| NOFX – Green Corn Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Slice hit the nail on the head. This has been one of my favorite NOFX songs for a while, fitting my cynical perfectly. I've been getting into the writing of Charles Bukowski lately (only 2 novels so far) but I saw Barfly the other night, which he wrote, and it hit me over the head like a purse with something in it. I didn't even realize it until Henry said the Green Corn line. Like Slice said, the first verse is right there, only changed a bit. I didn't realize that, because it was before the green corn line and I hadn't made the connection. "Tully, baby, you're trapped behind your golden bars" - This line is a reference to a girl who admires Henry's work as a writer. She's very well-off, and Henry makes a comment that despite this, and maybe because of it, she's trapped in a prison, behind golden bars. "I'm the prince of poverty hangin' out in bars" - In the movie, Wanda, played by Faye Dunaway, notes that Henry has a unique way of walking, which makes him seem like self-appointed barfly royalty. "Your life's a Mercedes, a mansion with a pool My life's on a bus stop just waiting for some fuel" - Another reference to Tully's lifestyle and money, compared to Henry's skid row standing. Also, early in the movie, when he wants nothing more than to fight Eddie, his nemesis and rival in a way, he says he needs 'fuel' and goes as far as to steal a sandwich from another guy's hand and eat it on the spot. Typical Fat Mike double-meaning! "Your obviousness disgusts me I see thru your macho lies I'll fight everything you stand for" - Again a reference to Eddie, Henry's rival. Wanda asks him what he hates about Eddie, and he responds "His obviousness," which always strikes me as kind of obtuse, and his "macho energy." "There's something in your purse baby, my head is getting sore" - Wanda hits him over the head with his purse, while he weakly asks her if something's in it must have been, because he ends up with a nasty head wound. "Maybe what we had was just green corn" - It ends with THE line. In the film, while drunk, Wanda sees a small field of corn and decides that she wants some, so she runs off to steal it. Henry tries to dissuade her, telling her how young and green it is, but she doesn't listen. Later on, Wanda ends up sleeping with Eddie, Henry's nemesis, much to his chagrin. He tells her that he thought they really had something special, but maybe, in the end, it was just green corn. Meaning, most likely, like mtbaird said, shit. |
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| Sage Francis – Gunz Yo Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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Well, it should be fairly obvious what this song is all about. It's basically an observation and satirizing of the aspect of hip-hop culture concerning handguns. It also describes, with Francis' great wit, characteristics of masculinity, and how they relate to firearms. He's basically pointing out those people who feel that having a gun makes them a 'real man' and laughing at them. "i'm a man now (a real man) not the one who went to two colleges grovellin' over meal plans" This is probably my favorite line. In reality, a man who has attended not one, but TWO colleges should definitely be considered a 'real man' in society, with a great amount of inner strength and intelligence. But, unfortunately, especially in hip-hop culture, it's physicality, body strength and, yes, GUNS that give somebody power, and the appearence of being a 'real man'. This is one of the most important lines in the song, and easiest way to sum up the meaning behind the lyrics. "a homophobic rapper unaware of the graphic nature of phallic symbols tragically ironic, suckin' off each others' gats & pistols" Another allusion to the hip-hop culture. This one also sums up the song basically. He's pointing out all these real hardcore rappers that constantly reference their weapons are actually acting profoundly homoerotic, which is exactly the opposite of the image they're trying to project. Are these 'real men'? I don't think so. This is an amazing landmark song. It's a very bold move by Sage Francis, to release such a scathing attack on hip-hop culture and the very nature of masculinity. His voice wraps it up in a very exceptional package; the way it shakes and trembles makes you really feel that these words are being spoken by an extremely volatile, insecure person, and you fear he could snap at any second. Truly, the greatest song I've heard in a while. |
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