What the hell is wrong with you tonight?
I can't seem to say or do the right thing
Wanted to be sure you're feeling right
Wanted to be sure we want the same thing

She said, I can't believe it
You can't, possibly mean it
Don't we, all want the same thing
Don't we
Well, who said anything about love?

No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same

Mama always told me save yourself
Take a little time and find the right girl
Then again don't end up on the shelf
Logical advice gets you in a whirl

I know, a lot of things that you don't
You want to hear some?
She said, just give me something
Anything
Well give me all you got but not love

No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same

Who said anything about love?

No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, no, no, no, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
(Don't give me love)
No, no, no, no, no, not love she said
Don't you know that it's different for girls?
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same
You're all the same


Lyrics submitted by agnamaracs

It's Different for Girls Lyrics as written by Joe Jackson

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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It's Different For Girls song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    Yeah, I always took it as a bit of cleverness--reversing the stereotype--a scenario where the girl wants to get laid but nothing more than that, while the guy remembers how Mom always said to save himself for marriage. As if only partly overheard, which is an interesting storytelling technique. (It also throws in a bit of ambiguity, and I'm never certain whether I'm interpreting the song as Joe Jackson intended when he wrote it.)

    Adding to the irony: if you see the cover of the 7-inch single, there's a photo of Joe, sitting at his piano (writing a song presumably)...but all of this comes through only if you look carefully. Give it a quick glance & you'd think the person in the shot is a teenage girl, not a grown man. Maybe just a weird pic; the shutter falls at a precise instant, and once in awhile you get a shot where the subject looks like somebody else. The style of the sleeve is very similar to the cover of the Look Sharp! LP (I'm guessing "It's Different For Girls" was written after that one but before I'm The Man).

    foreverdroneon June 07, 2008   Link

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