Jane Lyrics

[Verse 1]
The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
It wasn't long before I lived with her
I sang her songs while she dyed my hair

[Chorus 1]
Jane, divided, but I can't decide which side I'm on
Jane, decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane

[Verse 2]
I'd bring her gold and frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
That's why she thinks it's cooler if we'd just stay friends

[Chorus 2]
Jane, doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane, isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane

[Bridge]
I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
Is what I cannot explain to Jane

[Verse 3]
The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair (Still dazzled by her smile while I shop there)
Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there (The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair)
No promises as vague as heaven (No promises as vague as heaven)
No Juliana next to my Evan (No Juliana next to)

[Chorus 3]
Jane, desired by the people at her school and work
Jane is tired 'cause every man becomes a lovesick jerk
Jane, Jane

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About

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Genius Annotation

Jane is the opening track and first single from Barenaked Ladies' second studio album Maybe You Should Drive. It charted at Number 3 on the Weekly Canada Top Singles (RPM), and even reached Number 1 on the Weekly Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM).

The song was written by Steven Page and Stephen Duffy, as well as a few other songs on the album. This caused some dissonance between Page and (Ed) Robertson. The band later made an agreement to keep songwriting within the band as a result.

According to Page, the song was inspired by two things; the first was a clerk who worked in a grocery store near Page’s residence, who Duffy was attracted to, and it was also inspired when the duo looked at a map and saw the intersection of Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue, which Duffy thought sounded like “the sweetest intersection in the world,” to which Page disagreed.

In the video below, Page talks about the song while listening to it on vinyl: