Girl in Red has been cited as a queer icon by Paper, and a "phenomenon" who is "one of the most astute and exciting singer-songwriters working in the world of guitar music" by The New York Times. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Norwegian Grammy Awards. In January 2021, her singles "I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend" (2017) and "We Fell in Love in October" (2018) were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
I'll Call You Mine
girl in red Lyrics
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We're driving so fast
Hands out the window
We're not going back
Summer on a green hill
Laughing so loud
Taking my body
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
And I'll call you mine and I'll
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
Sitting in the backseat
We're driving so fast
Living in a daydream
It's too good to last
Rainy days and bad luck
Coming my way
I look for you when I am lost
So I don't go insane
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
And I'll call you mine, so I'll
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
Show me that you really care
That you're really here
Show me that you're gonna stay
On my worst days
Hold me like you'll never leave
Like you'll never leave
Like you'll never leave
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
And I'll call you mine and I'll
Break me down
And I'll call you mine
And I know I've been around
In "I'll Call You Mine," Girl in Red sings about the exhilaration and uncertainty of being in a new relationship. The song begins with the two lovers in the backseat of a car, driving fast with their hands out the window, and feeling the rush of excitement that comes with being in love. They are living in the moment and not looking back. The lyrics "Summer on a green hill/Laughing so loud/Taking my body/And you're taking it down" suggest that the lovers are enjoying each other's company and experiencing physical intimacy.
However, the chorus hints at a sense of insecurity and vulnerability. The singer asks her lover to "Break me down/And I'll call you mine," suggesting that she is willing to give herself completely to this person, but only if they prove their commitment to her. She has been hurt before and is wary of investing too much in someone who may not reciprocate her feelings. The repetition of the line "And I know I've been around" highlights her past experiences with love and her fear of being hurt again.
The song later shifts to a more somber tone, with lyrics such as "Rainy days and bad luck/Coming my way/I look for you when I am lost/So I don't go insane." The singer finds comfort in her lover's presence and relies on them to keep her grounded during difficult times. The final lines of the song, "Show me that you really care/That you're really here/Show me that you're gonna stay/On my worst days/Hold me like you'll never leave/Like you'll never leave/Like you'll never leave" express her desire for stability and reassurance. She wants her lover to prove to her that they are in it for the long haul and that they will support her through anything.
Overall, "I'll Call You Mine" is a bittersweet love song that perfectly captures the ups and downs of a new relationship. It explores themes of vulnerability, trust, and the desire for stability in a meaningful and relatable way.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in the backseat
The singer and their romantic interest are sitting in the backseat of a car.
We're driving so fast
The car they are in is being driven at high speed.
Hands out the window
The singer and their romantic interest have their hands out of the car window.
We're not going back
The artist and their romantic interest have no intention of going back to where they came from.
Summer on a green hill
The scene is a summer day on a verdant hill.
Laughing so loud
The singer and their romantic interest are laughing happily and audibly.
Taking my body
The singer's romantic interest is physically intimate with them.
And you're taking it down
Their intimacy is intense and all-encompassing.
Break me down
The artist wants their romantic interest to emotionally break them down.
And I'll call you mine
By breaking them down, the artist wants their romantic interest to demonstrate their commitment to the relationship.
And I know I've been around
The singer is acknowledging past relationships or experiences.
Sitting in the backseat
The second occurrence of this line indicates the repetition or continuation of the setting.
Living in a daydream
The singer feels as though they are living in a perfect dream world.
It's too good to last
The singer is aware that their happiness may not be sustainable.
Rainy days and bad luck
The singer anticipates negative experiences in life.
Coming my way
The artist expects these negative experiences to happen to them.
I look for you when I am lost
The artist turns to their romantic interest for support and guidance in difficult times.
So I don't go insane
The singer relies on their romantic interest to preserve their sanity.
Show me that you really care
The singer wants their romantic interest to demonstrate their love in a tangible way.
That you're really here
The artist wants their romantic interest to be emotionally present in the relationship.
Show me that you're gonna stay
The artist wants their romantic interest to commit to the future of the relationship.
On my worst days
The artist wants their romantic interest to be supportive and present during their most difficult times.
Hold me like you'll never leave
The singer wants their romantic interest to hold them and demonstrate their loyalty to the relationship.
And I'll call you mine, so I'll
The artist will call their romantic interest theirs if they meet the above expectations.
And I know I've been around
The final occurrence of this line reiterates past experiences and relationships.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Marie Ulven Ringheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind