Some have suggested that this song is about polyamory, the practice of multiple simultaneous openly-engaged-in romantic relationships--think polygamy (or polyandry) without the marriage. In fact, at one time, Googling this song gave hits mostly on websites devoted to polyamory, and listed this as a song on the subject.
However, I am not at all sure that is correct. I suspect that "I can't choose 'cause they're identical" uses "identical" to mean something more like "sharing the same identity, that is, one and the same". I think he is (sort-of) complaining that his girlfriend shows wild variances in what she wants to do etc. with no apparent warning. She changes her mind all the time for no apparent reason.
Why? Well first off there are not too many women in the UK who would tolerate their boyfriend carrying on so openly with another woman that the three of them would all dance together, much less all sleep in the same bed ("One wants to read in bed / the other wants the light out"). Second, that "One wants to marry me / the other wants to break up / One wants to call it off / the other wants to make up," would hardly seem to present any unusual problem: if he had an unmanageable two girlfriends, he would be going to just having one. However, a one-woman-with-two-personas situation is one that he actually likes, for the variety he experiences with her. It's just that he's not always sure how best to handle / relate to her. Is this not just a new way to express a common complaint of sorts that men have made for a loooong time?
I too have read the various postings about this song being about polyamory and I think it's sort of funny that people would come to that conclusion. I think it is very obvious what this song is about and while it's certainly something that very few people would likely ever experience, one has to remember that many of the songs by The Monks were done tongue-in-cheek and were certainly not politically correct.
I too have read the various postings about this song being about polyamory and I think it's sort of funny that people would come to that conclusion. I think it is very obvious what this song is about and while it's certainly something that very few people would likely ever experience, one has to remember that many of the songs by The Monks were done tongue-in-cheek and were certainly not politically correct.
It has always been my belief that this song is about a man who is in love with conjoined twins. It is the only possible thing that would...
It has always been my belief that this song is about a man who is in love with conjoined twins. It is the only possible thing that would explain absolutely everything in the song. The lyrics clearly state that the person is in love with two people, and that he "can't choose 'cause they're identical and I can't move without the other one". So if they are identical, they must be twins, and if he is unable to go anywhere without having both of them there, then being conjoined twins is the only logical answer. It also would fit with all of the other scenarios mentioned in the song that discuss the friction that sometimes occurs between the two sisters (ie. "One wants to stay at home - the other wants the light out, One wants to read in bed, the other wants the light out...etc etc.
Anybody else agree with me? I'd actually love to contact the songwriter and see if I have captured the intended meaning of the song.
Some have suggested that this song is about polyamory, the practice of multiple simultaneous openly-engaged-in romantic relationships--think polygamy (or polyandry) without the marriage. In fact, at one time, Googling this song gave hits mostly on websites devoted to polyamory, and listed this as a song on the subject.
However, I am not at all sure that is correct. I suspect that "I can't choose 'cause they're identical" uses "identical" to mean something more like "sharing the same identity, that is, one and the same". I think he is (sort-of) complaining that his girlfriend shows wild variances in what she wants to do etc. with no apparent warning. She changes her mind all the time for no apparent reason.
Why? Well first off there are not too many women in the UK who would tolerate their boyfriend carrying on so openly with another woman that the three of them would all dance together, much less all sleep in the same bed ("One wants to read in bed / the other wants the light out"). Second, that "One wants to marry me / the other wants to break up / One wants to call it off / the other wants to make up," would hardly seem to present any unusual problem: if he had an unmanageable two girlfriends, he would be going to just having one. However, a one-woman-with-two-personas situation is one that he actually likes, for the variety he experiences with her. It's just that he's not always sure how best to handle / relate to her. Is this not just a new way to express a common complaint of sorts that men have made for a loooong time?
I too have read the various postings about this song being about polyamory and I think it's sort of funny that people would come to that conclusion. I think it is very obvious what this song is about and while it's certainly something that very few people would likely ever experience, one has to remember that many of the songs by The Monks were done tongue-in-cheek and were certainly not politically correct.
I too have read the various postings about this song being about polyamory and I think it's sort of funny that people would come to that conclusion. I think it is very obvious what this song is about and while it's certainly something that very few people would likely ever experience, one has to remember that many of the songs by The Monks were done tongue-in-cheek and were certainly not politically correct.
It has always been my belief that this song is about a man who is in love with conjoined twins. It is the only possible thing that would...
It has always been my belief that this song is about a man who is in love with conjoined twins. It is the only possible thing that would explain absolutely everything in the song. The lyrics clearly state that the person is in love with two people, and that he "can't choose 'cause they're identical and I can't move without the other one". So if they are identical, they must be twins, and if he is unable to go anywhere without having both of them there, then being conjoined twins is the only logical answer. It also would fit with all of the other scenarios mentioned in the song that discuss the friction that sometimes occurs between the two sisters (ie. "One wants to stay at home - the other wants the light out, One wants to read in bed, the other wants the light out...etc etc.
Anybody else agree with me? I'd actually love to contact the songwriter and see if I have captured the intended meaning of the song.