One Of Your Girls

"One Of Your Girls" by Troye Sivan is a complex exploration of unrequited love, desire, and the dynamics of queer relationships, particularly focusing on the experience of being attracted to men who identify as straight or are questioning their sexuality. Sivan has explained that the song reflects his personal experiences with men who were interested in him but were not openly gay, leading to situations where he felt like a secret or an experiment. The lyrics convey a willingness to alter one's own identity—to become "one of your girls or your homies"—to be close to the object of affection. This speaks to a feeling of bending one's values and self-worth for someone else's comfort or acceptance. The song delves into the complicated emotions that arise from these encounters, which can be a mix of feeling special and a "safe space" for exploration, but also can lead to feelings of emptiness and being used. Sivan has described it as psychoanalyzing why he was drawn to these situations, suggesting it might stem from internalized homophobia and a desire for validation from men who might have bullied him in the past. The phrase "face card, no cash, no credit" emphasizes the intense physical attraction that often initiates these complex dynamics.

The song's narrative centers on an admirer who is deeply infatuated with a highly desirable man. This object of affection is universally loved and admired, to the point where the narrator suggests he should "trademark your face." There's a queue of people wanting to be near him, but the narrator feels they hold a special, primary position in this line of admirers. The attraction is so powerful that the man's handsome face is like a "face card," negating the need for money or credit; his appeal is self-evident and god-given. The narrator sees this person as an icon, a piece of pop culture history standing right before them.

The core of the song is a direct and vulnerable plea. The narrator offers to be whatever the man needs, a confidante or a secret lover, encapsulated in the line, "Give me a call if you ever get lonely / I'll be like one of your girls or your homies." This offer to shapeshift their identity highlights a deep longing for connection, even if it's on the other person's terms. They promise to keep everything a secret, underscoring the clandestine nature of the potential relationship. The narrator feels the man holds the "key to my heart," a key they desperately need. This plea escalates from loneliness to desperation, with the narrator reiterating their willingness to become "one of your girls." This phrase suggests a readiness to embody a role that might be more palatable or less complicated for a man who may not be openly queer.

The second verse amplifies the man's desirability, suggesting his waist should be insured for the highest possible amount. The narrator asserts that no one desires him as intensely as they do and asks for a chance to "plead my case." The pre-chorus repeats the idea of the man's overwhelming attractiveness and iconic status. The bridge and outro are atmospheric, with wordless vocalizations that convey a sense of longing and emotional intensity. The repetition of "Give me a call if you ever get desperate / I'll be like one of your girls" at the very end reinforces the central theme of sacrificing one's own identity and self-worth for a chance at connection with someone who is seemingly unattainable or emotionally unavailable, leaving the listener with a feeling of bittersweet resignation.

"One Of Your Girls" is the third single from Troye Sivan's third studio album, "Something to Give Each Other," released on October 13, 2023. The song was written by Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin (Leland), and Oscar Görres, with Görres also handling the production. Sivan has stated that this is his favorite song he has ever worked on. The inspiration for the track came from repeated personal experiences where Sivan was approached by men who had historically identified as straight but were exploring their sexuality with him. These encounters left him with a mix of conflicting emotions, including feeling like a 'secret' or an 'experiment,' which ultimately led to heartbreak. The creative process involved writing three different choruses before settling on the final version, which features a "sad robot thing" vocal effect inspired by a movie Sivan had seen. This vocoder effect on the chorus was meant to reflect the feeling of being an "emotionless object" in these relationships. In a podcast episode of Song Exploder, Sivan revealed that the song's title was inspired by "One of the Girls" from the HBO series *The Idol*, in which he acted. Additionally, producer Max Martin contributed a synth line to the track but asked not to be credited.

The song and its accompanying music video are rich with symbolism and metaphors that explore themes of identity, desire, and queer experience.

• Drag as a 'Fantasy Version': In the music video, Sivan's transformation into drag is a powerful visual metaphor. He explained he wanted to create a "fantasy version" of himself, a conventionally attractive woman that the men the song is about might be proud to date publicly. This symbolizes the act of bending and changing oneself to fit another's desires and the performance of gender. The drag persona isn't about parody but about embodying an idealized form of femininity to gain acceptance.
• 'Face Card, No Cash, No Credit': This recurring phrase symbolizes a purely physical attraction that holds immense power. It suggests the object of desire is so handsome that his looks alone are his currency, but it also implies a lack of deeper substance or emotional availability—"no cash, no credit."
• The Key to My Heart: The lyric "You get the key to my heart, and I need it" is a straightforward metaphor for giving someone emotional control. However, the added phrase "and I need it" suggests a desperate, almost transactional plea, highlighting the narrator's vulnerability and low self-worth in the dynamic.
• Changing the Plea from 'Lonely' to 'Desperate': The shift in the chorus from "Give me a call if you ever get lonely" to "Give me a call if you ever get desperate" symbolizes a poignant loss of self-worth. It moves from offering companionship to being a last resort, reflecting the emotional toll of the one-sided relationship.

The emotional landscape of "One Of Your Girls" is predominantly one of yearning, vulnerability, and bittersweet melancholy. The song captures the complex emotional cocktail of being intensely attracted to someone who is emotionally unavailable or ambivalent. There is a palpable sense of longing throughout the track, conveyed through Troye Sivan's breathy vocals and the synth-driven melody. This longing is coupled with a deep-seated vulnerability, as the narrator offers to suppress his own identity to fit the other person's needs. However, the song is not purely melancholic; there is an element of sensual allure and even a flicker of hope in the proposition. Sivan himself described feeling a mix of emotions in the situations that inspired the song—sometimes feeling elated, and other times feeling empty and heartbroken. This emotional duality is reflected in the music video, where the confident, glamorous drag performance is contrasted with the final shot of Sivan, out of drag, with tears in his eyes, revealing the raw pain beneath the performance. The overall atmosphere is therefore mixed: a danceable pop track layered with the poignant sadness of unrequited love and compromised self-worth.

