What's a man?

[axeslade]

Meant to post this a few days ago, but put it off. Sort of pertains to my issues lately.






Tori's Words

“At one point, it [Real Men] was starting the record, but then it was like, ‘No, that’s not how the record should start. There’s nothing that can follow it.’ It became the heart of the record, really. ‘Don't call me a faggot/Not unless you are a friend,’ is the obvious one for your readers. That song has always been such a mantra for tolerance. What really struck me was the line, ‘You can wear the uniform/And I can play along.’ I kind of cocked my head on that one. I giggle. And, ‘If there’s war between the sexes/there’ll be no people left...’” [Next - September 7, 2001]

“She’s an androgynous being, like a seahorse. Her essence is anima/animus combined, of the joining of two in one. It’s a woman who has really integrated her animus. And this is what she projects to the world. Neil [Gaiman] is convinced she’s a he, but I don’t agree. I think she’s androgynous.” [AP - October 2001]

“The girl in Real Men... She embodies both the male and the female, makes true bridges between both sexes in her soul. Somebody with a lot of feeling for ethics.” [Oor - September 8, 2001]


Neil Gaiman's Words

real men

Some of the girls were boys.

The view changes from where you are standing.

Words can wound, and wounds can heal.

All of these things are true.


Real Men (Tori's version)
Take your mind back - I don’t know when
Sometime when it always seemed
To be just us and them
Girls that wore pink
Boys that wore blue
Boys that always grew up better men
Than me and you

What’s a man now - what’s a man mean
Is he rough or is he rugged
cultural and clean
Now it’s all change - it’s got to change more
We think it’s getting better
But nobody’s really sure

And so it goes - go round again
But now and then we wonder who the real men are

See the nice boys - dancing in pairs
Golden earring golden tan
Blow-wave in the hair
Sure they’re all straight - straight as a line
All the guys are macho
see their leather shine

You don’t want to sound dumb - don’t want to offend
So don’t call me a faggot
Not unless you are a friend
Then if you’re tall, handsome and strong
You can wear the uniform and I could play along

And so it goes - go round again
But now and then we wonder who the real men are

Time to get scared - time to change plan
Don’t know how to treat a lady
Don’t know how to be a man
Time to admit - what you call defeat
‘Cause there’s women running past you now
And you just drag your feet

Man makes a gun - man goes to war
Man can kill and man can drink
And man can take a whore
Kill all the blacks - kill all the reds
If there’s war between the sexes
Then there’ll be no people left

And so it goes - go round again
But now and then we wonder who the real men are
And so it goes - go round again
But now and then we wonder who the real men are
And so it goes - go round again
But now and then we wonder who the real men are

Comments

[rid-of-her.livejournal.com]

wwwoooowwww...yes, very similiar. Tori can totally do that...so well.

[siriusly-punk.livejournal.com]

I always loved this song because I thought it discussed the complications of being male.

Like, people are always talking about how hard it is to be female, but guys have it either equal or worse when it comes to expectations. If you're rugged, you're a redneck and uncultured. If you're sophisticated, you're weak. It's actually really hard to fit in with everyone.

Me, I grew up watching Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. My expectation is of a tall dark and handsome, smooth talking, martini drinking, cigar smoking shark. Not these boys who call themselves men nowadays. And of course, your preference will be completely different from mine and the next person's.

And not to mention the expectations that come along with being a man, the confusion of what is a "boy" and what is a "man." Pretending to be older, pretending to be younger. *shrugs* I love this song, because it's so true.

[spacequeen.livejournal.com]

The seahorse reference gave me chills.