I really see this song as a precursor to the straight edge attitude and culture that developed almost ten years later. Jonathan Richman was really health minded and it's apparent in some of his other earlier works (like in "She Cracked" when he says "I stay alone, eat health food at home"), and I think this song is a statement about people taking care of themselves instead of seeing some kind of rebellion in self destruction.
I really see this song as a precursor to the straight edge attitude and culture that developed almost ten years later. Jonathan Richman was really health minded and it's apparent in some of his other earlier works (like in "She Cracked" when he says "I stay alone, eat health food at home"), and I think this song is a statement about people taking care of themselves instead of seeing some kind of rebellion in self destruction.