEOUT

2y↑5

Oof going full on sutcliffe jugend

@lukeberrie3942

2y↑15

Turns out that part is just Jamie slapping himself in the face lol

@localdishwasher

49w

@Luke Berrie what??!

@jayjayfeday7304

5y↑172

Jamie stuart goes sicko mode at 2:06

@aero6104

4y↑21

Dude said stuart

@jayjayfeday7304

4y↑9

@WASP86 made an oopsie

@ryanlebowski4018

3y↑1

so tru

@villelotjonen5491

2y↑45

This song came up on the song radio during my peaceful sleeping playlist and I had a nightmare

@putonahapifeis343

4y↑32

2:09 when your ma came back after picking up the report card

@studiojiggly8112

4y↑163

No other voice than Jamie Stuart’s has made me feel so depressed while listening to it.

@thomsgirlfriend1745

3y↑8

and thom yorke

@izsantiago7135

2y↑14

@thomsgirlfriend Thom Yorke sounds funny

@mariamman

1y↑4

Try out some car seat headrest

@apapataco

2y↑40

Don't tell the other songs, but this is Jamie's favorite.

@creditcard5346

3y↑106

Am ex showed me this song and I dissed it because i was insecure about how it made me feel. I did that with a lot of things.. my most toxic trait. It's farther down the road and I fucking love this song and all feelings that come with.

@catturd2

41w↑1

wow what a shit thing to do

@bulldog7318

14w↑3

This song is incredibly terryfing and uncomfortable, transmits horror without very obvious about it, whiske listening to this i felt like i was being abused, and the feel of a power imbalance is properly transmited, great song,

@Tornillo07

7y↑101

The noise section woke up my cat.

@k2sm0ke

4y↑3

Nacho Lutteri Of course you own a cat

@user-uw3uz4nm4m

same

@syntheticsilkwood2206

Wtf is your pfp

@fiza5403

3y↑31

reminds me of the guitar from my favorite song "all we ever wanted was everything" by bushas, so glad to hear that unique sound again

@vick207

1y↑9

I can't get enough of this song

@m867

8y↑81

makes me sad

@chef.ramesses

7y↑42

a sad pony guerilla girl?

@mima-wg1gv

2y↑18

Sounds exactly like the last song I'll ever hear in my life.

@nyx2889

1y↑15

I am the sad pony guerrila girl.....minus the older married lover, or significant other in general. I just vibe with this

@xavierdecker7266

18w↑1

Fun fact: the clapping during the noise bit at the end is a recording of Jamie slapping himself in the face really hard. He talked about it in his drunk commentary of this album.

@mariamman

1y↑5

Confusingly, hauntingly beautiful

@InstazomeASMR

3y↑14

such special music

@illumnisx

16w↑1

i fucking love this song and band bro, they’re so amazing.

@s4kl-42

3y↑11

Its 4 in the morning my headphones are at full volume abd the noise bit just scared the shit out of me😭😭😭😭

@weekendcop366

1y↑1

I frickin love this song.

@alannnn3892

17w↑1

Como pode uma banda dessa existir e ninguém falar nada

@jamesbouffard7469

5y↑190

People kept clapping off beat when I saw them perform this live. Ruined a very poignant experience.

@megahdlp611

4y↑85

this triggers me so much like i didnt even see it but am still furious right now

@uwuwu9

3y↑5

Well fuck that shit right off m'man rofl

@gustave7619

wym like how

@dakillarDIE

2y↑30

Why were they even clapping though? There's no beat in the song really to follow along with. Weird.

@lcs-1

@da killar. . . . ... DIE maybe the slapping sounds starting at 2:08

@featherpuke

3y↑9

thank you to my dear friend matthew for sharing

@Missjunebugfreak

3y↑37

This song is so beautiful but fucked up at the same time.

@agc2757

2y↑89

@izsantiago7135

2y↑42

It's about a lesbian abusive relationship

@HaQebc

i think this a fairly good interpretation

@politicaltroll8920

1y↑5

There was a movie in the early 90s about two Chola girls Mousey and Sad Girl in East LA called Mi Vida Loca. This song sounds similar to the plot, two friends date and get impregnated by the same guy, one has to deal drugs on the street and carry a gun to feed her kid.

@smelliottsniff

1y↑4

It's actually about a lesbian relationship

@gluglu7639

47w↑3

i kinda see it as a guy coming out as a girl to his girlfriend imo

3 More Replies...

@redbell.

34w↑3

interpreto que es una historia real donde una mujer adulta mantenía una relación ilegal con una chica adolescente y se encontraban en su auto. Los golpes del final podrían representar que los padres descubrieron esto y la golpearon

@elizabethjameson9629

4y↑25

i love my neighborhood in love my gun i am a girl and i will protect u

@soggywaflz

2y↑5

the first time i heard this song was the last time i'll ever listen to it

@adrienbrody6778

2y↑6

Whenever i play this around my dog and it gets to the noise part she looks at me terrified

@haleywilson520

2y↑23

I used to be in love with a woman with an abusive boyfriend I wanted to save her from. I always wanted to sing this to her.

