U2 – (Trash, Trampoline and the) Party Girl

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "(Trash, Trampoline and the) Party Girl" Ringtone to Cell

I know a girl, a girl called Party, party girl
I know she wants more than a party, party girl
And she won't tell me her name, oh no, not me

I know a boy, a boy called Trash, trash can
I know he does all that he can, wham bam
And she won't tell me his name, oh no, not me

When I was three
I thought the world revolved around me
I was wrong
And so I sing now
And if you dance, then dance with me

I know a girl, a girl called Party, party girl
I know she wants more than a party, party girl

I know a boy, a boy called Trampoline
You know what I mean
I think I know what he wants
I think I know what he wants
I think I know what she wants
I think I know what she wants
I think I know what he wants

Send "(Trash, Trampoline and the) Party Girl" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by archmastermind

Track duration: 02:34


(Trash, Trampoline and the) Party Girl song meanings
Add your thoughts

19 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with vittau, to me the song always sounded a bit sad as well, even if I don't quite understand what it's about.

    I always felt that the party girl was a girl everyone assumed was a bit of a 'bad girl' or easy and maybe taking drugs and she lived up to her reputation even though deep down she would rather escape the party scene but doesn't know how. And Trash is maybe a junkie and Trampoline just some highschool drop out who just goes out every night to pick up girls, but they don't have any real meaning in their lives, even though outsiders think that they are having a great time partying all the time, but on the inside it's a hollow lifestyle.
    Flag dancingbunnyon March 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Before I knew it was just a joke song, I actually thought the lyrics were about prostitution (except for the "When I was three..." part that really doesn't match it =P).
    That and I think the guitar sounds quite sad...

    Bottom line, for me it is and will always be a sad song, even though it was supposed to be the opposite.
    Flag vittauon December 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm glad to see the boys are resurrecting this one here and there now. I saw an excellent YouTube video of them doing it for Bono's daughter Eve's birthday in Milan just a few weeks ago (July 2009). It has a whole other twist to it the way he performed it then.

    Haven't we all been one of those characters at one time or another?

    Simple yet layered...that's what I like about U2!
    Flag U2mommaon July 19, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the association with Edge's ex-wife comes from her bursting out of a birthday cake onstage in Cork in 1987, introduced by Bono as the 'Party Girl', which they then played. I seem to remember Bono admitting the song was about Adam. I always associated the Trashcan character with the one of the same name in Stephen King's The Stand.
    Flag PlasticJesus23on November 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of the best B-sides of all time.
    Flag suede67on November 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Adam is trash. That's what I've read in the books about U2.
    Flag dtpon September 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've never heard names associated with this song. Are you guys sure that Edge (or Adam) is trash, Adam is trampoline and Aislinn (Edge's then-wife) is party girl?
    Flag rager1969on March 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about love
    Flag isacon February 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about being a very young child, toddlers are very sellfish, and without prejudgement about anything and carry a extreme loyalty and extremley honest upon true love. trust me i have a toddler.....
    Flag stormbonoon January 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ha ha ha...this song is full of joy! To constrat the atmosphere around the band at that time...

    This is a reference to The Edge (trash), Adam Clayton (trampoline) and The edge's ex-wife (party girl). It looks like a song that was written on the way back home, though: it's simple and beautiful
    Flag The Big Bad Wolfon August 12, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain