Out of the Game

This song reminds me of the saying 'Youth is wasted on the young.' My interpetation of the song is that it's about someone who is just bored with everything, and they're 'lookin' for somethin'.' That this someone seems young people and is kind of jealous of them. Their carelessness. 'Just hangin’ around, Wearin’ somethin’ from God knows where. Just havin’ a ball Makin’ all of the thin cards fall.' And then, "Does your mama know what you're doin'.'

My interpretation is different from Dollymay's. This narrator is looking around at young people living the promiscuous lifestyle he once had... and realizing he's changed, and doesn't want the same things anymore. It's a bittersweet celebration, but ultimately triumphant.

I like the way his tone changes when he sings "suckers!", illustrating this point. He starts out saying - look at you, look at you - as if impressed, but then he turns around and laughs, Suckers! Does your mother know what you're doing? They're just kids, they don't have what he has.

Sometimes he still misses the games he used to play, and wants a whiff of the old life - 'come here and let me smell you', he says, to this youth about to play his old game. They're just beginning their sexual age, still seeking the attention of the world, about to sleep with seas of men for attention and experience. But what is all that worth? Being the hottest person in the room at a party, breaking hearts, these are people you haven't invested much of your life in, shallow relationships that will fall easily. That's what "making the thin cards fall" means. It's a house of cards, this youthful world of fleeting romances, they are thin and easy to collapse.

The video to me has a different tone- the narrator doesn't mean all these things about being happier in their settled life and is only trying to convince themselves. A librarian, walking around reprimanding wild youths - until desire breaks through her denial.

Here's a great interview with Rufus, where he specifically talks about the meaning of this title. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ahJbiEJyD0

The comment kind of made me think it was a double entendre, as in he is "out" (openly gay) and not in the "game" anymore (the dating game, not "playing for any team", etc), but the lyrics seem to suggest that it is about a speaker who has lost their youth and who is miserably watching young gay men or straight women squandering their youth by doing stupid things (maybe being too promiscuous).

This one makes me think of older people in the entertainment industry (though maybe never "famous") watching younger people try to take their world by storm.

You see them throwing themselves at scam-artist managers and casting-couch sleazebags and you just want to shake them by the shoulders, but you're also a little jealous of all that optimism they still have.

I think this song is about Rufus breaking up with a fun but not serious relationship with a younger man who just wants to have fine. Rufus realizes he wants to settle down and be with someone mature, but still longs for his ex lover with the line "Hey come over and let me smell you for one last time" He knows that his ex lover is just gonna go out in the sea of men and sleep around and he wants to find someone to settle with but until then come back just for a second so we can make love one last time