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Slit Skirts Lyrics
I was just thirty-four years old and I was still wandering in a haze
I was wondering why everyone I met seemed like they were
Lost in a maze
I don't know why I thought I should have some kind of
Divine right to the blues
It's sympathy not tears people need when they're the
Front page sad news.
The incense burned away and the stench began to rise
And lovers now estranged avoided catching each others' eyes
And girls who lost their children cursed the men who fit the coil
And men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil
No one respects the flame quite like the fool who's badly burned
From all this you'd imagine that there must be something learned
Slit skirts, Jeanie never wears those slit skirts
I don't ever wear no ripped shirts
Can't pretend that growing older never hurts.
Knee pants, Jeanie never wears no knee pants
Have to be so drunk to try a new dance
So afraid of every new romance
Slit skirts, slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Slit skirts, slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Romance, romance, why aren't we thinking up romance?
Why can't we drink it up true heart romance
Just need a brief new romance
Let me tell you some more about myself, you know I'm sitting at home just now.
The big events of the day are passed and the late TV shows have come around.
I'm number one in the home team, but I still feel unfulfilled.
A silent voice in her broken heart complaining that I'm unskilled.
And I know that when she thinks of me, she thinks of me as him,
But, unlike me, she don't work off her frustration in the gin.
Recriminations fester and the past can never change
A woman's expectations run from both ends of the range
Once she woke with untamed lovers' face between her legs
Now he's cooled and stifled and it's she who has to beg
Slit skirts, Jeanie never wears those slit skirts
And I don't ever wear no ripped shirts
Can't pretend that growing older never hurts
Knee pants, Jeanie never wears no knee pants
We have to be so drunk to try a new dance
So afraid of every new romance
Slit skirts, slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Slit skirts, slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Romance, romance, why aren't we thinking up romance?
Why can't we drink it up true heart romance
Just need a brief new romance
I was wondering why everyone I met seemed like they were
Lost in a maze
Divine right to the blues
It's sympathy not tears people need when they're the
Front page sad news.
And lovers now estranged avoided catching each others' eyes
And men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil
No one respects the flame quite like the fool who's badly burned
From all this you'd imagine that there must be something learned
I don't ever wear no ripped shirts
Can't pretend that growing older never hurts.
Have to be so drunk to try a new dance
So afraid of every new romance
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Why can't we drink it up true heart romance
Just need a brief new romance
The big events of the day are passed and the late TV shows have come around.
I'm number one in the home team, but I still feel unfulfilled.
A silent voice in her broken heart complaining that I'm unskilled.
But, unlike me, she don't work off her frustration in the gin.
A woman's expectations run from both ends of the range
Now he's cooled and stifled and it's she who has to beg
And I don't ever wear no ripped shirts
Can't pretend that growing older never hurts
We have to be so drunk to try a new dance
So afraid of every new romance
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Jeanie isn't wearing those slit skirts, slit skirt
She wouldn't dare in those slit skirts, slit skirt
Wouldn't be seen dead in no slit skirt
Why can't we drink it up true heart romance
Just need a brief new romance
Song Info
Submitted by
butneveroutgunned On May 21, 2006
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This is a phenomenal song, and I'm surprised there's only 1 comment, but I digress. Solo Pete seems almost depressed and sometimes confused, perhaps his sexuality at times. I read that he had a difficult childhood, and recently there were allegations of child pornogrophy charges that were dropped thankfully. Anyway, this is a powerful song about someone who doesn't love him as much as before, or has grown tired of him and the lyrics are scathing. Finally, my favorite part is the guitar fade at the end of the song.
@Flyersfan Great comment. The guitar solo and fade out at the end has always blown me away. Thanks for noticing.
@Flyersfan Great comment. The guitar solo and fade out at the end has always blown me away. Thanks for noticing.
@Flyersfan beautifully summarized and I agree-this is a phenomenal song.
@Flyersfan beautifully summarized and I agree-this is a phenomenal song.
This, like the songs "Empty Glass" and "Another Tricky Day" are brilliant pieces from his painful spin-out period of 1978-1981 when he was deeply in debt and losing everything with drinking and drugs. He was starting to endure separation from his wife Karen (named "Jeannie" here), and feeling very alone. Though he was well on his way to cleaning up his life upon this album's release, the song was written during a very bottomed out period, and very fascinating and sad at the same time. I love Pete for his honesty in songwriting, and this is a shining example.
I recognize most of the general references in this song, but one has me puzzled: does anyone know what he means by "men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil"?
The line about refuge in the oil is an allusion to masturbation, baby oil..well, you get it...I know...but Townshend has made such references in the past (Pictures of Lilly, from The Who),
The line about refuge in the oil is an allusion to masturbation, baby oil..well, you get it...I know...but Townshend has made such references in the past (Pictures of Lilly, from The Who),
To become a roughneck on an oil rig in the North Sea.
