I created an account on this silly website, just to say that I think ErikD's interpretation, above, from 03-31-2010, is great stuff. He really nails it.
This is a song about how our preconceived notions are not always correct. Maybe it's obvious, but it's worth noting (since some other posters seem confused about this): the lines about women, villains and children are a challenge to common stereotypes. In Victorian dramas and classic Hollywood films, the women faint when they're shocked. The song's narrator says that's baloney. Similarly, it's a stereotype of the evil villain that they stare intently and never blink. Baloney. So I guess he's saying that the idea of a blushing adult (e.g. blushing virgins) is just silly, because in real life adults don't blush.
And it's in that spirit of confronting reality, that we have to see that life inevitably ends in death.
By the way, I second the opinion: one of the greatest rock songs ever.
Now I'm going to have to go check out the version on "Fully Loaded" to hear the rest of the song.
Yes, but even as he acknowledges the silliness of those stereotypes, he's ultimately affirming life, I think. He's not sneering down his nose at Jack and Jane like they're stupid; he can see that they're on to something, because they're still having a good time after all those years, despite being old and square and middle-class. Remember, when he wrote this, he was living in NYC among some very shallow, cynical, snobby, filthy-rich people, the type who would definitely look down on Jack and Jane and dismiss them as boring, middlebrow fools. I think LR is sticking up for them,...
Yes, but even as he acknowledges the silliness of those stereotypes, he's ultimately affirming life, I think. He's not sneering down his nose at Jack and Jane like they're stupid; he can see that they're on to something, because they're still having a good time after all those years, despite being old and square and middle-class. Remember, when he wrote this, he was living in NYC among some very shallow, cynical, snobby, filthy-rich people, the type who would definitely look down on Jack and Jane and dismiss them as boring, middlebrow fools. I think LR is sticking up for them, in a very knowing, roundabout way.
I created an account on this silly website, just to say that I think ErikD's interpretation, above, from 03-31-2010, is great stuff. He really nails it.
This is a song about how our preconceived notions are not always correct. Maybe it's obvious, but it's worth noting (since some other posters seem confused about this): the lines about women, villains and children are a challenge to common stereotypes. In Victorian dramas and classic Hollywood films, the women faint when they're shocked. The song's narrator says that's baloney. Similarly, it's a stereotype of the evil villain that they stare intently and never blink. Baloney. So I guess he's saying that the idea of a blushing adult (e.g. blushing virgins) is just silly, because in real life adults don't blush.
And it's in that spirit of confronting reality, that we have to see that life inevitably ends in death.
By the way, I second the opinion: one of the greatest rock songs ever.
Now I'm going to have to go check out the version on "Fully Loaded" to hear the rest of the song.
Yes, but even as he acknowledges the silliness of those stereotypes, he's ultimately affirming life, I think. He's not sneering down his nose at Jack and Jane like they're stupid; he can see that they're on to something, because they're still having a good time after all those years, despite being old and square and middle-class. Remember, when he wrote this, he was living in NYC among some very shallow, cynical, snobby, filthy-rich people, the type who would definitely look down on Jack and Jane and dismiss them as boring, middlebrow fools. I think LR is sticking up for them,...
Yes, but even as he acknowledges the silliness of those stereotypes, he's ultimately affirming life, I think. He's not sneering down his nose at Jack and Jane like they're stupid; he can see that they're on to something, because they're still having a good time after all those years, despite being old and square and middle-class. Remember, when he wrote this, he was living in NYC among some very shallow, cynical, snobby, filthy-rich people, the type who would definitely look down on Jack and Jane and dismiss them as boring, middlebrow fools. I think LR is sticking up for them, in a very knowing, roundabout way.