I think plusbellange was on the right track, but did everyone forget about the possibility of a lesbian relationship??? I don't think this song is about a boy at all. I think it's about her first girlfriend. And, I don't think it's merely a coincidence that she calls this person "Joy", which is a female name. The line, " You know the stripes on a tiger are hard to change" coupled with " My boyfriend's mother nearly had a heart attack" leads me to believe that she always liked girls( maybe secretly?), but only dated guys in the past and then fell in love with this girl. Also, the line about borrowing the silver boots is proof that "Joy" is a girl. How many straight guys have silver boots that their girlfriend borrows and wears? But, the silver boots line also made me think about the end of a relationship when each person gives back the things they've borrowed ( books, dvds, t-shirts etc... )
I think plusbellange was on the right track, but did everyone forget about the possibility of a lesbian relationship??? I don't think this song is about a boy at all. I think it's about her first girlfriend. And, I don't think it's merely a coincidence that she calls this person "Joy", which is a female name. The line, " You know the stripes on a tiger are hard to change" coupled with " My boyfriend's mother nearly had a heart attack" leads me to believe that she always liked girls( maybe secretly?), but only dated guys in the past and then fell in love with this girl. Also, the line about borrowing the silver boots is proof that "Joy" is a girl. How many straight guys have silver boots that their girlfriend borrows and wears? But, the silver boots line also made me think about the end of a relationship when each person gives back the things they've borrowed ( books, dvds, t-shirts etc... )