This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Oh ain't it lonely
When you're livin' with a gun
Well you can't slow down and you can't turn 'round
And you can't trust anyone
You just sit there like a butterfly
And you're all encased in glass
You're so fragile you just may break
And you don't know who to ask
Oh ain't it lonely
When you're livin' with a gun
Well you can't slow down and you can't turn 'round
And you can't trust anyone
You just sit there like a butterfly
You're well protected by the glass
You're such a rare collector's item
When they throw away what's the trash
You can hang suspended from a star
Or wish on a toilet roll
You can just soak up the atmosphere
Like a fish inside a bowl
When the ghost comes round at midnight
Well you both can have some fun
He can drive you mad, he can make you sad
He can keep you from the sun
When they take him down, he'll be both safe and sound
And the hand does fit the glove
And no matter what they tell you,
There's good and evil in everyone
When you're livin' with a gun
Well you can't slow down and you can't turn 'round
And you can't trust anyone
You just sit there like a butterfly
And you're all encased in glass
You're so fragile you just may break
And you don't know who to ask
Oh ain't it lonely
When you're livin' with a gun
Well you can't slow down and you can't turn 'round
And you can't trust anyone
You just sit there like a butterfly
You're well protected by the glass
You're such a rare collector's item
When they throw away what's the trash
You can hang suspended from a star
Or wish on a toilet roll
You can just soak up the atmosphere
Like a fish inside a bowl
When the ghost comes round at midnight
Well you both can have some fun
He can drive you mad, he can make you sad
He can keep you from the sun
When they take him down, he'll be both safe and sound
And the hand does fit the glove
And no matter what they tell you,
There's good and evil in everyone
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by thompo
Who Was That Masked Man Lyrics as written by Van Morrison
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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As for the song Title - maybe people had a different view of this man on the surface, maybe he just looked all bubbly and lovable on the surface but that is not really who he was... He could be lovey dovey with other people but not with his wife... He would pretend to love people, but lacked in the emotional intimacy department when it came to love because of his so well concealed distrust in humanity.
And the title poses a question - who was that masked man? I mean who was a really and what memory did he really leave behind, or can he leave behind - the fake image he lived out in society or this other emotionally closed off image in his own home towards his wife and kids? How would people really remember him, or rather those who really knew them how would they remember him in comparison with society's twisted view on their beloved family member?
And finally, is it better to live this fake image and be remembered for it, or to be really that lovable guy to your family, to be remembered as REALLY lovable?
It is actually very ironic because people are not usually the same person they are out on the street as inside their homes towards their closest family members.
Just something to think about... Who do you really want to remember you? Your family or strangers, and what is the image you want to really leave behind in their minds and hearts about who you are or can be?!
"I mean who was a really" should be "I mean who was HE really"?
This reminds me so much of my x husband and the fake image/mask that he wears out in public and they way he treated his own family differently behind closed doors. It caused me to build an emotional barrier to protect myself from further emotional harm. I distrusted so many people, good people, because I felt like everyone had a hidden agenda to harm me. It took a long time to knock down that wall, it was very painful to peel away the layers and get to the core of the pain. Thank God I did. Till this day, he still causes me a lot of emotional stress to me and my children but I have to remember who I am dealing with. I can deal with it but I feel so bad for my children, they lack the maturity.