"Baby," he says, "You are like the clean white page and I the pen.
The innocence I find between your girlish thighs is like the fountain of youth to my old bones."

And she replies, "Daddy's little girl's a precocious child
I love to please, I'll do anything that you ask of me
Eager to fulfill all of Daddy's needs."

"Baby," he says, "I can never love older girls like I love you.
You're easier to please and you never give me grief
'Cause you accept everything I say and do."

And she replies, "I'm in no position to make demands.
I have no past, no one else has done to me what you do.
I've got no one else to compare you to."

"And as you grow older, try to stay sixteen all your life,
Old women grow bitter, don't let that happen to you."

"And why is it charming pretending I'm younger than my years?
Why can't I grow up with dignity, set me free?"

"Baby," he says, "Now that you're older I feel our love has died.
Once upon a time you never criticised me.
Oh, I much preferred you as a child."

And I reply, "Everything you said to me was a lie.
I know your kind, you just want a daughter without a wife.
You don't need a girlfriend you need a life."


Lyrics submitted by nicole

Childcatcher Lyrics as written by Miki Berenyi

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Childcatcher song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning

    I don't think it's about "about a father molesting his young daughter" or pedophilia ("Try to look sixteen all your life"--pedophilia refers to sexual attraction to pre-pubescents, and sixteen is at or above the age of sexual consent in many jurisdictions). I think instead it is about a man who dates a succession of much younger women because he can manipulate them, and they don't have enough life experience to see through he sh*% and stand up for themselves ("Once upon a time you never criticised me").

    Also, is it maybe "Try to ACT sixteen all your life" instead of "Try to look sixteen all your life"? After all, the next line is "Old women grow bitter". not something like 'Old women get wrinkled'.

    NAwlinsContrarianon May 13, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    It doesn't necessarily have to be about pedophilia (but could be). I always thought it was about guys approaching middle age that want to date high school girls. It goes through all the reasons why they do this. They don't have the experience that leads to wisdom, cynicism, and equal defense. It also hits on the sexism there is against being an older woman with life experience. Growing older and gaining insight happens no matter how much the man tries to find a young an inexperienced woman...she grows wiser anyway and outsmarts him in the end.

    spacedyeon August 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like songs like this that are happy sounding but filled with tension.

    Superblaston September 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    why is this my life?

    halmookyon March 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whoa, I hope this isn't your life. I hope this isn't anyone's life. If I'm not mistaken this song is about a father molesting his young daughter, who doesn't know any better until the last verse.

    heathertonon April 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ^ Ugh, I never thought of that... the last verse throws it off a bit though...

    Iantuitionon July 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    well Obviously this references pedophilia. I would also say this is between a man and his child, even though the child has "grown" he wants her to pretend to be younger than she is, but she wants to grow. Thus ending their "Relationship." "I know your kind, you just want a daughter without the wife. " This line confuses me though, sometimes i interpret the lyrics as a man and his wife

    The Red Pyramidon August 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ANyone know what the bg dialog is towards the end of the song? May have to break out Audacity for this one...

    grenon October 28, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In an interview Miki stated this was about the Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and a lover he had that was around 17 or 18 at the time. Supposedly despite being more than half his age, he dumped her for "being too old."

    quampon March 02, 2020   Link

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