Nobody feels any pain
Tonight as I stand inside the rain
Ev'rybody knows
That Baby's got new clothes
But lately I see her ribbons and her bows
Have fallen from her curls.
She takes just like a woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.

Queen Mary, she's my friend
Yes, I believe I'll go see her again
Nobody has to guess
That Baby can't be blessed
Till she sees finally that she's like all the rest
With her fog, her amphetamine and her pearls.
She takes just like a woman, yes, she does
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does
And she aches just like a woman
But she breaks just like a little girl.

It was raining from the first
And I was dying there of thirst
So I came in here
And your long-time curse hurts
But what's worse
Is this pain in here
I can't stay in here
Ain't it clear thatÑ

I just can't fit
Yes, I believe it's time for us to quit
When we meet again
Introduced as friends
Please don't let on that you knew me when
I was hungry and it was your world.
Ah, you fake just like a woman, yes, you do
You make love just like a woman, yes, you do
Then you ache just like a woman
But you break just like a little girl.



Lyrics submitted by Kitten_61, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 04:50


Just Like a Woman song meanings
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79 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I see a sort of Curley's wife figure when I listen to this song. Despite all the connotations of womanhood and her overt sexuality she (CW) is naive and fragile.
    Flag Spanners97on August 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I see a sort of Curley's wife figure when I listen to this song. Despite all the connotations of womanhood and her overt sexuality she (CW) is naive and fragile.
    Flag Spanners97on August 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:Adolescence.

    "Lately I see her ribbons and her bows
    have fallen from her curls.
    She takes just like a woman,
    She makes love just like a woman,
    And she aches just like a woman,
    but she breaks just like a little girl."

    Not yet a woman. Yet, not entirely a child anymore too.
    Just my two cents.
    Flag RoyDeSmeton May 27, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think 'breaks just like a little girl' is actually referring to the act of breaking-up a relationship. It's a strange way to phrase things, but it kind of works since it's part of a rhyme scheme and creates a bit of mystery round the lyric (which is always desirable)

    basically his relationship with a woman has ended, he's quite bitter about it, and he's saying that the way she handled the break-up (or the reason she chose to leave him) is immature. like she had no respect for his feelings and acted like a selfish, irrational child
    Flag TraxusIVon April 06, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:I enjoyed everyone's interpretations so far. I tend to agree more with c.f, but on a different basis than money. I see Dylan as a man seeking a meaningful and honest, probably committed, bond with somebody. Initially, he is allured by this female due to her mature and earnest appearance. However, amidst their relationship he begins to witness devious, dishonest, immature behavior, her true nature. My vision is that he puts up with this behavior, denying the realization that she's no good for him. But, alas, eventually it leads to the end of their romance, and he comes to the bitter realization that he was a tool, he was played by her. I love the lyric: "When we meet again, introduced as friends. Please don't let on that you knew me when I was hungry and it was your world." To me, he's admitting to himself, and maybe directly to her, that he was a fool for putting up with her and initially falling for her ruse. Ultimately, I think the song serves him cathartically. He's reciting his insights from the experience.
    Flagged pcwebbjron December 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe the song means exactly what the words say.....and that Edie may have inspired it. The only comment which causes me to waver from this opinion is that made by plaincl0thesman.
    Flag Ritamayon March 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about edie sedgwick. "with her fog, her amphetamine and her pearls", refers to edie's lifestyle and appearance, she chain smoked (like most of her time) which explains "her fog"; The Factory (andy warhol's studio) where edie spent a lot of her time, was notoriously full of amphetamine; and "her pearls" is a reference to edie's iconic style. "but she breaks just like a little girl." refers to edie's child like qualities and fragility. bob dylan was romantically involved with her in the sixties.
    Flag goldmountainon February 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I thought that this song was about a relationship with a very young girl, possibly jailbait. Now whether it's sexual or not, it's up to you. But we have a very young girl who has clearly 'filled out', has sex, seems intelligent for her age, and has other 'adult' qualities and interests. However, no matter how clever she is, not matter how 'adult' she may look or seem, she's still just a child.
    Flag fizzypopismon August 08, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:easy. all aimed at some fans of his re going electric
    Flag macthefingeron March 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's to open for interpretations. I think the prostitute one is fine. It was the first one i thought.
    Flag almaoceanicaon December 07, 2009   Link

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