A fluffy entry about music and my youth

[gordonzola]

While listening to my iTunes on shuffle, I was reminded of how many songs I misinterpreted before I was acquainted with English slang. Partly because my obsession with English music was in my pre-early teen years I made up explanations that really, in the end, made no sense at all.

For example, The Specials "Too Much too Young", a pro-contraception song, had the mysterious ending lyrics of "Keep a generation gap / Try wearing a cap!" I know those English winters were cold, but was wearing, as I imagined, a wool hat actually going to keep people from having sex? Was there a big problem of people just fucking to keep warm? The adult world was so mysterious.

That it was referring to cervical caps, contraception not available in the States at that time, made it extra obscure. Now it’s more of a quaint look back at the pre-AIDS world.

The classic English-ism, misinterpreted by generations of political punks was, of course, the end of "Anarchy in the UK". Hearing "Get pissed! Destroy!" as an American was a call to arms. Understand who is oppressing you and rise up against them! Get angry at this fucked-up society and take action!

It was disheartening to discover the message of Get drunk! Break stuff! later in life.

Anyone else have some to share? Misinterpretations, not mis-hearings.

Comments

[lizallium.livejournal.com]

i remember not getting the abortion parts, too. i thought "why is the dad so mad that the girl has the flu?"

[tarynhipp.livejournal.com]

yeah exactly. plus, the whole class structure & the "hired help" jokes. it made no sense to me when i first watched it & i used to watch it all the time. i was like "patrick swayze is so hot, why don't they like him". sadly, i really did think that.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

awwwwwwww.

I love your new icon, btw.