By Your Side

What the FUCK? Srsly, most commenters here not only think that the lyrics are not only ambiguous, but actually see something positive in them?

It's actually made me somewhat sick to my stomach - literally - to see that so many people could think this is not an indictment, and even that it's in some sense romantic. And this from Cocorosie fans - who one might hope to be more tuned in on average to gender&sexuality issues. What unbelievably fucked up conception of romance does one have to have to think that accepting domestic violence can be romantic?

Ok, if you do just a little research, you will understand that this song is most DEFINITELY a criticism of patriarchy and the twisted acceptance of disgusting behaviors from men just for an engagement ring. Research what this band is about and look at their other songs. Quote from one of the bandmembers, Bianca:

"My sexuality is explored in my work," Bianca said, "[but it's] more my gender than my sexual preference. It's really not about being gay or ungay, it's about being yourself in a patriarchal, heterocentric, heteronormative, monotheistic world. It's always the changing question and answer, and it's the forefront of my work."

I don't know about the whole life concept. I mean, yeah, it sounds like she's saying "I want to live a good life, settle down, find a nice husband and live happily ever after." But as I was reading through the comments, I found that the lyrics aren't "lovey-dovey" in any way. I came to this sort of realization that the lyrics talk about domestic abuse. I mean, doesn't it sound like it?

"I'll wear your black eyes, I'll bake you pies. I don't ask why and I try not to cry"

I mean, I dunno, am I the only one who feels this way?

it makes me quite depressed that people would not see this song as sarcastic. fair enough if people want to live the life of a housewife and be submissive but lines like 'wear your black eyes' and 'i dont ask why' make it clear that the song is not intended to be romantic at all. if domestic abuse and being the sort of person who doesnt question that sort of treatment sounds romantic to you i think that is appaling.

I am sincerely shocked at the amount of people who think this is a sweet love song. One person on YouTube even said they would love it if a girl dedicated/sang it to him. It is most definitely NOT a love song, it's about a woman who wants to be married, so desperately that she'll marry anyone just so as not to be looked down upon.

Back in the day (and still to this day in some parts of the world) if a woman wasn't married by a certain age she was seen as irresponsible and not fufilling her duty as a woman, that is, staying home, raising children and doing housework.

Also, just because domestic abuse is mentioned in ONE LINE, that doesn't make the entire song about it. This is a hypothetical sort of song anyway. It's just saying that the woman would be willing to suffer abuse at the hands of her husband, just as long as she's actually married.

Maybe the people that interpret this as a love song just aren't very familiar with CocoRosie as people. The Casady sisters are extremely against traditional gender roles and the idea of gender as whole.

I don't feel like it's glorifying this kind of character at all but calling it satirical has some kind of humorous connotation and this song strikes me as being quite sad and hopeless rather than anything like that

Amazing song. Kind of tongue-in-cheek commentary on housewives who get themselves into situations ("I'd wear your black eyes") just "for a diamond ring." There's no love between the two, just the desire to mold into a domestic society. Or maybe I've just been analyzing too much feminist-related lit in English class lately.

Or I suppose the narrator could be saying that she loves the guy so much that she'd be willing to settle down as a housewife, despite the dull life she outlines.

To me, it seems like she's desperate to be married and be happy, but isn't necessarily happy. This song and another of theirs makes me think of Triplets of Belleville. Maybe it's just the French music with odd percussion. But I dunno.

i think it's a satire. perhaps it is showing how ridiculous it is to live just desiring to be a housewive chaining herself to his husband. i think thats what it means, a criticism to the traditional way of suppressing women's capacities by making them slaves at their own homes. Or perhaps its just a lovesong ^^ haha

Ive always seen it as a satirical take on the extremes so many women seem to be willing to go to just for a ring in a loveless marriage. I see zero romance in either her tone as so many are saying or the lyrics.