Behind the Songs: She Is Mine

A selection of quotes from Richard Butler on the song "She Is Mine."

Richard Butler: "I think [Talk Talk Talk] was looking at [romance] objectively. It's not romantic. I mean it's got songs like 'I Wanna Sleep With You' which is talking about sex and not wanting any type of relationship, but just wanting sex. On the other hand, it's got a song like 'She Is Mine' which is very romantic, if you like, and it's objective." (Overview 1981)

Richard Butler (in response to the interviewer saying his voice sounded relaxed on "Sister Europe"): "'She Is Mine' is similar to that on [Talk Talk Talk]. That same sort of feeling." (Overview 1981)

Richard Butler: "'She Is Mine' is about love in general. The feeling itself is great, but what else happens is not: falling in love, falling in love with the person in question, falling in love with his life pattern, the love fading away, separation, etc." (Sounds 1981 [German magazine])

Richard Butler (in response to the interviewer saying that the situations described in the song sound very specific): "That’s true. You have to imagine a party where everyone is somehow dealing with love, is affected by it, i.e. falling in love or arguing or breaking up. At one point I was very drunk and they actually had to pick me up from the floor. At that time I suddenly saw very clearly this pattern in which love relationships always work. All you can do is stay away from it, you have to laugh about it." (Sounds 1981 [German magazine]).

Richard Butler (on Talk Talk Talk's songs): "They're not love songs, they're songs about love and different points of view. For example, 'She Is Mine' has a sad point of view; if you're having an affair you realize people have said and done the same things before." (Trouser Press 1981)

Richard Butler: "There's a song with a lot of tenderness and regret – 'She Is Mine' is saying that, like, when you have a lover and you realize that everything you're doing with them has been done before by so many people, there's a lot of sadness in there." (Unknown source, 1981)

Richard Butler: "I think 'The Ghost In You' still sounds pretty good, but it's not as timeless as, say, 'Pretty In Pink' or 'Dumb Waiters' or even slower songs like 'She Is Mine'." (Rock Cellar Magazine 2020)

Photo: Andrew Douglas