Lyric discussion by MartinH4 

Cover art for Coffee Girl lyrics by Tragically Hip, The

The lyrics dance around the subject of vulnerability. Young women in 'hip' (cough white cough) neighbourhoods are given all kinds of overt and/or coded signals to imply that they are SAFE because of the supposed values of the predominate culture or sub-culture in through which they travel but "when the moon's behind the hill" they are not safe. "Perfect" was a comforting illusion. There is also some meaning in the outside observer tone of the lyrics. Is this coming from a customer who just thinks about the lives of the people who serve him coffee in this depth for no particular reason? Is it a stalker? A protector? This is not given away.

Song Meaning