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Post Post-Modern Man Lyrics
if i had a hammer
i'd wake up all my neighbors
pounding out a rhythm
all about you
if i had apencel
i'd push me some paper
i'd build a skyscraper
to get close to you
if i had a lasso
i'd said out the window
and land on an island
next to you
if i had a hot rod
i'd fasten up my seatbelt
and break the speed limit
gettin' to you
but i ain't got a hammer
and i ain't got a pencil
and i ain't got a lasso
so i'm doing it the hard way
like a post post-modern man
if i had a credit card
i'd clear me a pathway
through the deepest jungle
right to your door
if i had a camera
i'd snap away my fingers
and collect up the pictures
of you, of course
but i ain't got a hot rod
and i ain't got a credit card
no chance for a camera
so i'm doing it the hard way
like a post post-modern man
well i ain't go a hammer
and i ain't got a lasso
no chance for a camera
so i'm doing it the hard way
i'd wake up all my neighbors
pounding out a rhythm
all about you
i'd push me some paper
i'd build a skyscraper
to get close to you
i'd said out the window
and land on an island
next to you
i'd fasten up my seatbelt
and break the speed limit
gettin' to you
and i ain't got a pencil
and i ain't got a lasso
so i'm doing it the hard way
like a post post-modern man
i'd clear me a pathway
through the deepest jungle
right to your door
i'd snap away my fingers
and collect up the pictures
of you, of course
and i ain't got a credit card
no chance for a camera
so i'm doing it the hard way
like a post post-modern man
and i ain't got a lasso
no chance for a camera
so i'm doing it the hard way
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This song mocks the concept of postmodernism and postmodern man. Here Devo speaks about a man who comes evolutively after the post-modern man, the man who lives in a post-modern society, full of cash, credit cards, cars, cameras and any material items which fill his life. And in the chorus it says "I don't have that so I'm doing it the hard way... like a post post-modern man". I see it as if the post-modern man has used up his resources and has ended up on the street, with nothing... then the post post-modern man is the impoverished man, the one who didn't know that pockets have a bottom...
Here's a slightly different take on things. He's really talking about not slacking off and having people do things for you, or taking the easy way out. Sometimes, the roughest way out is the best way out in the long run.
I always thought this song was about a guy who didn't have a lot of talent, or a lot of money, but is doing everything he can to get close to the girl he loves.
"If I Had a Hammer" is the name and first line of a neo-folk song about, you know, injustice and stuff.
"Postmodernism" means a lot of things to a lot of people, but in the context of society, I think it's the time after a society has switched from making things to selling people things (especially lattes) and can get a whole lot of channels on the TV. A "post-post-modern man" might be a guy in the wreckage after this all collapses, or, like Alieno said, it might be a guy who lost his place in a post-modern society for some reason and has to evolve.
"BoojiBoy", you are so de-volved
Most people buy hammers so they can use them for something "useful". This guy just wants to make noise. The same with all the other stuff, it's all for love. Maybe that's what's missing from the postmodern world - love.
"The hard way" has a shit-ton of meaning for me. I've been in love for almost five years, all through high school and now in college, haven't said a thing to her, and she's in my class every day. The hard way means actually having the courage to take the risk that she'll not want to be with me. The easy way is trying to assure that by wowing her with stuff.