This song always seemed to me to be about the role of sex in a relationship. "Done you jump to your foreskin conclusion" i.e. just because we have sex together don't assume I'm going to be 'monogamous' or faithful " I'm probably bound to deceive you after all".
The speaker is someone for whom sex is not bound by relationships or modern morality : "There's no double-lock defense; there's no chain on my door. I'm available for consultation,". He sees sex as a path to spirituality and helping/healing other people : "I'm the Black Ace dog handler, I'm a waiter on skates". 'Black Ace' is a reference to death, the 'dog' the fear of death. Death and sex are inextricably linked for all of us. Conquer your sexual repression and you conquer your fear of death.
The speaker also considers himself on a journey to find himself through this sexual shamanhood - he is currently a 'zero', with lots of work to do before he can experience divine bliss "Sunday lunch confusion".
If a nonspiritual person is hooked on the modern idea of power and wealth, then a spiritual person cannot grow with them : "my zero to your power of ten equals
nothing at all" - so he must leave. He must delve into the "restless rustle of high-heeled boots" - symbolizing hedonistic exploration towards experiencing life fully. To do this we must leave behind the trappings of modern comfort : "fly away... from the fingertip ledge of contentment". Most people are holding onto material comfort by their fingertips, unable to love openly and with vulnerability, as is necessary for enlightenment.
This sounds out there, as do most of my analyses. But I'm a lifelong Buddhist, and I've come to understand that many (if not most) of Ian's songs revolve around walking the path to enlightenment, which involves not being attached to things, society, people, ... but does involve living life to its fullest through really enjoying life in the most organic way possible. And yes, that includes sex (read about Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, which became known in the west around this time).
Also read into the song "Teacher" a bit. That song is about not understanding how a guru could find enlightenment by indulging in drinking, sunbathing, and having fun. So much so that the student can't even focus on what he says.
This song always seemed to me to be about the role of sex in a relationship. "Done you jump to your foreskin conclusion" i.e. just because we have sex together don't assume I'm going to be 'monogamous' or faithful " I'm probably bound to deceive you after all".
The speaker is someone for whom sex is not bound by relationships or modern morality : "There's no double-lock defense; there's no chain on my door. I'm available for consultation,". He sees sex as a path to spirituality and helping/healing other people : "I'm the Black Ace dog handler, I'm a waiter on skates". 'Black Ace' is a reference to death, the 'dog' the fear of death. Death and sex are inextricably linked for all of us. Conquer your sexual repression and you conquer your fear of death.
The speaker also considers himself on a journey to find himself through this sexual shamanhood - he is currently a 'zero', with lots of work to do before he can experience divine bliss "Sunday lunch confusion".
If a nonspiritual person is hooked on the modern idea of power and wealth, then a spiritual person cannot grow with them : "my zero to your power of ten equals nothing at all" - so he must leave. He must delve into the "restless rustle of high-heeled boots" - symbolizing hedonistic exploration towards experiencing life fully. To do this we must leave behind the trappings of modern comfort : "fly away... from the fingertip ledge of contentment". Most people are holding onto material comfort by their fingertips, unable to love openly and with vulnerability, as is necessary for enlightenment.
This sounds out there, as do most of my analyses. But I'm a lifelong Buddhist, and I've come to understand that many (if not most) of Ian's songs revolve around walking the path to enlightenment, which involves not being attached to things, society, people, ... but does involve living life to its fullest through really enjoying life in the most organic way possible. And yes, that includes sex (read about Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, which became known in the west around this time).
Also read into the song "Teacher" a bit. That song is about not understanding how a guru could find enlightenment by indulging in drinking, sunbathing, and having fun. So much so that the student can't even focus on what he says.