English girls are pretty when they play guitar
Crazy like a day just breaking I ain't sure what for
Ain't got a mother or a father or a place to fall
She's got a brother in the blues,
But he doesn't know the blues at all
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean

She's got pretty eyes as a pair of jewels
Falling down the Camden
Like a couple drunken criminals
She had a messy bedroom on the edge of town
I had never been good enough
To ever keep around
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, it didn't mean a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink

Tall drink of water, she's a Norfolk waterfall
Little daybreaker, she's shooting like a cannon ball
Crazy like a rocket when
You're coming through my radio,
Kept me in your bed till the winter time
Through the fall
Fall time come, and I guess my little bird can sing
Come on Elizabeth, come on Bethany
Come on forever, I'm tired and I want to sleep
My little dove flew away, and I'm guessing
She was done with me
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me,
That you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink

Kissed me on the lips but my heart just slept it off
Words may move,
But they're never movin' fast enough
Celebrate the differences
I'll celebrate the songs you sing
Just three words, my love
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything



Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry

Track duration: 05:41

"English Girls Approximately" as written by Ryan Adams

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


English Girls Approximately song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I agree the song is primarily about Beth Orton, but there are a couple nuanced references to general bitterness in rock and roll history. The title is certainly an homage to Queen Jane Approximately, which, like many of Dylan's lyrics, is critical of the woman who is the subject of the song. The woman described in Queen Jane seems to live in a fantasy world and will one day fall hard into reality, so that is likely what Adams is implying, not to mention the obvious queen theme tying into the English theme.
    Also the line "fall time comes and I guess my little bird can sing" is playfully referring to Marianne Faithful, who is doing back-up vocals. The Beatles song "And Your Bird Can Sing" was allegedly written by Lennon as a jab at Mick Jagger, who was dating Marianne Faithful at the time, ergo she was his "bird".
    Flag notmuchon July 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:English boys can be just as mean.
    Flag ireallydontknowon December 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:MY FIRST LOVE WITH RYAN....
    Flag Gabriel24on April 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like the song, but it's just Adams having a winge and a manic depressive spell. Comes across as throwing his dummy out, whereas Beth kept a dignified silence and is a much more talented songwriter and performer than he'll ever be.
    Flag conorwon January 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Anyone else notice that Marianne Faithfull's backing vox sound a lot like Beth Orton? I thought for sure it was her the first time I listened, had to actually look at the liner notes to find out it wasn't. I wonder if that was intentional.

    I don't know if any Beth songs are about Ryan... but This One's Gonna Bruise was written by him. Absolutely heartbreaking song.
    Flag guitarchelson November 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it is a "brother into booze"... you are right, lastgun...
    Flag melancholyjenon October 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I thought the lyrics went, "She got a brother in the booze, but he doesn't know the blues at all."

    That's a much better line if you ask me.
    Flag lastgunslingeron October 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My thoughts concerning the Three Words:
    Beth might have said some mean spirited things at the end of the relationship and she tried to take back by saying something along the lines of "I didn't mean what I said." And Ryan doesn't buy it with his response in the song being "You meant everything (you said)" instead of "You meant everything (to me)." Just a thought, but it completely changes the sentiment, and I think it fits better with the feeling of the rest of the lyrics.
    Flag rynofan23on October 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is just perfect.
    Flag indian.ron September 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The most perfect thing Three words could be.

    Most people would expect it to be 'I Love You' but 'Just three words my love; You meant everything' changes the perspective of the relationship... He may have still carried a torch for her when he wrote this...
    Flag louisect1on September 04, 2007   Link

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