Well, no one told me about her
The way she lied
Well, no one told me about her
How many people cried

But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know, why should I care?
Please don't bother trying to find her
She's not there

Well, let me tell you 'bout the way she looked
The way she acts and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool, her eyes were clear and bright
But she's not there

Well, no one told me about her
What could I do?
Well, no one told me about her
Though they all knew

But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know, why should I care?
Please don't bother trying to find her
She's not there

Well, let me tell you about the way she looked
The way she acts and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool, her eyes were clear and bright
But she's not there

But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know, why should I care?
Please don't bother trying to find her
She's not there

Well, let me tell you about the way she looked
The way she acts and the color of her hair
Her voice was soft and cool, her eyes were clear and bright
But she's not there


Lyrics submitted by planetearth, edited by Alvino

She's Not There Lyrics as written by Rodney Terence Argent

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

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She's Not There song meanings
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  • +9
    Song Meaning

    The lyrics of this song are very difficult to interpret unless you have been emotionally involved with someone that has NPD (Narcissist Personality Disorder). What it basically describes is that someone - that looks just like anybody else - can 'fake' emotions to hide their truth self (which they themselves don't like) and therefore do not get emotional attached to anyone. However in order to receive Narcissist Supply the Narcissist at the beginning of his or her relationship behaves totally normal and promises love, loyalty, good engaging sex, companionship and everything else that is expected from a loving relationship between two person. But, once they know their partner has fallen in love for them, they show their true colours and become a different person. They do not follow what they promise and most of the times use intimate knowledge to manipulate their partner in order obtain what they want. At this point the relationship becomes about the Narcissist person only and not the other: its a one way traffic. Narcissists do not feel empathy towards others including their lovers. They dont feel sorry that they hurt you and in psychology terms 'projects' anger and hostility towards you for wanting them to feel sorry about the way you feel when they actually are the ones that are causing the pain (and in most cases on purpose). It is a form of self defense mechanism to protect their self inflated ego and their 'superiority' after all, for a narcissist you are an object just like a table or a computer. They see you as a 'cut out' of a person, a statue and two dimensional when we in fact we all know we are not objects and that although we may serve a purpose to others we also have our own feelings and needs and in a Narcissist relationship they are totally neglected by the Narcissist. While in a relationship with a Narcissist, it takes time to realize their disorder and its difficult to come into terms with it but its like you have fallen in love with a 'shell' of a person hence the lyrics 'she is not there'. Narcissists are like vampires, they suck you dry of emotions and everything else and once you are depleted of these things, they move on very quickly into their next victim. A very easy sign to spot a Narcissist is if they say they love you from a very early stage of the relationship because to love someone takes time but they use it as a currency to gain your affection and manipulate you. They rob you of your soul because they ultimately envy you for having one but are unable to connect with theirs and will never truly love anyone as we know the true meaning of love to be and as human beings are entitled to experience nothing but true love. Eduardo London

    edulondonon October 16, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Seems a lot like when he refers to her not being there, hes not only talking about her physically not being around but also a sort of detachment she has from the world. The chorus really exudes that point, as he talks about her physical beauty and soft voice, but resounds in the fact that shes not really there, that her heart just isn't in a good place. He is obviosuly still very hung up on her, but does seem regretful for ever getting involved with her. Very good song from one of the best band of the 60's.

    westbeach_21on April 22, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Great Rod Argent composition. I have a different interpretation of the lyrics. It appears the "singer" (Colin Blunstone) is in the "anger & denial" phase of a relationship break-up. He appears to be more upset at his friends (for not telling him that his girl was steppin' out on him & lying about it) than he is at his own self for making a poor choice & falling for her. Hence what good is it if your girl is so great looking & sexy-voiced if she's not around (she's not there).

    Andrickon March 28, 2007   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    I always interpreted the song as being about a murder interrogation. The fact that it was in past tense seemed like a pretty clear giveaway. The narrator is being questioned by police and initially denies even knowing the girl (this is the entire first verse), but he slips and reveals he knows quite a few details, enough to make him suspicious (the second verse). He gets nervous and tries to take this back, and makes several flimsy excuses. Eventually he just flat-out begs the police to stop looking for her body (they're obviously looking in the right place) and pretty much removes any doubt in the police's mind that he killed her. Quite nasty lyrics for such a light song.

    BlackHoleBirdon January 09, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I'm pretty surprised that nobody has said this yet, but I've always thought that "she's not there" because "he" killed her. First, everything he says about her is in the past tense, except for "she's not there":

    "Well let me tell you 'bout the way she looked" "Her voice was soft and cool Her eyes were clear and bright"

    Then, there's the mysterious lyrics "But it's too late to say you're sorry" and "Please don't bother trying to find her." This suggests that he has already hid the body. He is warning whoever he is talking to that wherever they look for her, she won't be there.

    The reason he killed her is clear from the lyrics "Well no one told me about her/ the way she lied/ Well no one told me about her/ how many people cried." This suggests that she was dishonest with him, likely in the form of cheating, that his friends knew she was like that, and that they never told him. He found out about her dishonesty, went crazy and killed her. Even though he will still talk about how attractive she was, he doesn't regret killing her:

    "How would I know, why should I care"

    longbeach189on March 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Really killer song. Though when I hear it, it sounds to me as if he's talking about those superficial girls that are bound to be attracted to you when you're famous. They lure you in with the good looks, but that's all there is. Nothing behind the face.

    Get_out_and_pushon October 24, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I like how the song has such fitting contradictions. 'her eyes were clear and bright, but she's not there' - seeming to indicate that what we see is not reality; in this case anyway. As Shakespeare once said 'the world is our stage, and we are its actors and actresses.'

    LiamTon January 17, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ohkay, so everyones theory about this song deff makes sense, & I do agree.

    but when I first heard it, i though he meant about this chick he once knew & possibly loved died & he didnt even know it. everyone knew but they didnt tell him right away thats why "dont even bother trying to find her, she's not there" & the "it's too late to say you're sorry" part. he's describing her from what he use to know.

    hybridcloudson October 10, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always thought it was

    "The way she had to have the color of her hair"

    I can't even fool myself into hearing "acted and" over "had to have." I guess it could be the accent, but...

    Malumultimuson December 30, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Its about a guy who got emotionally involved with a gal who has a personality disorder. See Eduardo's comment. Other songs dealing with the same subject are "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart and "Laid" by James. Possibly "Feelin Alright" by Traffic.

    dspenzon April 02, 2013   Link

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