It's a song about a failed relationship with a Middle-Eastern girl, and I think it goes along with their other song "Campus". In "Campus" the narrator mentions "kaffiyah" which is an Arab headdress, which is what makes me think the girl is Middle-Eastern, and then talks about having to pretend not to be with someone he is sleeping (or in love) with -- "How am I supposed to pretend/ that I never want to see you again?"("I have to leave here before I go" I believe refers to secretly sleeping over at a girl's place, and having to get out without being noticed), which makes me think that the narrator is having a secret relationship with a girl who can't have a real relationship with him. M79 (which stands for a NY bus by that number that the narrator probably takes to either visit her or go home) gives a hint as to why the relationship failed: her "racist" dreams make me think she didn't want a real relationship with the narrator who wasn't Middle Eastern (thus the secret relationship or simply hooking up that he writes about in "Campus"), and when he tells her to "Dress yourself in bleeding madras" ("madras" being a kerchief often worn as a turban) and to "Charm your way across the Khyber pass", he's essentially telling her that if she is so Middle Eastern that she can't date him, she should go be with her people, being sarcastic of course because Khyber Pass, as a physical location, is very violent, so it's like saying "if you don't want to be with me, go charm the terrorists, if you think any Middle Eastern guy is better for you than I am." In the next stanza "Jackson Crowther" refers to a Minor League baseball player, underlining the irony -- this girl is so Americanized, she sings praises to an unknown baseball player, yet won't consider a serious relationship with the narrator because he's not Middle Eastern. And when he finally tells her to "Watch yourself along the arch of glass" he's bitterly referring to how thin the line is that she draws between what's acceptable to her, as a Middle Eastern girl, and what's not.
Bleeding madras is the name of a plaid fabric that was not colorfast and often "bled" in the wash. It was very popular with preppy types at one time. Periodically, it makes a comeback in fashion trends.
Bleeding madras is the name of a plaid fabric that was not colorfast and often "bled" in the wash. It was very popular with preppy types at one time. Periodically, it makes a comeback in fashion trends.
I think the "arch of glass" is more like the breaking point when one of them feels like it's just too much and decides to break the other's heart... like glass. It's an arch because that's the connection that bridges the gap between them. But if she doesn't watch herself, that arch, that connection, will break and the relationship will end. Good job with the "Campus" cross-reference. Did not catch that. And I've heard this song a hundred times o_O
I think the "arch of glass" is more like the breaking point when one of them feels like it's just too much and decides to break the other's heart... like glass. It's an arch because that's the connection that bridges the gap between them. But if she doesn't watch herself, that arch, that connection, will break and the relationship will end. Good job with the "Campus" cross-reference. Did not catch that. And I've heard this song a hundred times o_O
It's a song about a failed relationship with a Middle-Eastern girl, and I think it goes along with their other song "Campus". In "Campus" the narrator mentions "kaffiyah" which is an Arab headdress, which is what makes me think the girl is Middle-Eastern, and then talks about having to pretend not to be with someone he is sleeping (or in love) with -- "How am I supposed to pretend/ that I never want to see you again?"("I have to leave here before I go" I believe refers to secretly sleeping over at a girl's place, and having to get out without being noticed), which makes me think that the narrator is having a secret relationship with a girl who can't have a real relationship with him. M79 (which stands for a NY bus by that number that the narrator probably takes to either visit her or go home) gives a hint as to why the relationship failed: her "racist" dreams make me think she didn't want a real relationship with the narrator who wasn't Middle Eastern (thus the secret relationship or simply hooking up that he writes about in "Campus"), and when he tells her to "Dress yourself in bleeding madras" ("madras" being a kerchief often worn as a turban) and to "Charm your way across the Khyber pass", he's essentially telling her that if she is so Middle Eastern that she can't date him, she should go be with her people, being sarcastic of course because Khyber Pass, as a physical location, is very violent, so it's like saying "if you don't want to be with me, go charm the terrorists, if you think any Middle Eastern guy is better for you than I am." In the next stanza "Jackson Crowther" refers to a Minor League baseball player, underlining the irony -- this girl is so Americanized, she sings praises to an unknown baseball player, yet won't consider a serious relationship with the narrator because he's not Middle Eastern. And when he finally tells her to "Watch yourself along the arch of glass" he's bitterly referring to how thin the line is that she draws between what's acceptable to her, as a Middle Eastern girl, and what's not.
wow! way to kill it pontoufle...
wow! way to kill it pontoufle...
Bleeding madras is the name of a plaid fabric that was not colorfast and often "bled" in the wash. It was very popular with preppy types at one time. Periodically, it makes a comeback in fashion trends.
Bleeding madras is the name of a plaid fabric that was not colorfast and often "bled" in the wash. It was very popular with preppy types at one time. Periodically, it makes a comeback in fashion trends.
wow. that makes so much sense! thanks for that.
wow. that makes so much sense! thanks for that.
I think the "arch of glass" is more like the breaking point when one of them feels like it's just too much and decides to break the other's heart... like glass. It's an arch because that's the connection that bridges the gap between them. But if she doesn't watch herself, that arch, that connection, will break and the relationship will end. Good job with the "Campus" cross-reference. Did not catch that. And I've heard this song a hundred times o_O
I think the "arch of glass" is more like the breaking point when one of them feels like it's just too much and decides to break the other's heart... like glass. It's an arch because that's the connection that bridges the gap between them. But if she doesn't watch herself, that arch, that connection, will break and the relationship will end. Good job with the "Campus" cross-reference. Did not catch that. And I've heard this song a hundred times o_O
@pontoufle - I could eat her brains like jam :)
@pontoufle - I could eat her brains like jam :)
@pontoufle Excellent interpretation. Well put.
@pontoufle Excellent interpretation. Well put.