# Revved Up Like A Douche?.......Brrrrruce!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931 "2005-01-27T15:47:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ocean_City_Maryland)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/1 "2005-01-27T15:47:02Z")
Hello, great boards here. This place is awesome! I have a couple of classic rock questions, that are begging for answers, the correct answers. 😉 1. What is the deal with **Manfred Mann’s** version of _Blinded By The Light_? “Revved up like a douche”? WTF? The original Springsteen lyric is “Cut loose like a deuce”, as in a Deuce Coupe, you know, the car. So why is the lead singer singing about a feminine hygiene product? Or is he saying something else? 2) What is the deal with **ELO’s** _Don’t Bring Me Down_? I’m looking at the lyrics to the song right now, and I don’t see the words “BRRRRRUUUUCE!!” anywhere. In fact, I don’t see any words at all after “Don’t bring me down” in the chorus. 😕 3) **Mott The Hoople/David Bowie’s** _All The Young Dudes_ is a gay anthem, right? 4) Did I hear correctly that **Paul Rogers** is touring with the former members of **Queen**? Ah, that just doesn’t seem right. Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/2 "2005-01-27T15:53:46Z")
> [@Ocean City](#): > > 1. What is the deal with **Manfred Mann’s** version of _Blinded By The Light_? “Revved up like a douche”? WTF? The original Springsteen lyric is “Cut loose like a deuce”, as in a Deuce Coupe, you know, the car. Rolled up like a deuce. A reference to rolling two ones in dice. A very bad thing. This very question was addressed in a **Vacant Lot** sketch, which was one of the funniest comedy sketches ever televised. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/3 "2005-01-27T15:55:37Z")
If Paul Rogers is the singer from Bad Company, then yep, you’ve heard correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/4 "2005-01-27T15:56:50Z")
Cool! I found a [transcript](http://www.unoriginal.com/tvl/blinded.html) _held up like a loufa by the foreman of the night_ \*Blinded by the light, ripped up like a douche, you’re gonna throw away the night. \* ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/5 "2005-01-27T16:02:54Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Rolled up like a deuce. See, I thought the Manfred Mann version was “revved up like a deuce.” Same general thing as the Bruce version, meaning deuce coupe. In this case, ready to go on all eight cylinders. Four on the floor. Pedal to the metal. Cliche paradise. Wish I could offer anything on ELO, other than always thinking it was “Bruce” myself, but it could just be their own whomp-bama-loom-ma. I’m sure others will be in on “All the Young Dudes.” Kickass song is all I can say. And if I had to guess, yeah, gay anthem (IANAGayMan). Kinda a sexy song no matter what, but that’s what you get with David Bowie. Think I heard something similar along the Queen lines. But too lazy to search for a cite. And welcome to the boards, **OC**. Local? It’s been my family’s vacation spot for years, and I have some local area relatives. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/6 "2005-01-27T16:04:22Z")
> [@Ocean City](#): > > 1. What is the deal with **ELO’s** _Don’t Bring Me Down_? I’m looking at the lyrics to the song right now, and I don’t see the words “BRRRRRUUUUCE!!” anywhere. In fact, I don’t see any words at all after “Don’t bring me down” in the chorus. I’m not sure anyone knows quite what the trilled out word after “don’t bring me down” actually is supposed to be. I’ve heard some people claim “vamoose” and that makes sense in the context of the song: Don’t bring me down, go away! I think its just one of those messed up lil noises that sound good. 1. **Mott The Hoople/David Bowie’s** _All The Young Dudes_ is a gay anthem, right? [/QUOTE] I think I can safely say I have never heard of _All The Young Dudes_ being an anthem for anyone, let alone the gay community. However I’m also a rather young queer man so maybe it’s just something the older generation doesn’t like to talk about 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/7 "2005-01-27T16:09:07Z")
When a singer repeats the same line forty times in one recording, and it’s still not clear what the hell the words are, he’s deliberately confusing the listener. I don’t need that kind of grief. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/8 "2005-01-27T16:19:53Z")
Here’s Cecil on the douche question: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_148.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_148.html) As for Bruce, I googled “elo bring me down” and found a message posted at a [lyrics site](http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=YU%2FNP71R%2F6I%3D). The poster claims a VH1 show covered the question, and that it was originally “gruce,” and nonsense sound he came up with. Then a German engineer mentioned that “Gruess” was a German greeting, and they wound up leaving the sound/word in the song. Don’t know if it’s true at all, but it’s a good story, as they say. ---
**Author:** ![Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ocean_City_Maryland)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/9 "2005-01-27T16:34:04Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > And welcome to the boards, **OC**. Local? It’s been my family’s vacation spot for years, and I have some local area relatives. Thanks **Only Mostly Dead**. I’m a D.C. native, who is now an O.C. local. 😉 > [@Homebrew](#): > > Rolled up like a deuce. A reference to rolling two ones in dice. A very bad thing. This very question was addressed in a Vacant Lot sketch, which was one of the funniest comedy sketches ever televised. Well, he may be saying “Rolled up like a”, but I refuse to accept that he is saying “deuce”. He is clearly pronunciating DOO-SH, not DOO-CE. > [@Priam](#): > > I think I can safely say I have never heard of All The Young Dudes being an anthem for anyone, let alone the gay community. However I’m also a rather young queer man so maybe it’s just something the older generation doesn’t like to talk about. Cmon man, “All the young dudes, carry the news”, “I’ve been wanting to do this for years”. That’s anthem lyrics. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@Ocean\_City\_Maryland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ocean_City_Maryland)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/10 "2005-01-27T16:39:31Z")
> [@AerynSun](#): > > Here’s Cecil on the douche question: > > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_148.