a b Wiederhorn, Jon (25 July 2003). "Blur Revolt Against Hit Songs, Show No Love For The U.S. Military". MTV . Retrieved 13 June 2020. {{ cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ( help) a b " The Irish Charts – Search Results – Out of Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020. Graham Coxon Explains Blur Split". The Fly. May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012 . Retrieved 14 June 2020. Empire, Kitty (4 May 2003). "New Blur, same old Albarn". The Observer . Retrieved 7 September 2020.

Harris, John (13 June 2009). "It's been strong medicine the last few weeks". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 June 2020. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol.21, no.19. 3 May 2003. p.9 . Retrieved 19 February 2021. The world's a bleak dangerous place, 'too many people down, everything turning the wrong way round'.Stubbs, Dan (April 2012). "Blur – Think Tank (2003): The Album That Almost Destroyed Them...". Q. 20 Greatest Album Stories Ever. No.309. pp.42–45. ISSN 0955-4955. This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.

Damon Albarn lead singer of Blur, is an anti-war campaigner who takes a big interest in oriental and middle eastern styled musical influences. I believe this song is an anti-war protest.So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.

Sutherland, Mark (13 August 2012). "Blur Headline Olympics Closing Ceremony Concert in London". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 24 December 2021. Cheng, Cheryl (21 October 2015). "Blur's First-Ever Hollywood Bowl Show Brings Fred Armisen Surprise: Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 24 December 2021.a b "Blur – Album By Album, by Stephen Street, William Orbit and Ben Hillier". Uncut. 25 April 2004 . Retrieved 10 June 2020.