Friday, January 9, 2009

My Tired Thoughts on a Few Songs

Beyonce's song has proper grammar and Nickleback's does not. "If I Were A Boy" uses the subjunctive mood. "If Today Was Your Last Day" uses the more popular, but technically incorrect indicative mood. Yes, I think too much.



So What by P!nk is a rough song. This is where you're going to possibly laugh and call me crazy, but I think behind the song is someone who is hurting, but determined not to show it, and have a devil-may-car attitude to disguise pain. She says 'So what', but I feel more behind that. I'm not sure what else to say, but this is what I think every time I hear the song.



And then last night, I was tired physically (aka - got hit by a train or played four hours of Ultimate Frisbee), and emotionally, and this song hit me hard. I've never actually heard the song, but someone recited the lyrics a few weeks ago. The first part I don't care as much for, but the second half...I hide my romantic side behind sarcasm, but this coaxes it out.

Manly Man (By Bradley Hathaway)

I don't want my long hair
pretty green eyes with
no I do not have on mascara
Eyelashes
Skinny figure
Undersized T-shirt
Hip
Shake
Too
Much
when I walk
Confuse anybody...
I am a Manly Man!
Within this sissy frame
obviously rib laden chest
lies a heart
that beats
to the drum of a
Native American ritual dancing
wildness
It pumps an evercascading supply of untamedness
that a herd of wild mustangs have yet to grasp.
If danger lurks about, I will seek it out.
If adventure abounds, there I will be found.
If a damsel be in distress
I will show her who is best.
I am a Manly Man!
Because I don't flush
and I leave the lid up.
I drive a nineteen
eighty-eight
Ford Pick-up truck.
Girls don't break up with me
I break up with them first!
(except the last time, it didn't really work out like that )
I don't shave the hair on my face
(because I still can't grow facial hair yet,but when I can
I won't.)
Because beards are tough.
I fart
burp
spit
when I want
Not caring who's nearby
Disrespect my momma
and I will punch you in the eye!
I am a Manly Man!
Or am I?
I tell my guy friends that I love them.
And sometimes,sometimes, I even hug them.
No because I'm not gay. But because I love em'.
When I watched Bambi
I cried.
When my mema gets mad
I still run and hide.
Like David I want to be a man after God's own heart.
I'm not there yet, but I'm past the start.
And when people talk
I try to listen
a spirit of compassion
That's my vision.
Surely I am a Manly Man
I want to be loved
and have love
and give Love.
(and not just that romantic kind either)
Although I am looking for that beauty
Not helpless
But wants to be rescued. [Best. Line. Ever.]
The Damsel in distress
Man
Woman
Myth
True.
I will fight for her.
Climb the highest tower for her
Love her.
Share with her.
Delight in her.
Be her warrior.
Her protector.
She will be my crown
and I will be hers.
My Masculinity will be passed down
and affirmed to my sons.
Each of my daughters will know they are lovely
and deserving of authentic romance.
Society tells me all day long
That I have defined manhood completely wrong.
But you ask any honest man and he will agree
You ask any honest woman and she too will see
That I am a Manly Man!

Hasta luego...

5 comments:

Deb said...

I have that same about was and were. It really gets on my nerves to see incorrect usage of the English language. It's so beautiful. <3

Debbie

Lydia Collins said...

Maddee!!!!!! It's been forever since I've written you! E-mail me sometime. :-) It'll help get me back on track! LOL

Just thought I'd drop by and leave a comment on your blog-- haven't really been able to do much with my blog lately (although I updated it this week after neglecting it for quite awhile!). Hope you're having a great day!
-Lydia Rule

Somnite said...

I love that "song" (though I think of it more like a rythmic poem, rather than a song, but that is a whole debate in itself).

That really describes a lot of us guys (no, not the feminine description). I mean the last part about love, and what is underneath. (yeah, I hug my friends who are guys though) The writer really captured what some of want to be, that can come across is feminine, or what we try to hide behind a masculine image.

Not really true for everyone though. Here in the dorms, the people who quote is most are the ones who are trying to hide the dishonorable rep they have, and fit in with they guys who do. They try to hide what they really are behind "songs" like that. I wonder about they guy who wrote it too. Maybe he is hiding his own baser thoughts behind a mask of profundity? IDK.

All that glisters is not gold ~ Shakespeare

Holly said...

Haha...great lyrics.

I'm with you on the "So what?" - I hear more behind it too.

Holly said...

P.S. The was-were substitutions bug me to no end...! I can't NOT notice them anymore.