@Ampazon and @ThisIsSoul67 The line is "someone mom ain't scared of." For years, I had heard "mom is scared of," but on a live version I heard recently Paul clearly sings "ain't scared of." The change of that one word completely altered my interpretation of the song.
I don't know what he really says, but i like the "someone ma'd be scared of"-thory best. Gives you that awesome plot twist that make the whole song so much more powerful. And also fits the line: "all you're ever losing is a little mascara." Because he was an ass any way.
I just don't see the song being about a woman trying to 'bring the right man home that her mother approves of'. I see it more as she wants a man that won't make her 'scared' will run away on her. The vibe I get from the song is one of a man/woman who has had to settle for someone they may not love but provides a family and stability, yet can't keep their mind off of the love of their life, the one that 'ran away'. The picture I get is that of a 30ish, domesticated housemom pining for her youth.
I always thought it was about a guy comforting a girl who broke up with her loser husband/father of her children, hence the first line. Also the little mascara is him saying the guy was loser and all you really lost was the mascara. Just my interpretation though.
I just got chills from the post about the line in the last chours. Been listening to the song forever and never knew that is what he sang. Young guy to have that much insight.
@mskcouric You're wrong. There's no proof anyway. The girl is trying to please her mother, and never seems to bring home the right guy (in mom's eyes). The guys she has scare her mother! She wants a man her mother isn't scared of, and of whom Mom approves her seeing. I did mistype it the first time, though, it's "someone Mom ain't scared of." She doesn't want to scare her Mom! The whole song is about a woman crying after a**hole guys leave her ("don't you worry if you're wondering why he ran.")
Lyrics correction: Second verse, it's "Throw your rope up in the air," not "your arms." Third verse, it's "Don't you worry if you're wondering why he ran." And Last chorus, it's "All you ever wanted was someone Mommy ain't scared of."
Seriously! That's the amazing thing about Paul's lyrics. How did a guy so young, have so much life experience and the ability to articulate it so well? It's the same when you listen to interviews with him and the band - they may be acting like drunken baffoons, but he's still sharp, insightful, and sensitive - even while slurring.
@tzuellig No, it's "All you ever wanted was someone Ma'd (would) be scared of." It's about finding the bad boy that your family would disapprove of, and being miserable for your shitty decision. Don't you know a woman who's done the same?
@scumgod13 I mean the late 80s and 90s of course! This and Sorry Ma are my favorites. they make documentaries about every other band, is there one on these guys.Damn well should be, hell my Band has a documentary coming out.
nap em slap em in a highchair
erock3377 4 days ago
God Bless the Replacements
43beewee 2 weeks ago
@Ampazon and @ThisIsSoul67 The line is "someone mom ain't scared of." For years, I had heard "mom is scared of," but on a live version I heard recently Paul clearly sings "ain't scared of." The change of that one word completely altered my interpretation of the song.
munchyfooddude 1 month ago
@munchyfooddude I'm starting to agree that thats what it sounds like, but most people seem to disagree.
Btw, I remember reading somewhere that Little Mascara was one of the songs that Westerberg is most proud of.
Apanzon 1 month ago
pure power pop, one of Bob Stintson best guitar solos
jamaral81 1 month ago
Best..song..ever.
Murmeltier616 1 month ago 2
Best mats lp
dannypmc2001 2 months ago
I believe the line is "All you ever wanted is someone mommy's scared-a"
ThisIsSoul67 2 months ago
I don't know what he really says, but i like the "someone ma'd be scared of"-thory best. Gives you that awesome plot twist that make the whole song so much more powerful. And also fits the line: "all you're ever losing is a little mascara." Because he was an ass any way.
Apanzon 3 months ago
I just don't see the song being about a woman trying to 'bring the right man home that her mother approves of'. I see it more as she wants a man that won't make her 'scared' will run away on her. The vibe I get from the song is one of a man/woman who has had to settle for someone they may not love but provides a family and stability, yet can't keep their mind off of the love of their life, the one that 'ran away'. The picture I get is that of a 30ish, domesticated housemom pining for her youth.
zappadadooi90 3 months ago
understand yet?
MrEds3377 6 months ago
I always thought it was about a guy comforting a girl who broke up with her loser husband/father of her children, hence the first line. Also the little mascara is him saying the guy was loser and all you really lost was the mascara. Just my interpretation though.
Ryan1021 8 months ago
Comment removed
Stinkerstien 9 months ago
-ooo-
Thanks...Miss Bob.
scmurs 11 months ago
one of the greatest rock songs of the 80's
harybosco 11 months ago
I just got chills from the post about the line in the last chours. Been listening to the song forever and never knew that is what he sang. Young guy to have that much insight.
tntryon1 1 year ago
@tntryon1 That guy was wrong. It's "Ma'd be scared of," not "ain't." Ain't wouldn't make sense.
mskcouric 9 months ago
@mskcouric You're wrong. There's no proof anyway. The girl is trying to please her mother, and never seems to bring home the right guy (in mom's eyes). The guys she has scare her mother! She wants a man her mother isn't scared of, and of whom Mom approves her seeing. I did mistype it the first time, though, it's "someone Mom ain't scared of." She doesn't want to scare her Mom! The whole song is about a woman crying after a**hole guys leave her ("don't you worry if you're wondering why he ran.")
tzuellig 9 months ago
@tzuellig Right. The irony is that she finally found a guy who could scare her controlling mother, and he, of course, turned out to be an asshole.
mskcouric 9 months ago
Lyrics correction: Second verse, it's "Throw your rope up in the air," not "your arms." Third verse, it's "Don't you worry if you're wondering why he ran." And Last chorus, it's "All you ever wanted was someone Mommy ain't scared of."
Thanks! Wonderful song.
tzuellig 1 year ago
@tzuellig
Seriously! That's the amazing thing about Paul's lyrics. How did a guy so young, have so much life experience and the ability to articulate it so well? It's the same when you listen to interviews with him and the band - they may be acting like drunken baffoons, but he's still sharp, insightful, and sensitive - even while slurring.
lancemarks 11 months ago
@tnytryon
I meant the reply to you tnytryon, but thanks for the lyric correction tzuellig.
lancemarks 11 months ago
@tzuellig No, it's "All you ever wanted was someone Ma'd (would) be scared of." It's about finding the bad boy that your family would disapprove of, and being miserable for your shitty decision. Don't you know a woman who's done the same?
mskcouric 9 months ago
Great song. Lyrics error, "throw your rope up in the air" i tshould be.
bobby16x 1 year ago
Oh Man, You rock. I been looking for this stuff for a long time. Wore my copy of Tim Out all through the 90s.
scumgod13 1 year ago
@scumgod13 I mean the late 80s and 90s of course! This and Sorry Ma are my favorites. they make documentaries about every other band, is there one on these guys.Damn well should be, hell my Band has a documentary coming out.
scumgod13 1 year ago
@scumgod13 Goggle "Color Me Obsessed" for information concerning the upcoming documentary on the Mats
CapnCanard 1 year ago
Replacements kick
nirvanalives89 1 year ago
amazing song...my favorite on Tim
harybosco 1 year ago
80s song of the day
1machrihanish 1 year ago