Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid portrait of a captivating and elusive woman, referred to repeatedly as the "See line woman." She's presented as someone who indulges in simple routines like drinking coffee and tea before returning home, yet her presence is anything but ordinary. Her allure is amplified by her changing attire: dressed in green with luxurious silk stockings, or in red, capable of making a man "lose his head." The central tension lies in the duality of her appeal and her ultimate impact. While she can command attention and affection, the lyrics suggest a transactional and potentially destructive nature. The phrase "For a thousand dollars she wail and she moan" points to a performance for payment, and the description of her actions—emptying pockets and wrecking days—highlights the cost of her charm. She's a figure who inspires desire but ultimately leaves a trail of financial and emotional ruin. The imagery of her movement, described as a "wiggle, wiggle" and turning "like a cat," emphasizes her fluid grace and predatory instinct. This feline comparison, coupled with a "wink at a man, and he wink back," illustrates the immediate, almost involuntary response she elicits. The narrator's direct address, "Now child, see line woman," adds a layer of cautionary wisdom, as if imparting a hard-learned lesson about this woman's true nature. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their stark portrayal of temptation and consequence. The repetition of "See line woman" acts as both an invocation and a warning, solidifying her image as a powerful, almost mythical figure. The narrative arc, from initial fascination to the final image of her flying away after "mak[ing] him love her," leaves the listener with a potent sense of her irresistible, yet transient, destructive power.