Used To Be My Girl

The song "Used To Be My Girl" by The Last Shadow Puppets delves into the emotional turmoil and self-reflection that follows the end of a significant relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is coming to terms with their own flaws and the role they played in the dissolution of the romance. The opening lines, 'Colour pictures of re-entry / Voices calling down the hall,' suggest a return to a previous state or place, possibly the protagonist's life before the relationship or the moment of realization that things have changed irrevocably.

The chorus reveals the protagonist's self-admitted negative traits, describing themselves as a liar, cheat, leech, and thief. This brutal honesty indicates a moment of self-awareness and perhaps regret. The line 'I wanted you to know / You’re the only one that bent me / This far out of shape' implies that the relationship had a profound impact on the protagonist, changing them in ways they didn't expect. The imagery of a heart melting in the heat suggests a loss of form, a transformation brought on by the intensity of the relationship and its end.

The song also touches on the theme of illusion versus reality. The protagonist feels as though they have slipped out of reality, and the world has become 'a different world' since the relationship ended. The repeated phrase 'Used to be my girl' serves as a haunting refrain, emphasizing the gap between the past and the present. The Last Shadow Puppets, known for their orchestral pop sound and evocative lyrics, capture the essence of nostalgia and the pain of looking back on what once was with this track.