At Home He's A Tourist Lyrics
I think no one has completely nailed this one yet, except SuburbanKid, who wrote a very interesting interpretation, but I got a different one from his.
Yes, it's clearly not about prostitutes/wives/cheating, at least not directly..
It's about the ways that the THEY, the sistem, an opressive system in Go4's socialist point of you, want YOU, the common person, to act; the role they want you to play.
They lock you at home with cheesy television programs, glossy magazines and other sources of sterile culture that makes you feel like you've got an ulcer. It's obvious why you also feel like a tourist: cause tv and magazines and etc show you so many diferent places, people, situations, etc.
From this point of view, the second verse is also kind of obvious: they want you to go to the disco hang out, dance and get some chicks, to keep you entertained, and there they also "make their profit \from they sell\ to help you cob off" (this means, clothes, cars, etc, stuff they sell to help you feel cocky and confident to get girls, and also to girls and society in general have a good impression of you). They also profit from the rubbers (preservatives) you use in this process, of course :D
For the "At home she's looking for interest" part, it's about girls side in all this. A girl spends time at home thinking, wishing for boys to be interested in her, and even though she might know all this process is a bit unnatural and not based in true love, she accepts it due to her ambition. She wants money, a wealthy marriage.
I always had them down as a left wing band, so it's unlikely that the song is racist.
I think that it's about commercial entertainment not being anyones real culture, but rather an imposition by capitalism. A full reading of the chorus shows that it is about companies making money out of your entertainment and fun, not about cheating on wifes or anything else suggested.
And "cop off" not cob. copping off is engaging someone else in sexual activity.
I think it is about a man who is cheating on his wife and sleeps with prostitutes. "At home he feels like a tourist", he feels that he doesn't belong there, and his family/wife is not really important to him. So cheating is not a big deal for him. His wife knows that he is screwing around, but she accepts it because if it got out it would harm the facade of the perfect family/couple. Just a thought. Btw, I love the way they pitch the song in the end of the "big jump for me"-part! Great song.
Yes, it's the perfect example of a loveless marriage. He's out 'on the disco floor' cheating, but she has maried to further herself either financially or socially, so 'accepting the process' she ignores his infidelity.
That is so weird, I had a totally different interpretation but the hudsband/wife thing makes a lot of sense. I was thinking it was about youth and consummerism and how trends and fashion dictate a person's identity in the modern world. But it is all empty and false, hence the ulcers.
by far one of my favorite gang of four songs. it's a good song and has a great meaning.
What a contribution to write in a forum whose purpose is to discuss song meanings without giving one's opinion about them. I'm having a hard time figuring this one out, but there is definately sex ("the rubbers you hide...") and maybe prostitution ("down on the disco floor, they make their profits").
I think this song is about a dealer/player and a hooker
what does this song mean to me? Well, I believe it's about a male prostitute who hangs out at the disco fakes an accent and gets laid for money.... Who knows, but this song is amazing!
Two lines remind me of an infinity of people I've seen in my life: "She said she was ambitious / So she accepts the process" Great lyrics !