There is an excellent biography of Alex Chilton that answers some of the questions. It is called "A Man Called Destruction." I highly recommend it.
Also there is an on-line interview with one of his band members, Jody Stephens, at the website for Ardent (the recording studio for all of Big Star's work regarding part of the lyrics. Jody is the last surviving member of Big Star.
Based on that info I offer the following:
Alex was very heavily into astrology when he was young. All three of the women who were his early love interests were born in the month of September and shared an astrological sign. They are collectively and individually the "September Gurls". Alex was born in December and is the "December boy's (possessive not plural). He was deeply in love with each of the girls. Each was a muse of sorts during those years.
According to Jody, one of the September gurls, Lesa Aldridge, is the "you" in the line "I was your Butch, you were so touched." The line refers to how Alex followed Lesa around like a puppy called Butch, named for the cartoon character of the same name.. She adored his almost child-like devotion to her in those years. This read makes the line very tender and sweet. They had a combustible relationship as time went on and eventually departed.
@gbloss I think you really nailed this one. Especially the vague ideas of "Butch"...i remember those Looney Tunes cartoons! "December Boy" is clearly a self-referential line. Well Done!
@gbloss I think you really nailed this one. Especially the vague ideas of "Butch"...i remember those Looney Tunes cartoons! "December Boy" is clearly a self-referential line. Well Done!
There is an excellent biography of Alex Chilton that answers some of the questions. It is called "A Man Called Destruction." I highly recommend it.
Also there is an on-line interview with one of his band members, Jody Stephens, at the website for Ardent (the recording studio for all of Big Star's work regarding part of the lyrics. Jody is the last surviving member of Big Star.
Based on that info I offer the following:
Alex was very heavily into astrology when he was young. All three of the women who were his early love interests were born in the month of September and shared an astrological sign. They are collectively and individually the "September Gurls". Alex was born in December and is the "December boy's (possessive not plural). He was deeply in love with each of the girls. Each was a muse of sorts during those years.
According to Jody, one of the September gurls, Lesa Aldridge, is the "you" in the line "I was your Butch, you were so touched." The line refers to how Alex followed Lesa around like a puppy called Butch, named for the cartoon character of the same name.. She adored his almost child-like devotion to her in those years. This read makes the line very tender and sweet. They had a combustible relationship as time went on and eventually departed.
@gbloss I think you really nailed this one. Especially the vague ideas of "Butch"...i remember those Looney Tunes cartoons! "December Boy" is clearly a self-referential line. Well Done!
@gbloss I think you really nailed this one. Especially the vague ideas of "Butch"...i remember those Looney Tunes cartoons! "December Boy" is clearly a self-referential line. Well Done!