@Sulldog47

29w

This guy owes Pill Friends a thank you for actually making this a listenable song. Usually covers don’t stand up to the original but wowie, i didn’t think this would be such hot garbage 🗑️

@a.c.7573

27w↑2

Nope

@Ericanchez

13w

this song is amazing!

@civilizationkills3138

12w

it's not for you if you don't get it

@betho7307

3y↑6

so true babe

@erenoz2910

4y↑6

harrowing

@vinylvault1878

1y↑6

This was played to me as a punishment

@bebeebedkx9aniggeaadshile381

4y↑10

Forever art

@miguelllkk

2y↑1

golden tearz start yo fall
little little starzzz

@olm7080

5y↑43

The music is effin great but the artwork made me intrigued.

@gn3957

5y↑20

It's a good story, look it up

@kavajarrace

4y↑40

Jamie Stewart (frontman of Xiu Xiu) went to a gay resort in Vietnam in 2000 and asked a sex worker to pose with baby dolls naked while he took pictures.

@bringoujelqings4078

4y↑3

@The Scout and the sex slave still hasnt been paid

@kavajarrace

4y↑25

@bringou jelqings well he wasn't a slave, he was a sex worker. jamie probably paid him because it's illegal not to do that in a prostitution house

@crocutacrocuta2193

5y↑137

@atticusmortimer9997

21w

what a head banger

@gelmibson883

I member....thx

@concars1234

4y↑11

reminds me of bright eyes and johnny hobo

@bluntdie

42w↑2

I LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD I LIKE MY GUN

@liquidpebbles7475

7y↑5

Nice

@riotshields0

9y↑10

insoutenable

@Xoxo-ec5lp

5y↑10

Hell yeah !lol

@brycewilliams6343

4y↑14

I’m very confused

@d1ckcheese

25w↑3

there are new flea bites appearing on me every time i look but i can never find the actual fleas, wtf is wrong with me

@t-nya

25w↑1

It’s me, I am the flea

@d1ckcheese

20w

@@t-nya lolll jokes on u bitch, they're all dead now

@silviobosco

7y↑5

just it

@youtubeuserdan4017

3y↑6

This shit really fucked me up when I heard it.

@diesehnswurdigkeit9019

2y↑1

You say I am loca
Because I am your girl
You say I am stupid
Because I am your girl
You leave me out on the steps
You dress me up like a boy
You say that I am your secret love
You say to be quiet but I want to tell the whole world
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
We do it in the back of my little car
Pull up my pants and fix my bra
Go on home to your kids
I'm going to be quiet
And I'm going to tell the whole block
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you
I like my neighborhood
I like my gun
Drive in my little car
I am your girl and I will protect you

@OblivionXE

3y↑4

Im a loca girl

@keewindeugenemenra

2y↑1

Keewind.

@BonoLightier

4y↑4

Bitch, I'm loca

@a1rh3ad

49w

Disturbing but.. good

@viral0998hj

6y↑34

El sexo -_-

@diosleon4346

6y↑2

que asen los curifeos

@rapeselrapdelanime7323

5y↑2

no se permiten curifeos 😤

@saintbarama6551

5y↑1

Los curis ya están muertos -_-

@sloboda28

el delisioso -_-

ajajaaj no mames curifeos patricios

@user-fo3yt1jq6n

no se tiren los curis en un video de xiu xiu, cavi lo prohibió

6 More Replies...

@kristalkuleler3647

2y↑3

yanındakiyle yaşar aklındakiyle ölürsün

@FlaggedMail

2y↑3

Aklındakiyle yaşar aklındakiyle ölürsün

@iremdemirci658

2y↑1

ne alaka

@user-pm9pw6cj4c

Sad that this picture has been censored

@jan_Travis

3y↑3

Is it just me but is this song in 6/4?

@ddeparturee

3y↑7

6/8 actually

@arroyo3910

3y↑62

Ofc the guy with the King Crimson pfp brings up time signatures

@jan_Travis

3y↑1

@Arroyo haha of course of course plus just being a music nerd. I was learning this and noticed the time felt off.

@InstazomeASMR

@Iamman i upload 5 times a day for 6 months bahahah, this whole convo

@TheOtherBeuh

29w

Think it’s in polyrhythm for a lot of the middle, 5:4 or sum

@jbliv831

Simon Krug

@sargentmcawesome4938

37w↑3

I thought this was hank hill ai singing

@lowkeydrugaddict7971

პიზდეც

@ketevansharashenidze8130

44w

@lowkeydrugaddict7971

44w

@@ketevansharashenidze8130 გამარჯობაააა ვიმეგობროთ!!

@rickiraton

2y↑14

Why do I always picture a Japanese girl with a schoolgirl uniform running in a dark Japanese alley at night being followed by a unknown entity, every time I listen to this song 😵‍💫