Album: Comfort Eagle (2001)

Charted: 63

License This Song 

• I want a girl with a mind like a diamond
  I want a girl who knows what's best
  I want a girl with shoes that cut
  And eyes that burn like cigarettes
  
  I want a girl with the right allocations
  Who is fast, and thorough, and sharp as a tack
  She's playing with her jewelry
  She's putting up her hair
  She's touring the facility
  And picking up slack
  I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket
  
  I want a girl who gets up early (gets up early)
  I want a girl who stays up late (stays up late)
  I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity (uninterrupted)
  Who uses a machete, to cut through red tape
  
  With fingernails (hey), that shine like justice (ho)
  And a voice that is dark (hey), like tinted glass (ho)
  She is fast (hey), thorough, and sharp as a tack (ho)
  She is touring the facility (hey) and picking up slack
  I want a girl with a short skirt and a long, long jacket
  
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  
  I want a girl with a smooth liquidation (smooth liquidation)
  I want a girl with good dividends (good dividends)
  At Citibank, we will meet accidentally (meet accidentally)
  We'll start to talk when she borrows my pen
  
  She wants a car (hey) with a cup holder armrest (ho)
  She wants a car (hey) that will get her there (ho)
  She's changing her name (hey)
  From Kitty to Karen (ho)
  She's trading her MG (hey) for a white Chrysler LeBaron
  I want a girl with a short skirt and a long, jacket
  
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la
  La-la la-la la-la
  La-la la-la la, la Writer/s: John Mccrea
  Publisher: Stamen Music
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Budtrom1 from TexasI've always thought it was jack it, and she's good at edging.
• Keith from Philadelphia, MsI've always thought that this song is an underground masterpiece of fashion appreciation. I mean, who wouldn't want to sing about the details of clothing choices and their impact on our sexual perception? It's like a deep dive into the psychology of textile fetishization, where every stitch and fold becomes a canvas of desire. The way he passionately discusses the object of his desires but returns to the motif of the short skirt and long jacket, it's almost like a love letter to the fashion industry itself. It's truly an ode to the unsung heroes of our wardrobe, those short skirts and long jackets that are the true objects of our desires with the people in them being merely mannequins to serve as a vessel to deliver clothing!
• The Cheshire Kitten from DenverI have loved this song for a long time (and have always liked to wear the pairing of a short skirt and long jacket, long before I ever heard this song), however, I did just think of a slightly interesting thing about that particular outfit combo. The term Agoraphilia applies to people who are exhibitionists or have a fetish for having sex in public. The short skirt, especially paired with either no underwear, or crotchless underwear, provides easy access, while the long jacket protects both partners from getting scratched or poked by anything if on the grass or in the woods. Even in a city, that outfit would be ideal for that kind of thing, because if you hear someone walking up on you, you can just stop, with no awkward fumbling after to put clothing back on. Whether they were thinking this when they wrote it, I can't pretend to know for sure, so I won't speculate Cake's meaning in it one way or another. Also, I suppose for what I just described, a long skirt could work just as well, so it probably is more about the semi-anachronistic fashion of it, but it just gave me some food for thought in the near future when I'm choosing outfits to buy, so I thought I'd share...
• Peter from Canada, East CoastIt's a parody. Clever with just a hint of yearning. Love this song and so do the women I introduce the song to.
• Melizza from New Hope, TxI love your comment Aairhead, that's what I always thought about the song. It's kind of an anthem for some women, I imagine this woman is unstoppable. In your mind, she can look however you like, but her will is iron. I have always loved it.
• Aairhead from Sparks, NvMy mom comes to mind every time I hear this song. He is definitely describing a detailed image and fantasizing about the kind of girl he wants. but I found that none of the details are objectively precise enough to be considered "particular details". Every physical detail he mentions (which is what typical guys who are not lyrical artists or poets tend to focus on) like her shoes, eyes, finger nails, even the short skirt and long jacket- are only suggestive of the non-physical attributes. He does not create a solid visual image of her at all. She could look like anyone. short, tall, thin, fat, blond, brunette, young, old, color of her eyes or nail polish, what kind of shoes... Everything (and I literally mean EVERYTHiNG) is cerebral metaphor and concept. Each so-called particular detail really only serves to reinforce the general theme of his ideal. A strong, independent, hard-working, smart, shrewd, confident, highly competent, commanding, no-nonsense, go-getter. She's a successful career woman who is a financial wiz, she's got her s--t together, knows what she wants and will get it. on the fast track up to boss lady. And the short skirt/long jacket brings to mind a stereotypical of a Smoking hot lawyer, CEO, business owner
• Colin from NhI think that the singer wants someone who is smart but also likes to have fun. The short skirt being the fun aspect, and the long jacket being a lab coat or the like. Hence the talk of "smooth liquidation" and "touring the facility and picking up slack"
• Mark from El Cajon, CaIts pretty obvious that this guy wants a girl that has a sense of opposition or a contrast in her styles. However whenever I listen to this I seem to think of more. For some reason I would picture the main character as Uncle Sam describing his perfect Aunt Samantha. I picture this cause he talks about banks as well as bright and flashyness, boldness (similar to the American culture). He talks about seeing her at the bank (American currency largely revolves around the bank) as well as a short skirt covered by a long jacket. I could see this jacket ans skirt a dark blue or red covered in stars. I don't know why this image always comes to me, but even the beat of the song makes me think of it.
  