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_148.html) > > As for Bruce, I googled “elo bring me down” and found a message posted at a [lyrics site](http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=YU%2FNP71R%2F6I%3D). The poster claims a VH1 show covered the question, and that it was originally “gruce,” and nonsense sound he came up with. Then a German engineer mentioned that “Gruess” was a German greeting, and they wound up leaving the sound/word in the song. Don’t know if it’s true at all, but it’s a good story, as they say. Great, so now Cecil is saying they say “ **Wrapped** up like a deuce”. Now I am more confused than I was when I came in here. 😉 Anyway, thanks **AerynSun**. “Gruce”? What was Jeff Lynne thinking? So, I’m not the only one who hears “Douche”, right? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/11 "2005-01-27T17:14:57Z")
> [@Ocean City](#): > > Well, he may be saying “Rolled up like a”, but I refuse to accept that he is saying “deuce”. He is clearly pronunciating DOO-SH, not DOO-CE. Could just be his accent. He’s British, you know. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/12 "2005-01-27T19:12:04Z")
> [@Priam](#): > > 1. **Mott The Hoople/David Bowie’s** _All The Young Dudes_ is a gay anthem, right? I think I can safely say I have never heard of _All The Young Dudes_ being an anthem for anyone, let alone the gay community. However I’m also a rather young queer man so maybe it’s just something the older generation doesn’t like to talk about 😃 [/QUOTE] 😕 What did you think the song was about? ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/13 "2005-01-27T20:57:54Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > 😕 What did you think the song was about? I make no mention of whether or not it has a gay context. That’s no really relevant to the question of whether or not it is a gay _anthem_. There are plenty of songs with the same context that I wouldn’t consider anthems, as well as plenty of anthems without the context. Take, for example, Dancing Queen! You wanna get a certain generation of gay men up and dancing? Play this ABBA hit. It’s not, however, a gay song. It was just popular in the gay community. _All The Young Dudes_ may or may not be queerer than a three dollar bill but I ain’t ever heard it played at a Gay Pride Parade. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/14 "2005-01-27T21:25:51Z")
Years ago, I was listening to some sort of countdown on the radio and Manfred Mann’s version of “Blinded by the Light” came on. The DJ explained that when MM originally heard the song, they loved it and decided to do a version. They misunderstood the word “deuce” - they’d never heard that and didn’t get the reference - and substituted a word they had heard before. So, I have no idea if that explanation is true or not. I’m a MD native, too! (Montgomery County, millions of vacations in OC) Woohoo!! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/15 "2005-01-27T22:35:30Z")
> [@AerynSun](#): > > Here’s Cecil on the douche question: > > [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_148.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_148.html) > > As for Bruce, I googled “elo bring me down” and found a message posted at a [lyrics site](http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=YU%2FNP71R%2F6I%3D). The poster claims a VH1 show covered the question, and that it was originally “gruce,” and nonsense sound he came up with. Then a German engineer mentioned that “Gruess” was a German greeting, and they wound up leaving the sound/word in the song. Don’t know if it’s true at all, but it’s a good story, as they say. That would have been VH1’s Storytellers. I have it on DVDR. Jeff Lynne tells exactly that story with a little extra. When ELO did the song in concert, people would shout out “Bruuuuuuuce”. It took Jeff a while to figure this out. He figured that since that was what everybody thought he said, he would say it, too. In that concert and the Zoom Live Tour (if you’re a big fan or even a casual fand of ELO, I highly recommend this DVD), he sings “Bruce”. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/16 "2005-01-27T22:50:56Z")
> [@Priam](#): > > However I’m also a rather young queer man so maybe it’s just something the older generation doesn’t like to talk about 😃 The Gay Generation Gap!! Remember, you heard it here on SDMB first! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/17 "2005-01-27T22:51:57Z")
> [@Ocean City](#): > > 1. **Mott The Hoople/David Bowie’s** _All The Young Dudes_ is a gay anthem, right? Are these two versions of the same song, or is the former a pseudonym of the latter? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/18 "2005-01-27T23:17:37Z")
Bowie [wrote](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:bkuw62a271w0)it and Mott the Hoople made it a hit. There’s a video of both of them performing the song together. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/19 "2005-01-27T23:32:52Z")
Re: ELO and Bruce I cannot at all back up the story I heard but until I read this thread I thought it was true. The story I heard was that the band was teasing a sound engineer named Bruce who would request additional takes in the studio. The would tell Bruce that he was “bringing them down” and somehow as a joke they worked it into a song. It sounded good so they went ahead and recorded the song with “Bruce” references. Again, I got no proof. That’s just what I heard years ago ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931/20 "2005-01-28T05:45:26Z")
It’s not a gay anthem, unless you want it to be. There are some clues: “Lucy’s stealing clothes from unlocked cars” “Brother’s back at home With his beatles and his stones We never got if off on that revolution stuff” “Oh the television man is crazy Saying we’re juvenile delinquent wrecks” “Now jimmy looks sweet ’cause he dresses like a queen But he can kick like a mule” It’s just about being a messed up kid in the late teens around 1972, much like Springsteen’s Spirits in the Night. On of the characters is gay, maybe. But this was the glitter/glam era. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revved-up-like-a-douche-brrrrruce/286931.md?page=2)