There is a rift between him and his girlfriend ("so long she's been away"). He doesn't know when or if she's coming back. But the problem is his behaviour. There's something he's constantly doing ("she don't like that kind of behaviour"). We're not told what it is, but it's driving her away. He's telling himself not to be so reckless. He's losing her. Stop fighting. Stop 'sticking to your guns'. Throw down your guns. Give up that kind of behaviour.
But he won't or can't change. It's so close it's within his grasp, like Scott (base camp beyond his reach), or a Russian sub trapped beneath Arctic sea ice (near home but can't get there) or Burke Wills perishing in the desert (so near yet so far). He's a bit of a tragic! He going to lose her and he just can't make that little bit of extra effort to get there and win her back. Aren't we all a bit like that?
A bit more. He's obviously on his way to work, catching the Manly Ferry. That's where he met his girlfriend, and it reminds him of her and how long she's been away. He misses her ('not a very happy way to start the day').
A bit more. He's obviously on his way to work, catching the Manly Ferry. That's where he met his girlfriend, and it reminds him of her and how long she's been away. He misses her ('not a very happy way to start the day').
@argie777 I think a lot of men in Australia have been indoctrinated by previous generations into adopting traits of what is now known as 'toxic masculinity'. It was pervasive in this country for years - still is, but with more attention cast upon it, and perhaps more of an incentive to avoid/change. This song, whether it be about physical violence against a lover, or just general recklessness whether it be cheating or emotional abuse, is an example of that time in Australia where boys tried very hard to aspire to these traits, in a kind of cult of manhood. Or...
@argie777 I think a lot of men in Australia have been indoctrinated by previous generations into adopting traits of what is now known as 'toxic masculinity'. It was pervasive in this country for years - still is, but with more attention cast upon it, and perhaps more of an incentive to avoid/change. This song, whether it be about physical violence against a lover, or just general recklessness whether it be cheating or emotional abuse, is an example of that time in Australia where boys tried very hard to aspire to these traits, in a kind of cult of manhood. Or what some dangerous, impoverished male minds think manhood is.
There is a rift between him and his girlfriend ("so long she's been away"). He doesn't know when or if she's coming back. But the problem is his behaviour. There's something he's constantly doing ("she don't like that kind of behaviour"). We're not told what it is, but it's driving her away. He's telling himself not to be so reckless. He's losing her. Stop fighting. Stop 'sticking to your guns'. Throw down your guns. Give up that kind of behaviour.
But he won't or can't change. It's so close it's within his grasp, like Scott (base camp beyond his reach), or a Russian sub trapped beneath Arctic sea ice (near home but can't get there) or Burke Wills perishing in the desert (so near yet so far). He's a bit of a tragic! He going to lose her and he just can't make that little bit of extra effort to get there and win her back. Aren't we all a bit like that?
A bit more. He's obviously on his way to work, catching the Manly Ferry. That's where he met his girlfriend, and it reminds him of her and how long she's been away. He misses her ('not a very happy way to start the day').
A bit more. He's obviously on his way to work, catching the Manly Ferry. That's where he met his girlfriend, and it reminds him of her and how long she's been away. He misses her ('not a very happy way to start the day').
@argie777 I think a lot of men in Australia have been indoctrinated by previous generations into adopting traits of what is now known as 'toxic masculinity'. It was pervasive in this country for years - still is, but with more attention cast upon it, and perhaps more of an incentive to avoid/change. This song, whether it be about physical violence against a lover, or just general recklessness whether it be cheating or emotional abuse, is an example of that time in Australia where boys tried very hard to aspire to these traits, in a kind of cult of manhood. Or...
@argie777 I think a lot of men in Australia have been indoctrinated by previous generations into adopting traits of what is now known as 'toxic masculinity'. It was pervasive in this country for years - still is, but with more attention cast upon it, and perhaps more of an incentive to avoid/change. This song, whether it be about physical violence against a lover, or just general recklessness whether it be cheating or emotional abuse, is an example of that time in Australia where boys tried very hard to aspire to these traits, in a kind of cult of manhood. Or what some dangerous, impoverished male minds think manhood is.