Girl afraid
Where do his intentions lay ?

Or does he even have any ?

She says :

"He never really looks at me
I give him every opportunity
In the room downstairs
He sat and stared
In the room downstairs
He sat and stared
I'll never make that mistake again !"

I'll never make that mistake again
I'll never make that mistake again

Boy afraid
Prudence never pays

And everything she wants costs money

"But she doesn't even like me !
And I know because she said so
In the room downstairs
She sat and stared
In the room downstairs
She sat and stared
I'll never make that mistake again !"


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Girl Afraid Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Girl Afraid song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    I just finished re-reading John Fowles' great early novel, The Collector, and I am convinced that this song is based on that novel. It is about a man who collects butterflies and when he wins a lottery, decides to buy a house in the country and "collect" a girl he's "in love with" (they made a film of it, too, which I believe Morrissey mentions in another song). The "collector" imprisons her in his basement ("in the room down there / she sat and stared") and claims to be in love with her. The novel explores both perspectives and we come to understand both of them on various psychological and social levels. The first part of the novel is told from his perspective and the second part is from the girl's perspective (girl afraid / boy afraid). It fits so well, and this song has to be one of the most succinct and insightful adaptation I've ever heard/read. He's summed the novel up in two stanzas and two verses while still remaining true to its essence. Brilliant!

    annetteabmaon November 22, 2011   Link

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