American Girls – English Lyrics

• By: Counting Crows

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the complex narrative of Counting Crows' 'American Girls,' a song that combines catchy melodies with dark undertones to explore themes of love, loss, and disillusionment. By exploring the lyrics, listeners can gain insight into the songwriter's personal experiences and the broader cultural context of American relationships.

[English]

She comes out on Fridays every time

Stands out in a line

I could’ve been anyone she’d seen

She waits another week to fall apart

She couldn’t make another day

I wish it was anyone but me

It could’ve been anyone you see

She had something breakable just under her skin

American girls, all weather & noise

Playing the changes for all the of the boys

Holding a candle up to my hand

Making me feel so incredible

She comes out of closets every night

But then she locks herself away

Where she could keep everything from me

I could’ve been anyone you see

She’s nothing but porcelain underneath her skin

American girls, all weather & noise

Playing the changes for all the of the boys

Holding a candle right up to my hand

Making me feel so incredible

Little shivers shaking me every day

But I could get the same thing anywhere

So if she goes away

Well, it’s alright and I’m ok

“hey”, she said, “come back again tonight”

I said, “I might, I might, I might”

She said, “well that’s alright”

If it’s alright with you

then it’s alright with me

I wait for an hour last Friday night

She never came around

She took almost everything from me

I’m going through my closets

Trying on her clothes almost everyday

I could’ve been anyone you see

I wish it was anyone but me

There’s nothing but pills and ashes under my skin

American girls, all weather & noise

Playing the changes for all the of the boys

Holding a candle right up to my hand

Making me feel so incredible

If I made you cry, please tell me why

Cause I’ ll try again if you let me try

American girls, all feathers & cream

Come into bed so edible.

American girls ……

You make me cry ……

Key Grammar Structures

• She comes out on Fridays every time

  ➔ Simple present for habitual actions

  ➔ The verb **"comes"** is in the simple present because the action happens regularly on Fridays.

• I could’ve been anyone you see

  ➔ Modal perfect (could have + past participle) for unreal past possibility

  ➔ The phrase **"could've been"** (= could have been) shows a hypothetical situation that did not happen.

• I wish it was anyone but me

  ➔ Wish + past simple (subjunctive) for unreal present wishes

  ➔ The verb **"was"** is in the past simple after *wish* to express a wish that is contrary to reality.

• She’s nothing but porcelain underneath her skin

  ➔ "nothing but" + noun = only, no other

  ➔ The phrase **"nothing but"** means *only porcelain*, emphasizing that there is no other material under her skin.

• If it’s alright with you, then it’s alright with me

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple, ... present simple) for real possibilities

  ➔ The clause **"If it’s alright"** uses the present simple to talk about a real, possible agreement.

• I’m going through my closets

  ➔ Present continuous for actions happening around now

  ➔ The verb phrase **"am going"** (be + –ing) shows that the speaker is in the middle of the activity of searching the closets.

• I wait for an hour last Friday night

  ➔ Past simple for completed actions with a specific time reference (should be "waited")

  ➔ The verb **"wait"** should be in the past simple (**"waited"**) because the action took place at a definite past time: *last Friday night*.

• If I made you cry, please tell me why

  ➔ Second conditional (if + past simple, ... would) for unreal past situations (here a polite request after a hypothetical past)

  ➔ The clause **"If I made you cry"** uses the past simple to talk about a hypothetical action that may not have happened.