Alright, so, I'm not here to argue whether or not the characters in this song are gay prostitutes, runaway lovers, or whatever - I just want to make an observation.
Has anybody else recognized glaring references to Margaret Atwood's novel "The Handmaid's Tale"? Before I read about the song being about prostitution and trying to make a living, I could always realize similarities. In the second verse, all the women of Gilead are "easy targets" because they're used simply for their ability to bear children. It turns out that the "old men," as are later mentioned as having "limp dicks," of the society are the infertile ones. For the fourth verse, one of the main characters, Moira, turns out to be a bit of a promiscuous woman, who escapes Gilead in order to "make a quick buck." All the other women in the society, Handmaids, Aunts and Wives, bite their tongues and don't acknowledge Moira's rebellious backlash, hence the "sucked our lips into our lungs."
The chorus really solidifies the parallels with the book. Gilead is in essence a "hovel" and the Handmaids certainly do "fuse like a family" in order to make life livable. They are refused access to makeup ("take up your make-up") and many save their vitamins, as well as other items, for safekeeping or later use ("pocket your pills away"). Although the end of the chorus clearly mentions males, "kings among runaways," I almost see it as the Commanders speaking - they DO feel and act like kings among this "gadabout crowd" of ready-to-bear women.
The portion about "old Chinese merchants" can be seen as a reference to the shopping trips that the women must make everyday - they are surrounded by Chinese/oriental individuals, both salesmen and tourists. "We never let the bastards get us down" is almost the exact phrase that the main character, Offred, finds chiseled into her room's floor - "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum." Although the phrase is very comical and incorrect Latin, it translates to the lyric in the song. Finally, the Commanders' infertility grows into a big joke among the Handmaids, hence them "laugh[ing] off the quick tricks and the old men with limp dicks..."
Anyway, now that I've chewed your ears off, I'm finished haha. Nonetheless, On the Bus Mall is one of my all-time favorite Decemberists songs. It's really beautiful.
I don't agree that the book will be that similar, as I said somewhere else, I think that prostitution is a very broad topic if you chop it up, and people have already compared this song to other songs, films, and now you offer a book.
All I can say is you've made me want to read the Handmaid's Tale. :D
I don't agree that the book will be that similar, as I said somewhere else, I think that prostitution is a very broad topic if you chop it up, and people have already compared this song to other songs, films, and now you offer a book.
All I can say is you've made me want to read the Handmaid's Tale. :D
I found your comment when i googled the the song and book. I was also struck by the parallels, and the "never let the bastards.." line clinches it for me. Its nice to learn that someone else made the same connection.
Also, this is a really wonderful song. it gets me every time.
I found your comment when i googled the the song and book. I was also struck by the parallels, and the "never let the bastards.." line clinches it for me. Its nice to learn that someone else made the same connection.
Also, this is a really wonderful song. it gets me every time.
Alright, so, I'm not here to argue whether or not the characters in this song are gay prostitutes, runaway lovers, or whatever - I just want to make an observation.
Has anybody else recognized glaring references to Margaret Atwood's novel "The Handmaid's Tale"? Before I read about the song being about prostitution and trying to make a living, I could always realize similarities. In the second verse, all the women of Gilead are "easy targets" because they're used simply for their ability to bear children. It turns out that the "old men," as are later mentioned as having "limp dicks," of the society are the infertile ones. For the fourth verse, one of the main characters, Moira, turns out to be a bit of a promiscuous woman, who escapes Gilead in order to "make a quick buck." All the other women in the society, Handmaids, Aunts and Wives, bite their tongues and don't acknowledge Moira's rebellious backlash, hence the "sucked our lips into our lungs."
The chorus really solidifies the parallels with the book. Gilead is in essence a "hovel" and the Handmaids certainly do "fuse like a family" in order to make life livable. They are refused access to makeup ("take up your make-up") and many save their vitamins, as well as other items, for safekeeping or later use ("pocket your pills away"). Although the end of the chorus clearly mentions males, "kings among runaways," I almost see it as the Commanders speaking - they DO feel and act like kings among this "gadabout crowd" of ready-to-bear women.
The portion about "old Chinese merchants" can be seen as a reference to the shopping trips that the women must make everyday - they are surrounded by Chinese/oriental individuals, both salesmen and tourists. "We never let the bastards get us down" is almost the exact phrase that the main character, Offred, finds chiseled into her room's floor - "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum." Although the phrase is very comical and incorrect Latin, it translates to the lyric in the song. Finally, the Commanders' infertility grows into a big joke among the Handmaids, hence them "laugh[ing] off the quick tricks and the old men with limp dicks..."
Anyway, now that I've chewed your ears off, I'm finished haha. Nonetheless, On the Bus Mall is one of my all-time favorite Decemberists songs. It's really beautiful.
I don't agree that the book will be that similar, as I said somewhere else, I think that prostitution is a very broad topic if you chop it up, and people have already compared this song to other songs, films, and now you offer a book. All I can say is you've made me want to read the Handmaid's Tale. :D
I don't agree that the book will be that similar, as I said somewhere else, I think that prostitution is a very broad topic if you chop it up, and people have already compared this song to other songs, films, and now you offer a book. All I can say is you've made me want to read the Handmaid's Tale. :D
I found your comment when i googled the the song and book. I was also struck by the parallels, and the "never let the bastards.." line clinches it for me. Its nice to learn that someone else made the same connection. Also, this is a really wonderful song. it gets me every time.
I found your comment when i googled the the song and book. I was also struck by the parallels, and the "never let the bastards.." line clinches it for me. Its nice to learn that someone else made the same connection. Also, this is a really wonderful song. it gets me every time.