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Punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Will nature make a man of me yet?
When in this charming car
This charming man
Why pamper life's complexity
When the leather runs smooth
On the passenger's seat?
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "it's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Ah ! A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "it's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
La, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man
Oh, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man
Ah ! A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
On a hillside desolate
Will nature make a man of me yet?
When in this charming car
This charming man
Why pamper life's complexity
When the leather runs smooth
On the passenger's seat?
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "it's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Ah ! A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "it's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
La, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man
Oh, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man
Ah ! A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
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This charming man-I'm not sure who that'd be. Maybe it is a stranger they meet. Maybe it represents someone they admire. But anyway, they point out that if you waste your time worrying about the future, you forget to live in the here and now, and there's no point spending all your time thinking if you neglect to realise the things around you. ("Why pamper life's complexity when the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat")
The lines "It's gruesome that someone so handsome should care" could again refer to worrying about things that in the long run don't matter, like clothes, and looks. But this charming man might be suspicious in having all the answers and ultimately, the song might contain the idea that it's dangerous to blindly put all your faith in one person. The line "He knows so much about these things" could over time be more and more doubtful, and ultimately, the song may be saying that each of us has to make up our own minds about what to do with our lives, just as the guy in the song does-we can't keep relying on society or some charming stranger to sort out our futures, relationships, or as possibly hinted in the song, sexuality for us. (as I think there is a hint of homosexuality in the song)
Overall-maybe it's about someone struggling to enter romantic relationships while dealing with issues with his sexuality. He meets a charming stranger who could represent anything who seems to have all the answers, but begins to doubt him over time. While some of what the guy says makes sense (and it's hinted that he could be attracted to him, as the charming man may be advising him about his struggles with his sexuality), eventually the guy realises he can't base all his faith in one person, and he may have to come to terms with issues such as his sexuality and relationships himself. This is the thing that may lead him to maturity.
That's just my interpretation.
But this is a lovely song with really cool lyrics, and I loved that interpretation by waxinglyrical!
"this man said it's gruesome that someone so handsome should care" about these little things. And yeah, it's actually all his life about: He is charming, but he's got such a issues with his shyness, self-confidence and stuff.
Yes it is about homosexuality, but it's fully sarcastic/ironic, the clue is in the title.
Far from charming, this homosexual driver is 'creepy' and increasingly worries the protagonist.
I interpret the song literally.
The protagonist has a punctured tyre on a deserted hillside and contemplates whether adversity will force him to grow up and mature into a man.
Then a charming man in his nice car offers him a ride. He then decides to stop thinking so deeply and enjoy the free ride in this mans luxury car.
The charming man then asks the protagonist out that night. He replies that he cant because he hasnt got appropriate clothing.Denoting the charming man is of a higher class than the protagonist and that the occassion might be a bit fancy.
The charming man then complements the protagonist exclaiming that he neednt worry as he is so handsome that he could get away with wearing anything.
Now this is where the song gets a little obscure.
The line "a jumped up pantry boy, who never knew his place" comes from the movie Slueth(its on youtube). Where Michael Caines character is being confronted for having an affair with Laurence Oliviers characters wife. Oliviers character says to Caine "Youre nothing but a jumped up pantry boy , who never knew his place!" He is making a stab at Caines character for being working class - a pantry boy being a servant working in the kitchen of an English manor house.
So for me this could be interpreted as - the protagonist has met someone above his class through his associations with the charming man and intends to propose.The charming man frightens the protagonist "AH!" when he confronts him telling him to get back in his place and not to marry someone above his class.He should return the ring as he wont be able to support her affluent lifestyle. The charming man knows about these things as he has seen it before or is speaking from experience.
-Thats my take
Just because he calls a man charming doesn't mean its about homosexuality.
I wish some people would stop trying to make everything about homosexuality.