"One Of Your Girls" has had a significant cultural impact since its release, largely driven by its provocative and widely discussed music video. The video, which features Troye Sivan in drag alongside a shirtless Ross Lynch, quickly went viral, generating millions of views and extensive conversation online. It became a notable moment in queer pop culture, praised for its exploration of gender expression, desire, and vulnerability. The song is the third single from Sivan's acclaimed third album, "Something to Give Each Other," which topped the charts in Australia and reached the top ten in several other countries. The album and its singles, including "One of Your Girls," earned Sivan his first Grammy nominations. The song itself has been streamed tens of millions of times on platforms like Spotify. Beyond its commercial success, the track resonated deeply within the LGBTQ+ community for its honest depiction of a common yet complex experience: the attraction to straight or questioning men. The song and video have been analyzed for their commentary on internalized homophobia, the performance of gender, and the commodification of desire in contemporary queer life. At the APRA Music Awards of 2025, the song was shortlisted for Song of the Year.

"One Of Your Girls" utilizes a relatively straightforward rhyme scheme and rhythmic structure to create a catchy, synth-pop feel that complements its lyrical themes.

The rhyme scheme in the verses is generally AABB, as seen in the first verse with "face" rhyming with "place" and "credit" with "said it." This simple structure makes the lyrics memorable and gives the song a classic pop sensibility. The pre-chorus and chorus also follow a consistent, though slightly more varied, rhyming pattern that emphasizes key phrases.

The rhythm is characterized by a mid-tempo, danceable beat driven by a strong synth bassline and percussion. The tempo remains steady throughout most of the song, creating a hypnotic and immersive quality. The lyrical rhythm often plays with syncopation, with Sivan's vocal melody weaving in and around the primary beat. This interplay creates a sense of tension and release that mirrors the emotional push-and-pull described in the lyrics. The chorus has a particularly strong rhythmic hook, making the plea "Give me a call if you ever get lonely" both an emotional centerpiece and a memorable musical moment. The song's overall rhythmic feel is smooth and polished, characteristic of the synth-pop and funk genres it draws from.

"One Of Your Girls" employs several stylistic techniques, both musically and lyrically, to enhance its theme and emotional impact.

• Vocal Delivery and Vocoder: Sivan uses a breathy, intimate vocal delivery in the verses, creating a sense of vulnerability and personal confession. In the chorus, his voice is layered with a vocoder to create a "sad robot" effect. Sivan chose this to reflect the feeling of being an "emotionless object" for someone else's experimentation, highlighting a sense of detachment and heartbreak.
• Narrative Voice: The song is told from a first-person perspective, directly addressing the object of affection. This creates a deeply personal and confessional tone, allowing the listener to inhabit the narrator's headspace of longing and self-compromise.
• Musical Arrangement: The song is built on a foundation of synth-pop and funk. The arrangement, produced by Oscar Görres, has a warm, gauzy sonic palette that feels both danceable and melancholic. According to music theory analysis, the song is in the key of B Minor and has a higher complexity than average in its chord-bass melody, contributing to its sophisticated pop sound.
• Intertextuality: The music video, directed by Gordon Von Steiner, features actor and musician Ross Lynch as the love interest. Sivan cast Lynch because he represents the type of universally desired man the song adores. The video's aesthetic, particularly Sivan's drag looks, pays homage to early 2000s pop icons like Britney Spears, creating a visual link to a specific era of pop femininity and desire.

What is the meaning behind Troye Sivan's 'One Of Your Girls'?

The song explores Troye Sivan's personal experiences with having romantic or sexual feelings for men who identified as straight or were questioning. It's about his willingness to become whatever they needed—'one of your girls or your homies'—to be with them, highlighting themes of unrequited love, desire, and sacrificing self-worth.

Who is the actor in the 'One Of Your Girls' music video?

The actor starring alongside Troye Sivan in the 'One of Your Girls' music video is Ross Lynch, an American actor, singer, and musician formerly of the band R5 and known for his roles on the Disney Channel.

Why does Troye Sivan appear in drag in the 'One Of Your Girls' video?

Troye Sivan explained that he performs in drag to represent a 'fantasy version' of himself that the men the song is about might be more comfortable or proud to be with publicly. It symbolizes the performance and bending of his own identity to be desired by someone else.

When was 'One Of Your Girls' by Troye Sivan released?

'One Of Your Girls' was released on October 13, 2023, as the third single from his third studio album, 'Something to Give Each Other.'

What do the lyrics 'Face card, no cash, no credit' mean?

This lyric metaphorically describes someone so physically attractive ('face card') that their looks alone are their currency. It suggests their appeal is immediate and requires no other substance ('no cash, no credit'), while also hinting at a potentially superficial basis for the relationship.

What genre of music is 'One Of Your Girls'?

The song is primarily categorized as synth-pop, with influences of pop and funk. It features a polished, mid-tempo electronic sound characteristic of these genres.

Who wrote and produced 'One Of Your Girls'?

The song was co-written by Troye Sivan, Brett McLaughlin (Leland), and Oscar Görres. The track was produced by Oscar Görres, with an uncredited synth contribution from Max Martin.