173. Song No. 2,548: “Dirty Girl,” Eels
Shootenanny!, 2003

There are so many reasons I feel like this song is a strong contender for my personal anthem, but the clincher is that “I like a girl with a dirty mouth / Know that I can trust her” line. I mean, sure, this is really a song about the aftermath of a breakup and grappling with how you’ll hypothetically deal with bumping into a former lover who’s clearly moved on, but I prefer to focus on celebrating how there’s no ambiguity in where you stand with profane ladies, especially those of us who are equally comfortable saying “fuck you” and “thank you.” Maybe it’s because I’ve spent most of my life in a state known for its prodigious capacity for swearing, but I’m absolutely of the belief that people who creatively curse a lot, from verbal venting to peppered flourishes, are more transparent in their emotional dealings. And also are people worth missing and reminiscing over well after your time together is good and gone.