Someone pointed out the Van himself states it doesn't have a specific meaning. Even if it did, it wouldn't matter. This song, like most good songs, is very open to interpretation, so you all are correct, except anyone claiming their opinion is more correct since they are an "expert". There's nothing wrong with the "drug dealer" interpretation, especially since she is so worried by the cops and dumps some stuff. I think drugs were just being used, myself. Besides their ability to provide background info, you can usually ignore "experts" when it comes to art.
Personally, I felt more inclined to the idea of her being a prostitute. Am I the only one who took the "drag" line as meaning trannie, but that it is simply a girl wearing male clothing, perhaps just as a joke? Or maybe wearing some of her john's clothing, as they goof around afterwords? It reminds me of the whorehouse scenes in James Joyce's Ulysses. I do like the idea of it simply being "drag on a cigerette" though too. Regardless of all that, it is a haunting and sad song that makes me think of the things I left behind growing up.
Someone pointed out the Van himself states it doesn't have a specific meaning. Even if it did, it wouldn't matter. This song, like most good songs, is very open to interpretation, so you all are correct, except anyone claiming their opinion is more correct since they are an "expert". There's nothing wrong with the "drug dealer" interpretation, especially since she is so worried by the cops and dumps some stuff. I think drugs were just being used, myself. Besides their ability to provide background info, you can usually ignore "experts" when it comes to art.
Personally, I felt more inclined to the idea of her being a prostitute. Am I the only one who took the "drag" line as meaning trannie, but that it is simply a girl wearing male clothing, perhaps just as a joke? Or maybe wearing some of her john's clothing, as they goof around afterwords? It reminds me of the whorehouse scenes in James Joyce's Ulysses. I do like the idea of it simply being "drag on a cigerette" though too. Regardless of all that, it is a haunting and sad song that makes me think of the things I left behind growing up.