Oh c'mon everybody--it's sex! Not to take away from anybody's higher-minded interpretations, but the terms used are almost blatant. Peter is awesome for being able to write so blatantly about sex and still have people wondering "Is that what he meant?"
First, listen to the overall tone of the song--it's upbeat, playful--almost silly. If PG wanted a brooding song, then by gosh he would have brooding music.
Second--What's all this, if not sexual innuendo?
"You could have a steam train, If you'd just lay down your tracks."
Well darling, if you lay down your "tracks" (legs?), you'll get the "steam train." (ahem). I just peripherally mention the notion of a train entering a tunnel....
"You could have an aeroplane flying, If you bring your blue sky back."
I think this is maybe a "don't be a grouch" admonition (blue skies vs. being under a cloud). Maybe if she cheers up, he'll give her an airplane. :D
"You could have a big dipper, Going up and down, all around the bends."
Think of the bends, and ups and downs as the curves on a female body. The Big Dipper...well, you get it.
"You could have a bumper car, bumping. This amusement never ends."
Bumping. Bumping! Do I have to list the relevant euphemisms for sex that use the word "bump"?
"Show me round your fruit cakes, 'Cause I will be your honey bee.
Open up your fruit cakes, Where the fruit is as sweet as can be."
Imagery of a flower "opening" for a bee (pollination/fertilization), or a butterfly searching for nectar.
Third, the wind-up and the pitch...
"I kicked the habit"
I agree with other commentators here that this is probably a nun's habit, symbolic of chastity (or being a "monk"). It could also mean getting out of a rut for the "new stuff" of adventure.
"Shed my skin"
Literally, getting buck naked, but also shedding skin like a snake, which sheds skin when it is growing. You can even take that a couple of ways--emotionally and...you know...a snake. (Am I just dirty minded, or is Pete really hitting this sex theme hard--like a sledgehammer?)
"This is the new stuff I go dancing in."
The song breaks this sentence up and makes it sound like two different thoughts, but it isn't. The new stuff he goes dancing in (he just shed his skin) is Ye Olde Birthday Suit. He's nekked, and he's looking for trouble!
"Oh won't you show for me? I will show for you."
He's prancing around naked now, asking for a little reciprocation here. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
Even way back when I was a stupid teenager I thought this song might be about sex, but I thought everything was about sex then. It seems that I might have been right. But as much crap that gets put into song about sex, this song doesn't have a "dirty" feel to it--it's almost a one-on-one party. Very clever and oddly wholesome musical expression of sexual intimacy.
Oh c'mon everybody--it's sex! Not to take away from anybody's higher-minded interpretations, but the terms used are almost blatant. Peter is awesome for being able to write so blatantly about sex and still have people wondering "Is that what he meant?"
First, listen to the overall tone of the song--it's upbeat, playful--almost silly. If PG wanted a brooding song, then by gosh he would have brooding music.
Second--What's all this, if not sexual innuendo? "You could have a steam train, If you'd just lay down your tracks." Well darling, if you lay down your "tracks" (legs?), you'll get the "steam train." (ahem). I just peripherally mention the notion of a train entering a tunnel....
"You could have an aeroplane flying, If you bring your blue sky back." I think this is maybe a "don't be a grouch" admonition (blue skies vs. being under a cloud). Maybe if she cheers up, he'll give her an airplane. :D
"You could have a big dipper, Going up and down, all around the bends." Think of the bends, and ups and downs as the curves on a female body. The Big Dipper...well, you get it.
"You could have a bumper car, bumping. This amusement never ends." Bumping. Bumping! Do I have to list the relevant euphemisms for sex that use the word "bump"?
"Show me round your fruit cakes, 'Cause I will be your honey bee. Open up your fruit cakes, Where the fruit is as sweet as can be." Imagery of a flower "opening" for a bee (pollination/fertilization), or a butterfly searching for nectar.
Third, the wind-up and the pitch...
"I kicked the habit" I agree with other commentators here that this is probably a nun's habit, symbolic of chastity (or being a "monk"). It could also mean getting out of a rut for the "new stuff" of adventure.
"Shed my skin" Literally, getting buck naked, but also shedding skin like a snake, which sheds skin when it is growing. You can even take that a couple of ways--emotionally and...you know...a snake. (Am I just dirty minded, or is Pete really hitting this sex theme hard--like a sledgehammer?)
"This is the new stuff I go dancing in." The song breaks this sentence up and makes it sound like two different thoughts, but it isn't. The new stuff he goes dancing in (he just shed his skin) is Ye Olde Birthday Suit. He's nekked, and he's looking for trouble!
"Oh won't you show for me? I will show for you." He's prancing around naked now, asking for a little reciprocation here. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
Even way back when I was a stupid teenager I thought this song might be about sex, but I thought everything was about sex then. It seems that I might have been right. But as much crap that gets put into song about sex, this song doesn't have a "dirty" feel to it--it's almost a one-on-one party. Very clever and oddly wholesome musical expression of sexual intimacy.