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The Childcatcher Lyrics

"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 look 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 the wife.
You don't need a girlfriend you need a life."
Song Info
Submitted by
nicole On Jan 02, 2002
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9 Meanings

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Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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'.

Song Meaning
Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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.

My Interpretation
Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

why is this my life?

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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.

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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

How come nobody ever talks about the pedophilia references in "Kiss Chase"?

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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

Cover art for The Childcatcher lyrics by Lush

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."