Well, it could be about transsexuality, or just a woman wishing she was male so that her voice would be heard in sexist society. "Calculate my birthrite" could either be working hard to prove you're as good as a man, or going into math/science related fields which are normally associated with men (while academic women tend to be associated with languages and social sciences) to "prove" the masculine nature of your brain.
The "Good lord I'm big" and "leather boots" sound like fantasies of either domination or masculinity (they are seen as connected so it's unclear), while the bit about "casting iron knickers down" refers to finally beng comfortable having sexual relations in that role.
Also "skinned alive" does remind of serial killer Ed Gein, who would create "woman suits" out of his victims and dress up in them (it's unclear whether or not he was transgendered). It could be Polly subverting that idea and turing it arond into a biologically female person doing it to a dude. It would make sense given the fact that other songs on ROM like Legs and Rid of Me are about women carrying out violent, possessive crimes which are associated with men and have parallels in the stories of real life male stalkers/serial killers.
I think that's the point of a lot of the songs on ROM, whether they're violent or not, Polly uses a sexual role reversal on many tracks (50ft Queenie being another example).
Yeah! I felt it as a kind of statement of affirming one's powerfulness. (That little word "power" didn't seem, uh, sizable enough.)
Yeah! I felt it as a kind of statement of affirming one's powerfulness. (That little word "power" didn't seem, uh, sizable enough.)
Somehow the line about iron knickers stuck in my head, despite--being American--not having the mental associations surrounding that word someone in the UK might. A less-than-polite word, though a mild example of the category.
Somehow the line about iron knickers stuck in my head, despite--being American--not having the mental associations surrounding that word someone in the UK might. A less-than-polite word, though a mild example of the category.
Anyhow: I thought of it as P J Harvey expressing relief as she removes the metaphorical chastity belt and tosses it aside.
Anyhow: I thought of it as P J Harvey expressing relief as she removes the metaphorical chastity belt and tosses it aside.
Well, it could be about transsexuality, or just a woman wishing she was male so that her voice would be heard in sexist society. "Calculate my birthrite" could either be working hard to prove you're as good as a man, or going into math/science related fields which are normally associated with men (while academic women tend to be associated with languages and social sciences) to "prove" the masculine nature of your brain. The "Good lord I'm big" and "leather boots" sound like fantasies of either domination or masculinity (they are seen as connected so it's unclear), while the bit about "casting iron knickers down" refers to finally beng comfortable having sexual relations in that role. Also "skinned alive" does remind of serial killer Ed Gein, who would create "woman suits" out of his victims and dress up in them (it's unclear whether or not he was transgendered). It could be Polly subverting that idea and turing it arond into a biologically female person doing it to a dude. It would make sense given the fact that other songs on ROM like Legs and Rid of Me are about women carrying out violent, possessive crimes which are associated with men and have parallels in the stories of real life male stalkers/serial killers. I think that's the point of a lot of the songs on ROM, whether they're violent or not, Polly uses a sexual role reversal on many tracks (50ft Queenie being another example).
Yeah! I felt it as a kind of statement of affirming one's powerfulness. (That little word "power" didn't seem, uh, sizable enough.)
Yeah! I felt it as a kind of statement of affirming one's powerfulness. (That little word "power" didn't seem, uh, sizable enough.)
Somehow the line about iron knickers stuck in my head, despite--being American--not having the mental associations surrounding that word someone in the UK might. A less-than-polite word, though a mild example of the category.
Somehow the line about iron knickers stuck in my head, despite--being American--not having the mental associations surrounding that word someone in the UK might. A less-than-polite word, though a mild example of the category.
Anyhow: I thought of it as P J Harvey expressing relief as she removes the metaphorical chastity belt and tosses it aside.
Anyhow: I thought of it as P J Harvey expressing relief as she removes the metaphorical chastity belt and tosses it aside.