Lyric discussion by Kafziel 

The best of all the Wilburys' songs. Just a good old fashioned ballad about crime and punishment. One thing has always confused me, though - is Tweeter a transsexual or something? They say he was a boy scout, and went to Vietnam, but they also say "she"; and I don't understand the line "I'm not fooled by Tweeter's curl (?) I knew HIM long before HE ever became a Jersey GIRL." Did he have a sex change, like in Dog Day Afternoon? I don't know. Anyway, great song.

I've listened to this song quite a bit throughout my life and it always sounded like Bob was saying "Tweeter was a boy scout before HE went to Vietnam" so it could simply be a misquote. I don't think Tweeter is a tranny, I think at some point in the story for whatever reason Tweeter and the Monkey Man came up with the idea of Tweeter cross dressing so that it looked like the Monkey Man found a random hostage. I could be wrong but that's what I got from the line.

@Kafziel I know its like 20 years later, but let me provide closure. Back in vietnam, many soldiers would be gay and cross dress to get sent home. It goes back to the old "don't ask don't tell" law. If it came out that you're gay back then, you'd get dishonorably discharged.

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