The Go-Betweens
Lyric guide

Karen

Read Karen lyrics by The Go-Betweens on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

The Go-Betweens visibility1 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: The Go-Betweens Canonical path: /the-go-betweens/karen Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Karen

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

I just want some affection

I just want some affection

I don't want no hoochie-coochie mama

No back door woman

No Queen Street sex thing

I want a tiger on bended knees

With all the kindness of the Japanese

I just want some affection

I wish I heard voices

Wish I was a telephone

Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah

Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah yeah

I said yeah, oh Karen!

I know this girl

This very special girl

And she works in a library, yeah

Standing there behind the counter

Willing to help

With all the problems that I encounter

Helps me find Hemingway

Helps me find Genet

Helps me find Brecht

Helps me find Chandler

Helps me find James Joyce

She always makes the right choice

She's no queen

She's no angel

Just a peasant from the village

She's my god, she's my god

She's my g-o-d, she's my god, yeah, yeah

She's my g-o-o-d, yeah

Oh, she's my god now Yeah!

Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah

Karen yeah-yeah, Karen yeah-yeah yeah

I said yeah, oh Karen!

And she stands there in the library

Like a nun in a church does

Like a nun in a church does

She stands there all alone

'Cos she gets me something that I

Just can't get now anywhere else

Cause the girls that I see

Walking around, yeah the ones I see

Walking on the street

Are so damn-da-da-da-damned cold

'Cos they must have eskimo blood in their veins

And the one that I want

I just can't see

I can't see her there

I can't see her anywhere

Alright!

Oh Karen yeah-yeah...

Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen, Karen!

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Karen"?

The Go-Betweens performs "Karen", and this lyric page sits inside the The Go-Betweens catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Karen"?

Yes. The related section below points to All About Strength and As Long As That with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by The Go-Betweens?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through The Go-Betweens's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Karen yet.