to me, as a angsty teenager, this song is about a girl who is going through adolescense and is herself, her joyful happy self who enjoys life. such lines as
"or i'll jump on the bed waltzing madly with the broomstick
but before i leave the house i will fill my lips with lipstick"
and
"i'll stand on a street corner
all mysterious and giddy"
suggest that to me.
but then:
"but peddling is a dirty sport
lots of competition in the city
everyone is on a street corner
all mysterious and giddy"
there are other girls. this girl wants to receive attention and admiration, for the beauty of herself she is discovering. (the butterflies she is selling)
"some are selling bags and shoes
some are selling books and gold
i've been standing here for days
not one butterfly's been sold"
the problem is, these other girls have things that people want, that people will give attention to. "bags and shoes, books and gold"
and she wants attention and love, a lot:
"and how i'm aching to pupate"
to me, as a angsty teenager, this song is about a girl who is going through adolescense and is herself, her joyful happy self who enjoys life. such lines as
"or i'll jump on the bed waltzing madly with the broomstick but before i leave the house i will fill my lips with lipstick"
and
"i'll stand on a street corner all mysterious and giddy"
suggest that to me.
but then:
"but peddling is a dirty sport lots of competition in the city everyone is on a street corner all mysterious and giddy"
there are other girls. this girl wants to receive attention and admiration, for the beauty of herself she is discovering. (the butterflies she is selling)
"some are selling bags and shoes some are selling books and gold i've been standing here for days not one butterfly's been sold"
the problem is, these other girls have things that people want, that people will give attention to. "bags and shoes, books and gold"
and she wants attention and love, a lot: "and how i'm aching to pupate"
so, basically, regina is singing about me.