Story Behind The Song

This song was inspired by the memory of a comment made back in the day while driving my dad's car with a number of other high school aged kids as passengers. One of the passengers, the daughter of wealthy parents, actually made the comment in essence "Why doesn't your dad buy a better car?". There were six kids in our family and we lived on the poorer side of town. My dad wasn't home a lot because he was working a full time job and two other part time jobs to keep our mom and us kids fed and clothed. Obviously, the comment was very rude and insulting. I never actually dated this person, so the first part of the song describes a fictitious night out with someone living in her circumstances. The final verses following the instrumental break are true and express how blessed I have been to be allowed to grow old with my soulmate.

Song Description

This song is about dates with two different girls, one which went horribly wrong and ended on a low note, and the other which went wonderfully right and continues to this day.

Lyrics

Superficial

Verse 1
I met a pretty girl and I asked her for a date.
I wanted to impress her but showed up a little late.
She was dressed up to the nines, but I had on my jeans,
And from the look there on her face, I must have looked obscene.

Verse 2
I drove my dad's old stick shift Ford, no limousine for sure.
She asked me why my father didn't have a better car.
He worked three jobs to feed us all, it was what he could afford,
Spoiled by her daddy's money she expected so much more.

Chorus 1
She's superficial. So superficial.
She thinks her world's her oyster but it's really just a clam.
In a test of cordiality, she'd fail the exam.
Her one and only focus is on the world of glam
She's superficial, so superficial.

Verse 3
I took her to a movie that I thought she would enjoy.
It was packed with lots of action, but she only seemed annoyed.
If she preferred a chick flick, she should have told me so,
I'd have swallowed my disdain for them and given it a go.

Verse 4
I took her to a restaurant that was within my means,
But I found out very quickly that it didn't suit a queen.
They specialized in burgers but she wanted steak tartare,
I suggested "Try the French fries" but she wanted caviar.

Chorus 2
She's superficial, so superficial.
She felt I wasn't fit for her, of that she left no doubt,
She didn't have a clue what the real world's all about.
I nearly stopped the car right there and kicked her booty out
She's superficial, so superficial.

Verse 5
I drove the car straight to her home, a mansion on the lake.
We both agreed that that whole night was just one big mistake.
She jumped right out and slammed the door, an ending so abrupt,
No goodnight kiss because it would just mess her lipstick up.

Verse 6
I saw her hanging 'round at school with all her snooty friends.
I didn't ask her out again, and so that story ends.
The years have passed, I'm older now, and I don't hold a grudge.
I hope she's found true happiness, and who am I to judge?

Instrumental break

Verse 7
I got fixed up on a blind date with girl more my style.
She was everything I hoped for and we dated for a while.
I knew we were a perfect match, we fit like hand in glove,
God gave to me a soulmate and a woman I could love.

Verse 8
I've been married to her now for more than fifty years.
She stood hand and hand with me through laughter and through tears.
I hate to think where I would be if we hadn't met,
That fateful day and that first date, I never will forget.

Chorus 3
Because she's special, so very special.
Every day she takes the time to tell me I'm her guy,
She loves me more than all the shiny things that she can buy.
She's my whole world and I will love her 'till the day I die
Because she's special, so very special
Yeah, she's special, so very special.
She's special, so very special.

Copyright © August 2025 Thomas E. McCue
All Rights Reserved