Like the following song on the album, Pound, this one has a driving persistent beat. I have always thought the song was about the temptation of anonymous gay sex. The Fenway was well-known at the time for gay cruising. The "river" in the song is likely the Fenway's Muddy River rather than Boston's Charles River. The police are present, keeping a lookout for public sex. There is danger cruising amid the darkened trees, of course, as suggested by references to blood and jackknife. It was not unusual for gay men to be mugged or beaten while cruising. The temptation remains persistent, however, as the Fenway remains "just a 5 minute walk away." I don't have an explanation for the term "rat date" or "Marone offering."
Like the following song on the album, Pound, this one has a driving persistent beat. I have always thought the song was about the temptation of anonymous gay sex. The Fenway was well-known at the time for gay cruising. The "river" in the song is likely the Fenway's Muddy River rather than Boston's Charles River. The police are present, keeping a lookout for public sex. There is danger cruising amid the darkened trees, of course, as suggested by references to blood and jackknife. It was not unusual for gay men to be mugged or beaten while cruising. The temptation remains persistent, however, as the Fenway remains "just a 5 minute walk away." I don't have an explanation for the term "rat date" or "Marone offering."