In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Here comes Dick, he's wearing a skirt
Here comes Jane, you know she's sporting a chain
Same hair, revolution
Same build, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Don't get him wrong and don't get him mad
He might be a father, but he sure ain't a dad
And she don't need advice that'll center her
She's happy with the way she looks
She's happy with her gender
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Mirror image, see no damage
See no evil at all
Kewpie dolls and urine stalls
Will be laughed at
The way you're laughed at now
Now, something meets boy, and something meets girl
They both look the same
They're overjoyed in this world
Same hair, revolution
Unisex, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss
And tomorrow Dick is wearing pants
Tomorrow Janie's wearing a dress
Future outcasts and they don't last
And, today, the people dress the way that they please
The way they tried to do in the last centuries
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than we know, love each other so
Androgynous
Here comes Jane, you know she's sporting a chain
Same hair, revolution
Same build, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Don't get him wrong and don't get him mad
He might be a father, but he sure ain't a dad
And she don't need advice that'll center her
She's happy with the way she looks
She's happy with her gender
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Mirror image, see no damage
See no evil at all
Kewpie dolls and urine stalls
Will be laughed at
The way you're laughed at now
Now, something meets boy, and something meets girl
They both look the same
They're overjoyed in this world
Same hair, revolution
Unisex, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss
And tomorrow Dick is wearing pants
Tomorrow Janie's wearing a dress
Future outcasts and they don't last
And, today, the people dress the way that they please
The way they tried to do in the last centuries
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than we know, love each other so
Androgynous
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"In a thousand years, there will be no men and women, just wankers, and that's fine by me." -trainspotting
Appearance doesn't matter.
I disagree that its a light-hearted song - I'm not really sure where people are getting this - like that its 'hilarious' - but I guess everyone hears things differently. I think that Paul brings a sense of humor to a heavy situation talking about how certain norms will be laughed at in the future, but the song essentially deals with oppression because of gender identity - even from one's own family members. I do NOT hear a sense of lightness and humor in Paul's voice when he sings the chorus ("love eachother so, closer than you know") and in fact at the very end his voice clearly cracks as if he is about to cry.
I also don't think he's saying that androgyny is just a youthful phase, but I think he's saying that its someone's identity and preference and that it shouldn't be ridiculed.
I also think the line "closer than you know" is a clever meaning. It alludes to the two lovers being closer than you realize in their relationship, and also being closer in their gender identities even though one is male and one is female, because gender is fluid and not a binary.
@Indiesongwriter Good one. I've always had a third interpretation with the 'closer than you know': since it's related to 'love each other so', which is a universal emotion, the singer seems to say that Dick and Jane are not so different from you, the listener.
Jesus Christ, an exceptionally written simple song about how appearance and sexual preferences do not matter as after all as "they love each other so." Nothing hilarious about it, urine stalls as a metaphor, as in only a typically male way to uriniate will be long forgotten whenever sex becomes irrelevant and love conquers all, simple.
@Ryanrock88 The reference to urine stalls is relevant to the bullshit public bathroom controversy in politics now; seems that way to me anyhow.
It's hard for me to tell whether Westerberg likes the fact that "the people dress the way that they please" or not, given the talk about Dick and Janie...
"Tomorrow who's gonna fuss" indicates to me that he couldn't care one way or another, because clearly the answer is "no one". The focus is more on the fact that "they love each other so".
Bob Stinson sometimes wore a dress on stage, if memory serves.
"And tomorrow Dick is wearing pants/And tomorrow Janie's wearing a dress" is saying androgeny is often just a phase of youth, without dismissing it. It's something that's been going on for a long time - taking traits of the other sex - it's not a big deal. It doesn't mean people hate their sex or want to change it, it's just something that people do and enjoy.
First of all, this song is about the future.
Male and female personas merge. Dick may be a father, but that doesn't mean he has to take the "dad" role. Same with Janie and the female role. Certain hairstyles do not make you male or female, nor do certain body types.
Dick and Janie are closer than you know. Sexless. Human. No arbitrary social divide.
In the future the males and females who conform to the stereotypes will be outcasts instead of crossdressers.
You wouldn't call your father "dad" if you weren't close to him. That's how I take the line, even if the song is about androgyny.
I think this song is partially a tribute to Prince and his crowd who were also on the scene in MN at the time ("same hair, REVOLUTION"?). Anybody who has seen Purple Rain knows that, in terms of dress, there's not much to seperate the guys and girls in that movie. And, I was only born in 1981, but I get the sense that in the 80s it was much more of a fad for people to dress androgynously. I think we've actually regressed since then to become less accepting of this.
I want this to be my wedding song. It contains everything I feel about gender/appearances/love and overall happiness. hehe. amazing song.