Lyrics
One girl was called Jean Marie
Introducing a girl named Jean Marie
Another little girl was called Felicity
Introducing another girl named Felicity
Another little girl was Sally Joy
Introducing another girl named Sally Joy
The other was me, and I'm a boy
Revealing the speaker as one of the girls, expressing identity as a boy
My name is Bill, and I'm a head case
Speaker introduces themselves as Bill and suggests mental health struggles ("head case")
They practice making up on my face
Reference to others practicing makeup on the speaker's face
Yeah, I feel lucky if I get trousers to wear
Expressing luck in getting trousers to wear
Spend evenings taking hairpins from my hair
Describing the act of removing hairpins from hair
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Affirming identity as a boy despite societal expectations
But my ma won't admit it
Highlighting resistance from the speaker's mother to accept their identity
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Reiteration of the speaker's identity as a boy
But if I say I am, I get it
Expressing the consequence of claiming the boy identity
Put your frock on, Jean Marie
Instructing Jean Marie to wear a frock
Plait your hair, Felicity
Instructing Felicity to plait her hair
Paint your nails, little Sally Joy
Instructing Sally Joy to paint her nails
Put this wig on, little boy
Instructing a little boy to wear a wig
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Reaffirming the speaker's identity as a boy
But my ma won't admit it
Emphasizing the mother's reluctance to accept the boy identity
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Reiteration of the speaker's identity as a boy
But if I say I am, I get it
Highlighting the consequences of claiming the boy identity
I want to play cricket on the green
Expressing a desire to play cricket and engage in typical boy activities
Ride my bike across the street
Desiring to ride a bike across the street
Cut myself and see my blood
Expressing a fascination with seeing one's own blood
I want to come home all covered in mud
Expressing a desire to come home covered in mud, typical of boyish play
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Reaffirming the speaker's identity as a boy
But my ma won't admit it
Highlighting the mother's resistance to accepting the boy identity
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Reiteration of the speaker's identity as a boy
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Repetition emphasizing the boy identity
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
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