Really, I think this song is more about the narrator than the guy with the dogs. He fancies himself an enlightened, open-minded person - certainly more tolerant than the other people living in his community. He views himself as a "live and let live guy" who can empathize with his white trash neighbor's peculiar lifestyle.
Sadly though, it's all a sham. As much as he tries to be accepting of the guy next door, ultimately he wants him to be "just a little more like me". He looks down on his neighbors for ostracizing the guy, but he also looks down on the guy for leading a lifestyle that he doesn't quite understand. It's an elitist attitude masquerading as tolerance.
To be fair, the guy with the dogs sounds like a total jerk.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.
Really, I think this song is more about the narrator than the guy with the dogs. He fancies himself an enlightened, open-minded person - certainly more tolerant than the other people living in his community. He views himself as a "live and let live guy" who can empathize with his white trash neighbor's peculiar lifestyle.
Sadly though, it's all a sham. As much as he tries to be accepting of the guy next door, ultimately he wants him to be "just a little more like me". He looks down on his neighbors for ostracizing the guy, but he also looks down on the guy for leading a lifestyle that he doesn't quite understand. It's an elitist attitude masquerading as tolerance.
To be fair, the guy with the dogs sounds like a total jerk.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
I totally agree with your interpretation, however, the only thing that makes him sound like a jerk is the violent pornography. He actually reminds me of myself a bit: tat on my arm, a beautiful white pit bull named Berkeley, listening to metal in my own backyard enjoying a beer, occasional marijuana use... But maybe I'm reading into that part of the song too much and, as you pointed out, it's moreso about the narrator being a hypocrite.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.
That being said, great tune and great writing forces in Folds and Hornsby.