Modern Man's Hustle

Ok, I'm going to make a long ass interpretation.

This is another allegorical song I think.

Taking Lucy as meaning Hip-Hop, here's what I can make of the song:

"Who cares what Jane says? She always spits the same spit I'd rather kill the radio and listen to the rain hit"

It sounds like he's talking about all mainstream rappers but in the she form and calling them "Jane". Possibly a tongue in cheek insult as he sees them as all being one person, especially as "Jane" is a very common name. It's like he is saying that he doesn't care about what all of these rappers on the radio are saying because it's all the same, redundant crap to him. He'd rather listen to the sound of rain than listen to them.

"Little sister needs seclusion somehow she'll discover it through the pop music Got used to the feeling of falling, but you'll never see her following Bouncing back and forth between the heeling and the hollering Riding the outer ring of your own private Saturn Thoughts scatter all across the grey matter"

Probably referencing how rap is starting to sound so poppy, therefore becoming shitty and getting used to being shitty ("got used to the feeling of falling"). Nonetheless, "she" will always be different than the norm (pop music) and will always provoke thoughts from people and will "ride the outer ring" (the abstract side I suppose) of their brains (the "private Saturns").

"Little baby doll she doesn't know what to say to ya'll The patience is short and of course the pride is way to tall Break it all smash the past like it was made of glass Ain't no other way to make it last It hurts to watch Lucy lose the dream I've had the pleasure of seeing our hero her kick and scream And when she calms down I'll turn the sound down And put my arms around the little lost and found and I'll tell her that.."

I think this part could make the biggest argument that Slug is referring to Hip-hop.

The young rappers don't know what to say to people in their lyrics but because they're so capricious and arrogant that they just forget about Hip Hop's basics. It's a shame to see Hip-Hop fall so badly but Slug has found pleasure in "her" distress because it means that he can step in, drown out the other rappers ("turn the sound down") and be "her" saviour.

The chorus re-enforces that sentiment, though I'm still puzzled, when taking Lucy as Hip-hop, as to what he means by "but girl you gotta understand the modern man must hustle". He could be saying that even though he'll help Hip-Hop through the bad times, he won't be around forever, i.e. he could die or retire or something.

The second verse is a bit more complicated I think.

"Hush little lady don't say a word Or the rest of the village gonna know you're disturbed And if you let them know that you're vulnerable Then there ain't no stopping how far they open you slow (yo yo yo)"

Here he is referring to himself and how personal his raps are. He seems to be quoting what people have probably said to him regarding his raps. Though I think this is looking too deeply into it, note the "yo yo yo" at the end, which could be acting as both a hint that he's talking about rap and also a nod towards the song "Tears for Sheep" which deals with a similar type of topic (it ends with "yo yo yo yo stop the sound now!")

"I'm a chapter in your text book read me like a chequebook Mistook love at first sight for a sex look Enough of the blind man's bluff, I want the good stuff Trying to hookup a full belly and a foot rub"

Once again referring to how open his raps are (also making an allusion to money with "chequebook") and then talking about how he tried to embrace rap immediately (definitely referencing a line in "Don't Ever Fucking Question That": "but when I faced her - I attempted to embrace her, she looked so fine..."). He moves on to scorn the other rappers again ("blind man's bluff") with the "full belly and a foot rub" possibly referencing the high life of being a superstar.

The modern man's hustle I dig it, I shuffle Feed me your troubles and need me to cuddle (come on) Bundle up in my mitten and coat As cold as it gets I keep your winter afloat So let the snow fall, (it's coming down) She doesn't want to understand why I still come around She look at the mirror she don't see what I see She holds no history of how precious she be Lay your head on my chest, speak of the stress Kick your feet up and rest, before we clean up the nest I hate to see you upset it cramps the position And if you didn't know you better listen (you better listen) Cause...

Basically once again re-enforcing what he said earlier. No matter how harsh the winter is (i.e. the decline of rap) he'll still be around. "She" doesn't understand why he's so devoted because she doesn't realise how important she is and has been to him throughout his life due to how distorted "she" has become nowadays from when he was a kid. He then says he'll "clean up the nest" (again referring to being the saviour of Hip-Hop) and re-enforces his sentiment again.

