I've always greatly enjoyed this great tune as indeed I do the LP which it's off, but the meaning is not easy.
I think it's basically about Roddy and his friends having a great time at Hogmanay - he's making resolutions but he's drunk and slurring so he is saying they mean nothing and are actually those of his young girlfriend, but he's also 'wondering' about more sensual and artistic matters like words - and the weather - I think rain is used as a metaphor for inspiration in the LP as whole.
'Pastel paper pink over grey' may be a reference to his preference for colourful clothes, not the dullness of grey.
The 'travelling chest' has two meanings in the song I think, one where he has got his money (francs) from for the girl at the party, one his own chest which he will let the innocent girl who is not yet sixteen and to whom he's saying 'you will learn that you haven't a clue' see when he seduces her.
The 'boy wonders' also has two meanings - one the sporty crowd who 'sold their medals when they saw this train', i.e. they were impressed at Roddy and his wild party going train of friends and I think they are ones who have the 'poor excuse they peddle as their prose' - but it also refers to his own meditations on the rain etc.
I've always greatly enjoyed this great tune as indeed I do the LP which it's off, but the meaning is not easy.
I think it's basically about Roddy and his friends having a great time at Hogmanay - he's making resolutions but he's drunk and slurring so he is saying they mean nothing and are actually those of his young girlfriend, but he's also 'wondering' about more sensual and artistic matters like words - and the weather - I think rain is used as a metaphor for inspiration in the LP as whole.
'Pastel paper pink over grey' may be a reference to his preference for colourful clothes, not the dullness of grey.
The 'travelling chest' has two meanings in the song I think, one where he has got his money (francs) from for the girl at the party, one his own chest which he will let the innocent girl who is not yet sixteen and to whom he's saying 'you will learn that you haven't a clue' see when he seduces her.
The 'boy wonders' also has two meanings - one the sporty crowd who 'sold their medals when they saw this train', i.e. they were impressed at Roddy and his wild party going train of friends and I think they are ones who have the 'poor excuse they peddle as their prose' - but it also refers to his own meditations on the rain etc.