This song seems to be part of a theme on Reflektor: making a relationship last. Any loving relationship will be tested again and again, and will take hard work to make last. In Porno, Regine's character is trying to leave Win's character but he won't let her: "You say, I'm over it / But I know / You can cry I won't go / You can scream, I won't go" In the next song, Afterlife, the two are working to resolve their problems: "I've gotta know / Can we work it out? / Let's scream and shout 'till we work it out"
He sees her as a whole person, beautiful even underneath her makeup - which seems like a metaphorical shield she uses to protect herself from being vulnerable that he needs her to remove so he can get through to her ("And all your makeup / Just take it all off / I've got to find you"). She's trying to break up with him, but unlike all those other boys who "would have run at the word go" he's not letting her. He needs to get through to her and make her see it's still worth trying.
Some women love being sexual; it can be beautiful and empowering, as in this song where the woman has "sacred sighs." The problem comes when men expect women to behave like actresses in porn, who get off even when the man is being sexually selfish and putting in zero effort to make sure she's fulfilled. These "little boys" end up thinking that, like the sex they see in porn, relationships are easy and don't take any effort ("And boys they learn / Some selfish shit"). But they quickly find it doesn't work like that ("Until the girl / Won't put up with it"), and this is so overwhelming they just run away. And what else would they do? They've never been taught how to see women as sexual objects AND loved ones who they respect and want to be happy.
But Win's character does know how. "They don't know that we know / Never know what we know" He knows he can keep at it until he makes things right. He'll just keep reminding her of his love for her. "You say love is real... Come on tell me please / I'm not over it... Wait" Even in a world where Regine's character has been hurt by selfish boys, where Win's character feels out of place, where they don't know where there is a place for them, he knows he can make it work if he just tries.
This song seems to be part of a theme on Reflektor: making a relationship last. Any loving relationship will be tested again and again, and will take hard work to make last. In Porno, Regine's character is trying to leave Win's character but he won't let her: "You say, I'm over it / But I know / You can cry I won't go / You can scream, I won't go" In the next song, Afterlife, the two are working to resolve their problems: "I've gotta know / Can we work it out? / Let's scream and shout 'till we work it out"
He sees her as a whole person, beautiful even underneath her makeup - which seems like a metaphorical shield she uses to protect herself from being vulnerable that he needs her to remove so he can get through to her ("And all your makeup / Just take it all off / I've got to find you"). She's trying to break up with him, but unlike all those other boys who "would have run at the word go" he's not letting her. He needs to get through to her and make her see it's still worth trying.
Some women love being sexual; it can be beautiful and empowering, as in this song where the woman has "sacred sighs." The problem comes when men expect women to behave like actresses in porn, who get off even when the man is being sexually selfish and putting in zero effort to make sure she's fulfilled. These "little boys" end up thinking that, like the sex they see in porn, relationships are easy and don't take any effort ("And boys they learn / Some selfish shit"). But they quickly find it doesn't work like that ("Until the girl / Won't put up with it"), and this is so overwhelming they just run away. And what else would they do? They've never been taught how to see women as sexual objects AND loved ones who they respect and want to be happy.
But Win's character does know how. "They don't know that we know / Never know what we know" He knows he can keep at it until he makes things right. He'll just keep reminding her of his love for her. "You say love is real... Come on tell me please / I'm not over it... Wait" Even in a world where Regine's character has been hurt by selfish boys, where Win's character feels out of place, where they don't know where there is a place for them, he knows he can make it work if he just tries.
@amandimal My interpretation was off, I really like yours.
@amandimal My interpretation was off, I really like yours.