In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
One day you see a strange little girl look at you
One day you see a strange little girl feeling blue
She'd run to the town one day
Leaving home and the country fair
Just beware
When you're there
Strange little girl
She didn't know how to live in a town that was rough
It didn't take long before she knew she had enough
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived but she's feeling old
And she found
All things cold
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived but she's feeling old
'Cause she found
All things cold
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
One day you see a strange little girl feeling blue
She'd run to the town one day
Leaving home and the country fair
Just beware
When you're there
Strange little girl
She didn't know how to live in a town that was rough
It didn't take long before she knew she had enough
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived but she's feeling old
And she found
All things cold
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
Walking home in her wrapped up world
She survived but she's feeling old
'Cause she found
All things cold
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Strange little girl, where are you going?
Do you know where you could be going?
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I think it's about a guy who is kind of infatuated/intrigued by this girl who has come into his life. She is "strange" which isn't really a positive word, but he likes her because she hasn't become hardened like everyone else around him.
She's moving on again and going elsewhere to escape her problems, so he is saying "Do you know where you could be going?", like she is so innocent and naive, she could be going somewhere worse.
She is "strange" perhaps because she's like no one he's ever met, her naive nature and goodness are what make him notice her and want to watch out for her.
Little Girl the Stranger<br /> <br /> The Goblin stole the fairy’s trust<br /> He took her to perdition<br /> For years and years he sang her woes<br /> But she was locked in Hell and never knew<br /> And never could unlock his heart<br /> And set him free from sin<br /> <br /> For years and years he sang her woes<br /> But she was locked in Hell and never knew<br /> <br /> One day a man unlocked her gates<br /> And she found the way to go<br /> Back to the spiteful Goblin prince who’d locked her up for years<br /> <br /> She asked his help to lift her curse<br /> But he could only boast<br /> Of women he’d had yester year<br /> That didn’t mean a thing — <br /> <br /> Alas Dark prince, your Goblin trait<br /> Has lost you faith and favour<br /> Sad Fairy Lass will seek elsewhere<br /> To find her lasting past release<br /> And quiet, trust, and favour<br /> <br /> Did you ever think that what meant naught to you<br /> Might pain and cast asunder<br /> The trust and faith that you had wrought<br /> From Little Girl the Stranger?<br />
Little Girl the Stranger<br /> <br /> The Goblin stole the fairy’s trust<br /> He took her to perdition<br /> For years and years he sang her woes<br /> But she was locked in Hell and never knew<br /> And never could unlock his heart<br /> And set him free from sin<br /> <br /> For years and years he sang her woes<br /> But she was locked in Hell and never knew<br /> <br /> One day a man unlocked her gates<br /> And she found the way to go<br /> Back to the spiteful Goblin prince who’d locked her up for years<br /> <br /> She asked his help to lift her curse<br /> But he could only boast<br /> Of women he’d had yester year<br /> That didn’t mean a thing — <br /> <br /> Alas Dark prince, your Goblin trait<br /> Has lost you faith and favour<br /> Sad Fairy Lass will seek elsewhere<br /> To find her lasting past release<br /> And quiet, trust, and favour<br /> <br /> Did you ever think that what meant naught to you<br /> Might pain and cast asunder<br /> The trust and faith that you had wrought<br /> From Little Girl the Stranger?<br />
rumour has it this song was abour a real girl but Hugh never let on who it was, ten
The song was written about a girl Hugh dated, she would part with him to go back to her country home to muck out her horses and such at the weekends. He was curious as to why. This I know as I own a signed copy of his book that contains meanings and information about what the band were up to around the time of recording etc