Otis & Marlena

I don't think this open to any range of interpretation. There is a definite theme here, one that often runs through Mitchells work, of societies mediocrity and superficiality. In this piece, I think she is describing a cheap vacation scene. Otis and Marleena, a couple of stereotypical retirees 'enjoying' their opulent Miami holiday. They spend their time playing cards with age freckled hands, taking the view on their 10th floor holiday flat under 'meat red' skies. The whole scene is a cheap pink rose. They spend their soulless self-indulgent time while remaining ignorant of more serious situations, (while Muslims stick up washington) . Basically a song about white trash and the american way.