I agree with most of this song's point--quit harrassing the gender nonconforming folks, and let them live as they please. Lines such as, "pigeons have flown, not on the phone at all these days, [etc.]" seem to be colloquialisms for eccentricity or mental illness, which I disagree with. If such people are or become mentally ill, it's likely due to the abuse and neglect traditionally heaped on them by our oh-so-free-and-enlightened society. As for being eccentric, who's got the right to judge? Rock on, I say!
I got the Dukes collection (both the EP and LP on one CD) when I was living in Austin, TX. Around that time, one of the more well-known denizens of the city was Leslie Cochrane. I actually met the guy a couple of times. This song reminded me of him in a very superficial way, cuz the first time I saw Leslie, he was dressed in a two-piece bikini and high heels, sporting a long red beard and hair, and had a young lady under each arm. This song isn't about people like him, though. He was a man, and he knew it, but as he explained to me once, he crossdressed outrageously just to piss off the Austin police, with whom he had a very contentious relationship. I might add that I, too, grew to dislike them, and pretty much Austin in general, but that's another story. The point is that to the APD, he WAS one of the Jackies, and they only left him alone after he gained popularity with the people of Austin. Hearing this song made me think of what he told me, as well as how he presented himself.
I agree with most of this song's point--quit harrassing the gender nonconforming folks, and let them live as they please. Lines such as, "pigeons have flown, not on the phone at all these days, [etc.]" seem to be colloquialisms for eccentricity or mental illness, which I disagree with. If such people are or become mentally ill, it's likely due to the abuse and neglect traditionally heaped on them by our oh-so-free-and-enlightened society. As for being eccentric, who's got the right to judge? Rock on, I say!
I got the Dukes collection (both the EP and LP on one CD) when I was living in Austin, TX. Around that time, one of the more well-known denizens of the city was Leslie Cochrane. I actually met the guy a couple of times. This song reminded me of him in a very superficial way, cuz the first time I saw Leslie, he was dressed in a two-piece bikini and high heels, sporting a long red beard and hair, and had a young lady under each arm. This song isn't about people like him, though. He was a man, and he knew it, but as he explained to me once, he crossdressed outrageously just to piss off the Austin police, with whom he had a very contentious relationship. I might add that I, too, grew to dislike them, and pretty much Austin in general, but that's another story. The point is that to the APD, he WAS one of the Jackies, and they only left him alone after he gained popularity with the people of Austin. Hearing this song made me think of what he told me, as well as how he presented himself.