Reuben, Reuben, I’ve been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the men were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
Rachel, Rachel, I’ve been thinking
What a queer world this would be
If the girls were all transported
Far beyond the Northern Sea!
I’m suddenly flashing to that episode of South Park in which Cartman makes a hit Christian rock album by crossing out all the "baby"s in love songs and replacing them with “Jesus”.
When I was young, I didn’t think there was anything untoward there.
Then, when I was an older teen, I perverted the lyrics as a humorous juxtaposition to their original, naive intent (“huhuhuh, they said ‘Drive her Car’”).
Then, about a year ago, I realized they DID mean it like that, after all. How can you write things like:
– You can do something in between
– I got no car and it’s breakin my heart, but I’ve found a driver and that’s a start.
Even in that last line they make it clear she’s looking for a “driver”. Now it’s not nearly as funny to make innuendo about it, now that it’s obvious.
Honky Tonk Women was my absolute favourite song when I was about 14, which probably meant that a disturbingly large number of people heard me belting out:
I played a divorcee in New York City,
I had to put up some kind of a fight.
The lady then she covered me with roses,
She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.