# Brandy, you’re a fine girl. But when did you live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 15, 2024, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235 "2024-07-15T00:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/161 "2024-07-16T23:26:19Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > The sailor died somehow — swept overboard, scurvy, syphilis, Aquaman botched an arrest. That’s one busy afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/162 "2024-07-16T23:39:26Z")
It’s one of the songs that we played in pep band in the 1970’s, and now in 2024 my granddaughter said it’s in the rotation of their pep band too. Talk about long lasting! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/163 "2024-07-16T23:43:58Z")
It got a big boost a couple years ago when it featured prominently in the second _Guardians of the Galaxy_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/164 "2024-07-17T19:13:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My take FWIW is that she “saw” those things through his story-telling. Yeah, I’ve been pondering this the last couple days. You know, the “what about this, what about that” nonsense. I have decided to eschew the “unreliable narrator” or whatever aspect. That’s a long dark rabbit hole. If you go down it enough Brandy is really a dude and some pronouns have been changed. Not going there. So as you note it does seem that Brandy is naïve about some basic aspects of the ocean. The opposite of what I had thought. The port is somewhat enclosed or far from the ocean. Maybe Lewiston, Idaho? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/165 "2024-07-17T19:41:05Z")
I am 66 and have always had a similar vision of an 18th or 19th century location in Europe. This thread has certainly been an interesting and enjoyable education on artistic perspective and interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/166 "2024-07-17T19:59:09Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > So as you note it does seem that Brandy is naïve about some basic aspects of the ocean. The opposite of what I had thought. The port is somewhat enclosed or far from the ocean. Maybe Lewiston, Idaho? 😉 I don’t assert that at all. I merely assert that the lines I quoted were about Brandy experiencing the ocean via his fine storytelling. As such those lines tell us zero about the ocean or harbor where Brandy lives, they tell us nothing about whether she’s an avid weekend sailor or has never touched a toe into salt water in her life. The lyrics are simply irrelevant to all questions like those. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/167 "2024-07-17T20:00:28Z")
> But my life my love and my lady is the sea Agree with others who place it in the 17-19th centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/168 "2024-07-17T20:03:44Z")
The port is obviously Chicago, on the east side. Brandy needed the ocean described because she’s only seen the western side of Lake Michigan. (Most of the hundred ships a day are pleasure craft) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/169 "2024-07-17T20:08:32Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > (Most of the hundred ships a day are pleasure craft) But when they pass the time of day talking about their home, do you think everyone is interested in hearing about Chicago? “yeah I live in Cicero”. “I’m from the South side.” “So am I”. “Well, I’m from the east side.” (all) “THERE IS NO EAST SIDE OF CHICAGO!” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/170 "2024-07-17T20:10:37Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > do you think everyone is interested in hearing about Chicago? “yeah I live in Cicero”. “I’m from the South side.” “So am I”. My good person, there is nothing the people of Chicago like MORE than talking about Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/171 "2024-07-17T20:14:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My good person, there is nothing the people of Chicago like MORE than talking about Chicago. Especially when giving directions. They love giving directions ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/172 "2024-07-17T20:23:30Z")
As long as the directions are landmarked by things that no longer exist, it’s all good. Cheating with cardinal directions or addresses just ain’t right. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/173 "2024-07-17T21:54:05Z")
One thing that will always exist in Chicago is the numbering system. I think Midway is the only major airport in the U.S. where people actually locate it by saying, “Oh, 59th and Cicero.” ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/174 "2024-07-17T22:17:07Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My good person, there is nothing the people of Chicago like MORE than talking about Chicago. As Mark Twain wrote: > _Satan (impatiently) to Newcomer:_ The trouble with you Chicago people is, that you think you are the best people down here; whereas you are merely the most numerous. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/175 "2024-07-17T23:50:24Z")
I can’t believe there’s a thread of this magnitude about this song. I’m not complaining, I just didn’t think this song could inspire so much discussion. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/176 "2024-07-18T00:47:18Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > If you read the lyrics closely, the sailor man only was in Harbor Town once, on a summer’s day. Never says only. Obviously he met her before , went sailing, and came back with the locket. There is no hint he doesnt come back every once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/177 "2024-07-18T00:51:52Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I just didn’t think this song could inspire so much discussion. Brandy, it’s a fine song What a good album it may be By my life my love my lady Is MTV ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/178 "2024-07-18T01:24:06Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I have decided to eschew the “unreliable narrator” or whatever aspect. That’s a long dark rabbit hole. If you go down it enough Brandy is really a dude and some pronouns have been changed. Not going there. You don’t have to. The Kinks already did. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/179 "2024-07-18T01:46:23Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > You don’t have to. The Kinks already did. They say Brandy fetch another round She serves them whisky and wine And it tastes just like cherry cola C-O-L-A cola ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235/180 "2024-07-18T03:27:09Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I just didn’t think this song could inspire so much discussion Well it is like the gold dress thing? The fact that others perceive something so different than you? Whether or not there was even an image the artist had in mind at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandy-you-re-a-fine-girl-but-when-did-you-live/1004235.md?page=10)