Song Song Song

Seems to be about contradictions and hypocrisy in what is expected of women today. Sending a girl to reform school make a man of her, society asks for boldness and manly qualities, credibility in the working world, and yet often holds older expectations, for her to be "not too bold." Singing a song about a woman's rage seems to be a way of making light, as if she is expected to rage, not because it is validated, but because it is expected, and she's still "tough, for a girl" and "smart, for a girl," as if peoples' worthiness is still measured, when it comes down to it, by gender, even with all the ways gender disparities have supposedly been eliminated in society.

The classical, prim-sounding violin in the middle of the very precise drums is a nice touch, and then the plucking the strings instead, I love that the music adds so much to the meaning of the song as a whole, as opposed to merely being a background to brilliant lyrics or brilliant music to hold up shoddy lyrics. The whole thing is wonderful.

fat/gulliable girl is brainwashed she is told to be cautious/worry about things all the time, even little things like her stool or they will send her to "reformatory" school - a school where they will change her completely into a man, because a woman who doesn't worry is no good? so they'll have a boy instead? - guessing here in the bedroom she is supposed to be "bold" but "not too bold" - refers perhaps to the expectation that women should want sex (or appear to), but not to please themselves, and they should come onto guys but should not force him or exert any kind of control over a man and that everything she does should be "framed in gold" = nice and pretty and rich similarly in the market place - to sell something she must be "bold but not too bold" ( could be about the mixed messages women in the workplace are given: be good at your job, but not too good? - really guessing there though) and again they must be "framed in gold" - pretty and rich at all times "lets sing a song about a woman's rage" This idea makes her angry "you're tough, for a girl and you're smart, for a girl" expectation that a woman will be less tough and less smart than she is - sexism in compliments any compliments she is given always have sexism mixed with them and she should care about this - she should "concern" herself "with the invisible" and not conform to what they want her to do: give up the marketplace and have a kid she has been "blinded", brainwashed into "motherhood" by their "words, words, words" While she keeps silent about these troubles, even though she should sing about it, (fill my stomach with your singing) she won't, so Owen will instead "And though you try to hide it, we will write it!"

this is an incredible song! i love the lyrics almost as much as i love the song itself. not really sure what it means, but its all about the violin line at the end!

I love the intro. And the end. And everything in between.

I like khammer's interpretation. It's too late in the evening for me to think up anything else, but I would like to point out that the early lyrics sang about a son who would eat anything, and thus a male character. I've noticed with Pallett that he goes through various versions of his song (and performing these for audiences) before settling on the album version.

I would like to propose a more positive interpretation.

I think this song is simply about how good it feels to express yourself through singing. The verses seem very absurd and meant to poke fun more than anything.

The last two lines sum it all up so perfectly:

"There's a word for all you keep inside And though you try to hide it, we will write it!"

I always heard "Wordsworth's words" haha

"framed in gold" also pictures are framed in gold, so women are expected to be as pretty as a picture, as beautiful as a great work of art - only a great work of art would be framed in gold.