This song is about women's rights, it's stated in the second line: "Women to know that they are equal."
My take is that this song is sarcastic and meant to point out the flaws within the institution of marriage.
"Why work for love if it shows no profit
You'll only earn emotional losses
Wasting time a hole in the wallet
There is only one condition
Stay in bed or in the kitchen"
The first part of these lines could be directed at either men or women; the second is very clearly speaking to the expectation that women should satisfy their husbands' needs, and that is all that is expected of them.
Interesting how relevant this song is today, and how it is a relatively egalitarian commentary on gender... applauding Gang of Four for not perpetuating chauvinism and misogyny in these lyrics, like most other artists from their time (who are we kidding, even today).
This song is about women's rights, it's stated in the second line: "Women to know that they are equal."
My take is that this song is sarcastic and meant to point out the flaws within the institution of marriage.
"Why work for love if it shows no profit You'll only earn emotional losses Wasting time a hole in the wallet
There is only one condition Stay in bed or in the kitchen"
The first part of these lines could be directed at either men or women; the second is very clearly speaking to the expectation that women should satisfy their husbands' needs, and that is all that is expected of them.
Interesting how relevant this song is today, and how it is a relatively egalitarian commentary on gender... applauding Gang of Four for not perpetuating chauvinism and misogyny in these lyrics, like most other artists from their time (who are we kidding, even today).