• Jas from Clifton, TxAndy from San Jose, if you actually read what the guys from Cake said about the song, it has nothing to do with a "criminal jacket," and that is a ridiculously far-out stretch in interpretation. It's a girl wearing a short skirt who is also wearing a long jacket, not that uncommon in the fashion world. Like the guy from Cake, who actually sings the song and knows what it's about, said, it's like she was trying to find a balance between the two extremes. It's a great song and it has absolutely nothing to do with anything criminal. Don't let your desire to be a wannabe philosopher overrule good sense, and don't let it overrule what the band actually says about their own song. People always think that they know some hidden meaning that the artist doesn't. The same thing happened to The Vapors with 'Turning Japanese.' It was about obsession, but countless people swore it was really about masturbation, even though the Vapors said outright that it's about obsession. If you want to believe this is about a girl with a "criminal jacket;" A) you're going totally against what Cake was trying to say and; B) it kinda says a lot about the women you date. Just enjoy the song the way they meant it, they're artists and we owe them that.
• Andy from San Jose, Ca"I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket" That line is referring to a short skirt and a long criminal jacket not an actual jacket.
• Vikram from San Diego, Cathis song is about the ideal girl. you want her to be sexy and edgy(short skirt) but at the same time a responsible woman with a good head on her shoulders(long jacket). the girl/woman is still wild but on the verge of being ready to settle down. -baird, sierra madre
• Joshua from Twin Cities, MnQuite a few once-good songs have been ruined by being used as jingles for beer (and other) commercials. This song, on the other hand, sounds like it actually BELONGS in a beer commercial, but isn't. I guess we really do live in a world without justice...
  

More Songfacts:

I Write The SongsBarry Manilow

Barry Manilow didn't write his #1 hit "I Write The Songs." Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys wrote it.

(Walking) In the RainThe Ronettes

Ronnie Spector nailed the vocal for The Ronettes song "(Walking) In the Rain" on the first take -- unheard of in the perfectionist producer Phil Spector's world.

We Belong TogetherMariah Carey

Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" was the best-selling song of the 2000s in the US.

Paper PlanesM.I.A.

"Paper Planes" was inspired by M.I.A.'s hassles trying to get a visa to enter America.

Then He Kissed MeThe Crystals

The '60s hit "Then He Kissed Me" was covered by The Beach Boys as "Then I Kissed Her."

Uptown FunkMark Ronson

"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson was 2015's best-selling single in both the U.S. and U.K.

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Butch VigSongwriter Interviews

The Garbage drummer/songwriter produced the Nirvana album Nevermind, and Smashing Pumpkins' Gish and Siamese Dream.

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Victoria WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

Despite appearances on Carson, Leno and a Pennebaker film, Williams remains a hidden treasure.