To become a roughneck on an oil rig in the North Sea.
My own interpretation is that men who are not fit subjects for marriage take their refuge in the oil of Holy Orders, the rite through which men become priests... I've known so many priests, brothers, ministers who were simply unfit as marriage partners.
My own interpretation is that men who are not fit subjects for marriage take their refuge in the oil of Holy Orders, the rite through which men become priests... I've known so many priests, brothers, ministers who were simply unfit as marriage partners.
I do acknowledge both of the previous interpretations as potentially sound, though.
I do acknowledge both of the previous interpretations as potentially sound, though.
Cheers!
Cheers!
I'm pretty sure this wan't as cryptic as some would assume. I would say that it means that men not fit for marriage went to work on oil rigs, which is grueling work that is not conducive to family life. Someone who worked on an oile rig wouldn't have much time or energy to think about family life.
I'm pretty sure this wan't as cryptic as some would assume. I would say that it means that men not fit for marriage went to work on oil rigs, which is grueling work that is not conducive to family life. Someone who worked on an oile rig wouldn't have much time or energy to think about family life.
I don't think it had anything to do with masturbation. That's over thinking it in a Freudian sense.
I don't think it had anything to do with masturbation. That's over thinking it in a Freudian sense.
@naomid Skinning the mule...
@naomid Skinning the mule...
@naomid
@naomid
@naomid And girls who lost their children for the men that fit the coil. The coil is an IUD. Men not fit for marriage took their Refuge in the oil. This refers to the oil industry in particular working with offshore oil drilling company. These men work 6 to 8 months at a time, without leave. It's not a 9 to 5 job of a family man. Put them together. Men who fit an IUD ( men who do not want children are unable to make commitments) Men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil ( worst case scenario these type...
@naomid And girls who lost their children for the men that fit the coil. The coil is an IUD. Men not fit for marriage took their Refuge in the oil. This refers to the oil industry in particular working with offshore oil drilling company. These men work 6 to 8 months at a time, without leave. It's not a 9 to 5 job of a family man. Put them together. Men who fit an IUD ( men who do not want children are unable to make commitments) Men not fit for marriage took their refuge in the oil ( worst case scenario these type of men we'll take a job where they are unable to be a husband or a father) I saw it on an interview regarding the album, right from the horse's mouth, Pete Townsend himself.
@naomid I agree that that line of the song refers to men who are fit for marriage take their refuse
@naomid I agree that that line of the song refers to men who are fit for marriage take their refuse
Refuge in the oil of the sacrament of holy orders, the priesthood.
Refuge in the oil of the sacrament of holy orders, the priesthood.
@naomid Sorry for the late reply. My understanding is he was talking about men that married fast then went to work the north sea oil rigs so weren't there for their new wives. .
@naomid Sorry for the late reply. My understanding is he was talking about men that married fast then went to work the north sea oil rigs so weren't there for their new wives. .
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid These answers are all way overthinking this. It isn\'t some exotic reference to working on oil rigs to escape a spouse. That makes no sense because the rest of the song isn\'t so specific as to be talking about oil rigs. It is about the disillusionment with growing older and apart from your lover. "Refuge in the oil" refers to the man being unfit for marriage, unhappy, and taking refuge in getting drunk. "Oil" as in "well oiled".
@naomid The UK oil industry was booming with jobs in the North Sea in the late 1970s.
@naomid The UK oil industry was booming with jobs in the North Sea in the late 1970s.
This song is SO terrible, but I still love it at the same time! It's about a guy's girlfriend who's getting tired of him!
My favorite song from Chinese Eyes. This song has two hooks and is a great example of song structure to anyone in Music Theory.
Oddly enough this song is not about his wife Karen. In La Jolla I think, he talks to the crowd and says he wasn't even awake during the period of Chinese Eyes but was then prepared (c. 2001) to own a few lines!!
IMHO, Slit Skirts is a metaphor for Karen’s (Pete's estranged wife) unhappiness with their marriage and relationship as it was affected by Pete constantly working and creating in his studio (burning the midnight oil), and not being fully available as a husband and father. Going into the relationship, she knew who he was; their first date was an early Who performance at a club. But that life ultimately turned out not to be what she wanted or thought it would be. Thus, she didn’t wear that “slit skirt.” And Pete was always Pete, doing what he was meant to do. And Pete didn’t wear ripped shirts as that would indicate his being less than who he was/is.
@DebboraghS Nope. In his interview he shared how jealous she became of his love for music. After the joy of marriage faded she grew bitter of his passion for creativity and art, a talent she didn't possess.
@DebboraghS Nope. In his interview he shared how jealous she became of his love for music. After the joy of marriage faded she grew bitter of his passion for creativity and art, a talent she didn't possess.