Yes, yes, to all the comments about getting out of a small town and the frustration of working people having dreams and worrying that their dreams will die like those around before them. But also this: our society for the last 50+ years has been selling the "dream" of romantic love (through movies -- Hollywood love stories with the happy endings, tv and yes, even music), and that if you just find that perect person, your life will be perfect and all your dreams will be fulfilled. And then there's the particularly perncious gloss put on that message by our celebrity-obsessed culture which says if you're not one of the rich and, especially, beautiful gliteratti, you have no worth. (Listen, there's a reason Disney now makes wedding gowns in the styles of the Disney princesses so you can acually "be" Cinderella or Ariel on your wedding day.)
So now, you're a 17 year-old girl, Mary, who never believed in your heart you were pretty enough; and you were too scared to really take a chance and open your heart to those boys who did have the courage to ask (hiding 'neath the covers, sitting on the front porch, i.e., sidelines); instead hoping desperately inside that a savior would rise from these streets, that is, that somehow someone who was the dream would see inside that you were worthy of the dream and bring it to you, sweep you away, sweep you off your feet, and take you away from "here" to your dream (pick your hollywood metaphor). As a typically dramatic 17 year-old can be, you are consumed with the sufferings of your life (making crosses from your lovers, throwing roses in the rain). This young man tells you, hey you know what? There is no such thing as romantic love. I'm no hero (as the post above got it exactly right) and i'm not offering you that romanitc dream but life has to hold some promise. since the destination of romantic love ain't on the map, there's no road map for where we need to go or even how to get there but i'll take that journey with you. come with me.... Don't know how much Bruce knew about 17 year old girls and their fears and longings but he has insight into everything else so why the heck not.
Agreed, this girl is no teenager ("maybe we ain't that young any more").
He's asking her to "settle" - to give up waiting for Mr Right and accept someone she doesn't love.
Poor Mary.
Agreed, this girl is no teenager ("maybe we ain't that young any more").
He's asking her to "settle" - to give up waiting for Mr Right and accept someone she doesn't love.
Poor Mary.
Yes, yes, to all the comments about getting out of a small town and the frustration of working people having dreams and worrying that their dreams will die like those around before them. But also this: our society for the last 50+ years has been selling the "dream" of romantic love (through movies -- Hollywood love stories with the happy endings, tv and yes, even music), and that if you just find that perect person, your life will be perfect and all your dreams will be fulfilled. And then there's the particularly perncious gloss put on that message by our celebrity-obsessed culture which says if you're not one of the rich and, especially, beautiful gliteratti, you have no worth. (Listen, there's a reason Disney now makes wedding gowns in the styles of the Disney princesses so you can acually "be" Cinderella or Ariel on your wedding day.)
So now, you're a 17 year-old girl, Mary, who never believed in your heart you were pretty enough; and you were too scared to really take a chance and open your heart to those boys who did have the courage to ask (hiding 'neath the covers, sitting on the front porch, i.e., sidelines); instead hoping desperately inside that a savior would rise from these streets, that is, that somehow someone who was the dream would see inside that you were worthy of the dream and bring it to you, sweep you away, sweep you off your feet, and take you away from "here" to your dream (pick your hollywood metaphor). As a typically dramatic 17 year-old can be, you are consumed with the sufferings of your life (making crosses from your lovers, throwing roses in the rain). This young man tells you, hey you know what? There is no such thing as romantic love. I'm no hero (as the post above got it exactly right) and i'm not offering you that romanitc dream but life has to hold some promise. since the destination of romantic love ain't on the map, there's no road map for where we need to go or even how to get there but i'll take that journey with you. come with me.... Don't know how much Bruce knew about 17 year old girls and their fears and longings but he has insight into everything else so why the heck not.
perfection. i would just like to add that you don't have to 17 to feel this way.
perfection. i would just like to add that you don't have to 17 to feel this way.
Agreed, this girl is no teenager ("maybe we ain't that young any more"). He's asking her to "settle" - to give up waiting for Mr Right and accept someone she doesn't love.
Poor Mary.
Agreed, this girl is no teenager ("maybe we ain't that young any more"). He's asking her to "settle" - to give up waiting for Mr Right and accept someone she doesn't love.
Poor Mary.