Although I do see what you all are saying now, I must be the only one who never thought this was a song about sexual confusion. Rather, I always interpreted it (prior to reading the comments here) to be about a guy who is yearning for a girl who is in a relationship which he feels is all wrong. To me, when he says that "he/she's got a pretty persuasion" he is acknowleding that they are an attractive couple, likely more attractive than he is, but that despite that reasoning, the guy just doesn't look right on her arm/sleeve, and despite his better judgement, he'd like to 'hurry and buy' her and put her on his arm instead, even though he knows he will face heat for it.
@chhaaa
This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
@chhaaa
This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
@chhaaa
This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
@chhaaa
This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
Although I do see what you all are saying now, I must be the only one who never thought this was a song about sexual confusion. Rather, I always interpreted it (prior to reading the comments here) to be about a guy who is yearning for a girl who is in a relationship which he feels is all wrong. To me, when he says that "he/she's got a pretty persuasion" he is acknowleding that they are an attractive couple, likely more attractive than he is, but that despite that reasoning, the guy just doesn't look right on her arm/sleeve, and despite his better judgement, he'd like to 'hurry and buy' her and put her on his arm instead, even though he knows he will face heat for it.
@chhaaa This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
@chhaaa This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
Great insight though, for sure.
Great insight though, for sure.
@chhaaa This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
@chhaaa This is a very interesting interpretation. I never thought about it that way. I wouldn't rule this possibility out to be fair. But I still think Stipe was struggling over his own issues and confusion with his sexuality.
Great insight though, for sure.
Great insight though, for sure.