Josephine

The Wallflowers

I feel pretty good, I feel all right
And I've been thinkin' maybe, I could spend the night
I know you've been sad, I know I've been bad
But if you'd let me make you ribbons from a paper bag

Josephine, you're so good to me
And I know it ain't easy
Josephine, you're so sweet
You must taste just like sugar and tangerines

I won't make a sound
Sleep on the ground
When you wake I will
Drive you into town
I missed your smile
Your schoolgirl style
But I never had much fun
Maybe the very first mile

Josephine, you're so good to me
And I know it ain't easy
Josephine, you're so sweet
You must taste just like sugar and tangerines

Don't you know I watched you walkin' home from school
Your friends on the old playgrounds
You never looked so down
Won't you come and help me with these cuts of mine?
I've disconnected my heart and cut myself on the wires
Josephine

I know I was wrong, I knew all along
But I got so far from my home
I never thought I'd be so lonesome

Josephine, you're so good to me
And I know it ain't easy
Josephine, you're so sweet
You must taste just like sugar and tangerines


Lyrics submitted by 3ssence

Josephine Lyrics as written by Gus Kahn Burke Bivens

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Josephine song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation
    The making ribbons from a paper bag thing is my favorite line in any Wallflowers song. My interpretation of it is that the narrator believes that he is not good enough for "Josephine" and that she is so many levels above him that it's analogous to paper bags and ribbon. He is saying that he would change for her, and become something better. He says that even though she may not believe that he could be a good partner, that he could make himself into something better to fit her, just to make her happy. This is a beautiful way of saying how much he loves her.
    Bazooka27on November 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is, in my opinion, the greatest love song ever written. Why Jakob and the gang didn't release this as a single is beyond me. Won't you come and help me with these cuts of mine?/I've disconnected my heart/And cut myself ont he wires... That's the most beautifully graphic way of expressing true love I'd heard before I heard this song, or heard since. Jakob Dylan is the most underrated songwriter on the planet, and this song all but proves it.
    loopydateon May 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i LOVE this song. it's soo good. on my cd... i've played that song so much it started skipping the other day... i was really sad... haha... but yeah... jakob is definetly an excellent song writer. when i went to a wallflowers concert last summer, this guy in the crowd kept yelling "play josephine!!" and i was like yeahhhh!! but jakob was like "we're not ready for that song... next time. it's funny though, guys always request that love song..." so i'd LOVE to hear this song live... but as he said.. next time...
    pomegranatesROCKon July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    what does "Make you ribbons from a paper bag" mean?
    pomegranatesROCKon July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I personally think that the verse "I'll make you ribbons from a paper bag" means that he will do anything in his power to make her happy even when things are bad. So if you think of it literally...if he's got a paper bag...he's going to make the best of it just to do something nice for her...
    tiffanyjon October 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This is by far, in my opinion, the BEST song ever. Love song, nonetheless. it is really a heartwrenching outpouring of true love, no sugarcoating but pure emotion including pain. in fact one of my favorite lines is "i'll make you ribbons from a paper bag". i think that it means that he is so in love with her that he will find the good in a bad situation and bring it out for her so she'll be happy. like you think of a paper bag as simple and boring, and ribbons as pretty and glamourous. its beautiful
    xestrellaxon April 18, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i love the name josephine. but anyways on to the point...i bet alot of the songs Jakob wrote may be about his wife Paige. they've been together since they were kids, so she must have a great impact on Jakobs song writing. but then again..he is Bobs son, and he probably just picked up the amazing song writing gene.
    peace999on December 04, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is a ridiculously good song.. my favorite on the album. its cool because its a love song from a kind of different angle than most. josephine is such an awesome name.. i kinda wish it was my name lol.
    Azdnumis210on April 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    MMmmm Josephine and your 4 day old ass cum ! YES YES!
    apotheosis23on September 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    hehe, my names josephine :)
    *JoSIe*on April 08, 2006   Link

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