This is a fun little song about an intelligent person looking at the life of one of these halfwit losers and wondering what it's like to be them. But also looking at the women that subject themselves to a life with such miscreants and trying to figure out why they hang around, sleep with and otherwise let themselves be used by them when they can do much better.
It's not a direct attack, it's much more tactful which is the true genius of the lyric. Matthew is putting himself into the role of Rico so that as Rico he can blatantly call attention to his own character flaws without appearing vindictive or mean spirited against the other Ricos of the world.
Not only that but it appeals to the Rico-like losers everyone grew up with, because they aren't conscientious enough to understand that the song isn't celebrating their lifestyle, but cleverly making a hilarious mockery of it. It's the ultimate insiders joke that goes over the heads of the very people it's poking fun at. And yet there is no real proof that it's not just harmless fun at someone's expense.
This is a fun little song about an intelligent person looking at the life of one of these halfwit losers and wondering what it's like to be them. But also looking at the women that subject themselves to a life with such miscreants and trying to figure out why they hang around, sleep with and otherwise let themselves be used by them when they can do much better.
It's not a direct attack, it's much more tactful which is the true genius of the lyric. Matthew is putting himself into the role of Rico so that as Rico he can blatantly call attention to his own character flaws without appearing vindictive or mean spirited against the other Ricos of the world.
Not only that but it appeals to the Rico-like losers everyone grew up with, because they aren't conscientious enough to understand that the song isn't celebrating their lifestyle, but cleverly making a hilarious mockery of it. It's the ultimate insiders joke that goes over the heads of the very people it's poking fun at. And yet there is no real proof that it's not just harmless fun at someone's expense.