I've gone far too in depth but this song is so good that I think it deserves a really long explanation. Slug could just be referring to a woman, but I think that saying he's talking about Hip-Hop is a very valid argument, especially with the mentioning of Lucy's name.

"It hurts to watch Lucy lucid dream"

the lyric is "it hurts to watch lucy LUCID dream"

Basically, to me - this song is about a girl who gives up sex too easily, and Slug is trying to show her how the world works while describing her and their situation together.

She has low self esteem and doesn't realize how awesome she is, and Slug is trying to make her see that.. while having a sexual relationship with her.

"Who cares what Janes says? She always spits the same spit I'd rather kill the radio then listen to the rain hit"

is definitely a reference to the song "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction. it was a really popular (annoying song) and slug is commenting on mainstream music, which gets back to the idea that lucy is hip hop and not a specific girl or metaphor for women. "jane" is not another woman/hip hop, just a song reference.

Somebody needs to correct these lyrics already, might as well be me, my changes in CAPS. Also, Lucy=Lucy Ford= Lucifer; Slug (real name Sean Daley) told Pollstar Lucy Ford was originally a play on the name Lucifer and represented the female devil.

"When I wrote Lucy and when I was writing about Lucy, I thought that Lucy represented the dichotomy between me and women and my own flaws as to why I couldn’t maintain a meaningful relationship, as well as the type of women I was attracted to,” Slug said. (source: http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/02/24/650792.aspx):

The first time I met the devil was at a motel 6 She left hell to spend her weekends on earth just for kicks Sexy little bitch, shorter then expected About 5 foot 5, GOOD AND thick in the breast and thighs Beautiful dark eyes, a strong stare Large lips, soft hands and long hair I said I'd make you smile for the simple fact I'm good at it I said I'd make you smile just so I can sit and look at it

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

Who cares what Jane says? She always spits the same spit I'd rather kill the radio then listen to the rain hit Little sister needs SECLUSION, SOMEHOW she'll discover it through the pop music Got used to the feeling of falling, but she'll never see her following Bouncing back and forth between the heeling and the hollering Riding the outer ring of your own private Saturn Thoughts scatter all across the grey matter

Little baby doll she doesn't know what to say to ya'll The patience is short and of course the pride is way to tall Break it all smash the past like it was made of glass Ain't no other way to make it last It hurts to watch Lucy LOSE HER dream I've had the pleasure of seeing I hear her kick and scream And when she calms down I'll turn the sound down And put my arms around the little lost and found and I'll tell her that..

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

Hush little lady don't say a word OR the rest of the village gonna know you're disturbed And if you let them know that you're vulnerable Then there ain't no stopping how far they open you slow (yo yo yo) I'm a chapter in your text book read me like a checkbook Mistook love at first site for a sex look Enough of the blind man's bluff, I want the good stuff Trying to hookup a full belly and a foot rub The modern man's hustle I dig it, I shuffle Feed me your troubles and need me to cuddle (come on) Bundle up in my mitten and coat As cold as it gets I keep your winter afloat So let the snow fall, (it's COMING DOWN) She doesn't want to understand why I still come around She look at the mirror she don't see what I see She holds no history of how precious she be Lay your head on my chest, speak of the stress Kick your feet up and rest, before we clean up the nest I hate to see you upset it cramps the position And if you didn't know you better listen (you better listen) Cause...

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

I will show you all you need to know You must hold on to anyone that wants you And I will love you through the simple and the struggle But girl, you got to understand the modern man must hustle

Please for the love of God, change the line "It hurts to watch Lucy Lues dream" Please don't tell me you actually mean Lucy Liu!?!?! The line should be " It hurts to watch Lucy lose her dreams." This is one of my favorite few lines "I'm a chapter in yout text book read me like a checkbook Mistook love at first site for a sex look Enough of the blind man's bluff, I wan't the good stuff Trying to hookup a full belly and a foot rub The modern man's hustle I dig it, I shuffle Feed me your troubles and need me to cuddle" it just flows so well.

This song is one of my favorites by Atmosphere (after Scapegoat and Summer Song) Great beat and story.

I think this song is trying to convey the relationship he had with Lucy. He still views her as this vulnerable, fragile girl. However, he sees that she places little value on the relationship.

songs just amazing. very well worded.

"I said I'd make you smile for the simple fact I'm good at it I said I'd make you smile just so I can sit and look at it"

sticks out to me.