Fourth floor room
Each girl I've brought back home to bloom
All fold on close inspection
Each one leaves
A banner hanging from the eaves
Marking the eve of election
Ex-girl collection
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
It's just how men mark time
Ann slams in
Another lightning round begins
This could get interesting
Where's Ann been?
She pours herself a don't-ask gin
No ice and light on the bitters
I'm done with quitters
"Why? Charles, I found out
Wipe that smile off your mouth
I think it's tell-me time"
Britt hit hard
She found my box of Beth's best cards
Hand cut and signed with 'X's
Called at work
"Happy anniversary, jerk"
And I just laughed at the timing
With you on line two still crying
"Why play sex on the cuff
Does Beth like it rough?
And learn your dirty lines?
And keep her hair cropped
(The other shoe dropped)
Is this how men mark time in couples?"
She cursed
(This sounds so rehearsed)
As Ann, hand on hip, accusing me to the rafters
The words turn and spit
And scorch right through to the plaster
I'm called ten kinds of a bastard
Curses come faster
Ann stands down
I think she thinks there's still some ground
to run maneuvers on but
Ann so smart
you couldn't even guess Beth's part
she said, "Beth must find you daring
I'm long past caring."
Why?
Into, why not?
Into, what else you got?
Into, Charles gone to pot
In hotter water
Line up to lift up a toast
To the ones I hurt most
And how the well's gone lime
With Charles on the plow
Roger, over and out
Slower how men mark time
Fine
Why?
What else you got?



Lyrics submitted by SweetestSiren, edited by MicePizza

Track duration: 04:39


Ex-Girl Collection song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:According to Charles on their Facebook page, the un-documented lyrics here are:

    Ann stands down
    I think she thinks there's still some ground
    to run maneuvers on but
    Ann so smart
    you couldn't even guess Beth's part
    she said, "Beth must find you daring
    I'm long past caring."
    Flag fimbleson November 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's Over And Out.

    And didn't I hear a woman in the background sing, "It's been real"?

    Or it's been "real-ish"?

    :-)
    Flag TheEsEsTurneron October 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:'I'm roger, over and how'

    Over and out? As in. Roger. Over and out (radio speak)
    Flag Playhardgoproon October 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure the last bit is

    "Anne's so smart/ You couldn't even guess Beth's part
    She said 'Beth must find you daring'
    I'm way past caring"

    with him presumably addressing Britt?

    Will Sheff sings "daring" on his cover of it on the split single. And it rhymes with caring. So... probably it?

    Flag brilliFANon March 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"For the missing lyrics I hear:

    Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground
    To run maneuvers over
    Ann's so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part
    She said Beth must find you (different?) / (???)

    Can't make out the rest of that line. I'm going to see them play tonight, maybe I'll figure it out when they play it." Exactly, I've looked at some many different sites for those lyrics to that one part but they are never in the lyrics. Thanks. Someone should add that in.
    Flag Rennehanaon July 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The Wrens are just about my favorite band from the 2000's (thus far), even with just one record out (which is almost definately the best album of the 2000's). Anyways, the missing lyrics (as charles said on the wrens forum):

    Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground / to run maneuvers on but / Ann so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part / She said, 'Beth must find you daring / I'm long past caring' //
    Flag wopPion September 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:love this song... with regards to judahnielsen's comment i have my own (probably incorrect) theory.. i believe that the lyrics arent "marking the eve of election" but "marking the eve of annexation". It sounds more like annexation (a-nk-sshn) the formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation and fits more into the theme of the song. Of course i could be completely wrong about this and the official website lyrics seem to dispute it... but listen for yourself. On a side note i emailed the wrens telling them i thought they were a kick-ass band and was really grateful and surprised to recieve a reply from greg. What an awesome bunch of guys.
    Flag realgoneon July 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, that's the one, great show. I actually asked Jerome (the drummer) about that stanza at the merch table before the show, but he said he didn't know either :). Charles, who sings it, wasn't around. I was kind of disappointed not to hear this or Built in Girls, but still a great set.
    Flag jwbrockmanon February 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:jwbrockman, if you were talking about the 2/26 show at The Gargoyle, I was there too...Awesome show, but this is the one song I really wanted to hear that they didn't play...It was still incredible though
    Flag Specialiston February 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For the missing lyrics I hear:

    Ann stands down / I think she thinks there's still some ground
    To run maneuvers over
    Ann's so smart / you couldn't even guess Beth's part
    She said Beth must find you (different?) / (???)

    Can't make out the rest of that line. I'm going to see them play tonight, maybe I'll figure it out when they play it.
    Flag jwbrockmanon February 26, 2005   Link

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