Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please take your seats,
Put on your thinking caps.
Now here's a poser for you:
You know sexism, the social scourge of the sixties seen as singularly responsible for a plethora of ills?
Well the reaction, after starting well, has moved from the sublime to the ridiculous through the self-defensive actions of the string-vested interests.

So please let's dispense with tired fixations
With forms of address, and with constant vilification
Of legitimate sexual attraction, with weak accusations
Of inverted discrimination, because it's getting old.

Come on girls, this is weak.
Come on boys, gird up your loins.
And yes, I'm no qualified social theorist,
But I've got me a few ideas
I picked up while I was trying to be a human being.

I'm amazed - no seriously, folks,
I'm really fucking awestruck.

Leafing through so called lifestyle magazines...
The beauty industry is just the tip of the fucking iceberg.
The prostitution of dignity for a sense of humour?
The smallest blows against ignorance seen as too much? I'm amazed, and you're afraid.
You're cowering behind a bravado built on pornography for cowards.


Lyrics submitted by Harry_Manback

Pornography for Cowards Lyrics as written by Cameron David Dean Benjamin Russell Erring Dawson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Pornography For Cowards song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song totally. At first, I couldn't understand a word Frank sang in the first verse. But then I read the lyrics. Being a girl, I dunno if I'm getting the wrong end of the stick, but I think it's about lad culture, magazines like FHM and stuff that objectify women. Although he claims there has been a anti-sexism movement, it hasn't really done much and it's still about today. "So please let’s dispense with tired fixations" = ladies' boobies.

    Harry_Manbackon May 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think you're wrong on that, look at the section as a whole:

    "So please let’s dispense with tired fixations, With forms of address And with constant vilification of legitimate sexual attraction, With weak accusations of inverted discrimination, Because it’s getting old. "

    I think the song is saying that the anti sexism movement (like many movements) started out well, in the sixties, but quickly got tied down by things like the correct title for people (miss/mrs/ms) and this is stopping actual progress into things like the cheap quick and easy selling of magazines with ladies in little clothing (abuse of legitamate sexual attraction) like FHM...

    Tomaszon October 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah i agree with Tomasz. first time i read the lyrics that's how i interpreted them anyway. i suppose it depends whether you take the lines "Come on girls, this is weak. Come on boys, gird up your loins." to be ironical or not.

    girds up his loins.

    greenplasticon November 07, 2004   Link

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