This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a jealous man, one who doesn't understand
That I'm attractive so of course men want to take my hand
And lead me off around the corner or maybe to their place
But when they speak, you get mad jumping all up in they face
But on the other hand when women come and speak to you
You kiss and hug 'em like it's something that you let me do
You're only jealous 'cause you know that ish you put me through
I might turn right around and do that ish to you
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a lying dude, one who doesn't know the rules
If you goin' cheat, burn the receipt from the hotel room
But instead you're up in my face saying you were at friends
But they all call, asking me where the hell you been
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place (what would you do?)
(What if) was all up in my face? (what would you say, baby?)
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a jealous man, one who doesn't understand
That I'm attractive so of course men want to take my hand
And lead me off around the corner or maybe to their place
But when they speak, you get mad jumping all up in they face
But on the other hand when women come and speak to you
You kiss and hug 'em like it's something that you let me do
You're only jealous 'cause you know that ish you put me through
I might turn right around and do that ish to you
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
I hate a lying dude, one who doesn't know the rules
If you goin' cheat, burn the receipt from the hotel room
But instead you're up in my face saying you were at friends
But they all call, asking me where the hell you been
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place (what would you do?)
(What if) was all up in my face? (what would you say, baby?)
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
Why they keep treatin' us this way?
hot grits is a new game we play
We'll burn (oh)
We'll cut you (oh)
We'll kill you (oh)
We don't have to take it no more
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
What if every guy I saw
(What if) was sittin' down at the bar
(What if) I told him to give me a call?
What if (what if), what if, what if
What if every guy in the place
(What if) was all up in my face?
(What if) what would you say?
What if, what if, what if
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
i agree with tribabe but that is only half of the story. there is another story on an allegorical level, a technique that has its roots way back to negroe spirituals and soul music. she uses the guise of a bad relationship to tell about the bigger relationship between black people and the racism that still exists although many people dont see it. she most explicitly makes reference to this in the lyrics:
Why they keep treatin us this way I guess it's a little game we play We'll burn you (oh), we'll cut you (oh) We'll kill you (oh) We don't have to take it no more
many r & B and souls artists tend to sing about love but if you know the history you can hear what they are really talking about.