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Girl with the Red Balloon Lyrics

There's a pub on the south side of town
Time stands still while there's still wine around
She's the one in the calico
The one who's always and never alone

Did she let him go,
Or did the four winds blow him away?
Oh does she even know,
She's the girl with the red balloon?

Keep her glass full of cheap champagne
She will tell of a man with no name
Smoke and mirrors have done her in
She's in love and she won't be again

Did she let him go,
Or did the four winds blow him away?
Does she even know,
She's the girl with the red balloon?

So lovely
So lonely
Floating away

Did she let him go,
Or did the four winds blow him away?
Does she even know,

Did she let him go,
Or did the four winds blow him away?
Does she even know,
She's the girl,
She's the girl with the red balloon?
4 Meanings

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Cover art for Girl with the Red Balloon lyrics by Civil Wars, The

I am pretty sure they are referring to this beautiful graffiti/art on Banksy (?), I think and it was a drawing of a girl with a red balloon in the shaped of a heart.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UGkDeohRngE/TDPavfnitOI/AAAAAAAABM4/U7ylZ2iu1yU/S760/girlwred1.jpg

In the picture, we see the little girl letting go of the heart-shaped balloon, which can be interpreted into LOST LOVE, which is the meaning of this song, 'Girl With a Red Balloon.'

Lost love.

She was the girl who let love go.

Civil Wars is great. :)

My Interpretation
Cover art for Girl with the Red Balloon lyrics by Civil Wars, The

Could this song be any more achingly beautiful? Can't believe no one has posted yet. For me...this song is about "the one that got away" but it seems like they are that for each other. Some mysterious man that she loved and perhaps she pushed him away or he left because he knew he was no good for her or it could have been caused by a misunderstanding. The "man with no name" could mean one night stand...but it almost makes me think she doesn't want to say who it is. Either to painful to say his name or can't divulge who the man was. Who knows..? And she is lonely and can't move on because he's the only one she'll ever love. And yet IDK. I could be way off. I love how the chorus reminds me of a turn-of-the-century circus which makes it sound dreamy or like a fantasy. Seriously...The Civil Wars are the best thing to happen to music in a while. Love them.

Totally agree and had not heard their music until this site. Surprisingly, for the first time, I heard them on the radio tonight (unless they are popular and I am unaware because I listen to mostly classic rock) so, yeah...best thing thats happened to music lately, for sure! Also, when I hear red balloon I immediately think Shindlers List, but couldn't read more into that so i do agree with you that there is some sort of depraved love of sorts.

Maybe I get it...the red balloon...red. being passion, anger, or at least extreme emotion filled with air (lacking...

What IS dear which is how she feels, but does not solely operate with that. She let go for real reasons, but can't let go for for other reasons as well and tried to drown the pain. Anywho, they are amazing and i need to read up a bit more on how they came to be. I love artist who are emotionally honest and whos music reflects that, such as this beautiful duo!

Cover art for Girl with the Red Balloon lyrics by Civil Wars, The

It seems to me like this song is about a girl who's always been given 'second rate' love. Someone who just waits for love, and once she has love she's afraid of it because it's strange and new to her. It's strange and new to her because she been 'loved' so many times that she thinks that cheap love she's been given is actual love so she baffled by this true love. She's in such awe that someone could or would love her that she pushes afraid that it's a sham or trick in disguise, so she let him go.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Girl with the Red Balloon lyrics by Civil Wars, The

I think the songs basic meaning is about lost love. The girl was in love with this mystery man the song talks about, but somehow she lost him, and she loves him so much, that she'll never be able to fall in love again. Looking at it more deeply, it's also about how the girl doesn't even realize her own loss, or is chasing after something (the man/lost love) despite the fact that it's already gone.

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