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How Can I Sing Like a Girl? Lyrics

Birds are calling to sing along
But my window's painted shut
And all that year of chorus taught me
Is out of style and long forgot

How can I sing like a girl
and not be stigmatized by the rest of the world?
Tell me how can I sing like a girl
And not be objectified as if I were a girl?

I want to raise my freak flag higher and higher
I want to raise my freak flag and never be alone

From the watchtowers I've been spotted
Fingers pointing at my mouth
Spotlights turn and pivot towards me
But I dare not make a sound
Song Info
Submitted by
savejake On Apr 28, 2002
8 Meanings

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Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

In live shows Flansburgh has to sing in a high voice for part of the song She Was a Hotel Detective, and apparently caught some flak about it, jokingly of course, so this song came about in part by that, and is pretty much representative of the freedom to express yourself how you choose.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

I'm surprised the gay rights movement hasn't completely adopted this song. It seems like a perfect fit, just wanting to live your life without other people judging or restricting you.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

it's probably not about being born into the wrong sex, and it's definitely not about WWII.. watchtowers and spotlights are most likely symbolic of trying to escape from a maximum security prison. which is a metaphor for trying to break out of the walls society places upon you. (i want to raise my freak flag higher and higher.. and never be alone.) it's basically about wanting to go against the grain, to do your own thing, but remain free of persecution.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

Yeah, the guy wants to be able to be himself and be proud of it without the negative consequences of being frowned upon by the constrictions of society. Plus, he still wants people to like him. But he wants to be himself at the same time.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

Yea I dont see the war thing working at all well. Being in the spotlight is just a metaphor for feeling like everyone is watching you, and they needed spotlights that could turn and focus (as large crowds do when an individual does something strange) and stage lights dont they are always pointed in the general direction of the stage, so the natural metaphor is watchtowers. Prison doesnt work much better, but it would kind of explain why the windows are painted shut (although bars are more prison, painted shut might be more along the lines of a mental hospital).

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

This is obviously a song about the artist's frustration about being born into the wrong sex.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

This is obviously a song about the artist's frustration about being born into the wrong sex.

Cover art for How Can I Sing Like a Girl? lyrics by They Might Be Giants

This is another WWII song, obviously: that's why there are watchtowers and spotlights...

 
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