What do you mean, new fangled?

Factual Questions
1

English is not my first language, so I have no idea what “new fangled” means. I try to understand it through dictionaries and Internet, and I’m starting to grasp somewhat the meaning of the expression. Still, I do not understand what the … Robert Plant means with the last line in this excerpt from “Since I’ve Been Loving You”?

Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door?
I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn’t want me no more.
I open my front door, hear my back door slam,
You know I must have one of them new fangled back door man.

Up until the last line, I have no problem following him, but when that last line hits me, I just get confused. Being an educated, mainly english speaking group of people here, could somebody shed light over this issue, which troubled me for years.

2

“New-fangled” (it’s usually hyphenated) is a term of derision used to describe something that’s newly invented. It implies the speaker doesn’t really like it or see the need for it.

Most people around here, though, use it ironically.

3

See http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980428 for some background info on fangle.

“Back door man” is the lover who sneaks out the back door when the boyfriend or husband enters the front door.

4

Generally the term is used to depict a rustic, technophobic point of view. Example:

[Grandpa voice]
I don’t see why ya need one a them thar new-fangled computers. In my day we did ever-thing with a pencil 'n paper.
[/Grandpa voice]

5

It’s the opposite of “old fashioned.”

Haj

6

It’s basically a cutesy way of saying “new” and is the opposite of “old-fashioned.” It implies some degree of disapproval.

7

I know I’m going to regret asking, but would someone please translate the whole verse, particularly that last line. I just don’t get it.

8

Thank you all. As I understand it now, mr Plant says like: Oh, I see, you recently got yourself a lover, whatever good that’ll make you…

One part that confused me is, i think, is that he says “I have one of them …”, but perhaps it’s like implying the problem is his, though the back door man is hers.

Thanks anyhow, especially for information like Derleths “It implies the speaker doesn’t really like it or see the need for it.”

9

I think the actual lyric is “You must have one of them…”. referring to the woman.

10

Heh. I always thought the Doors song had to do with anal sex. :smiley:

11

The use of “have” implying inadvertant or undesired connection with something is another English (or at least American) idiom. When your kitchen is infested with ants, you say “I have ants” or “My kitchen has ants”. It isn’t quite the same as ordinary possession, although the difference is subtle. In spoken speech, the tone used typically implies irony or resignation.

12

That’s it in a nutshell.

I seem to recall, when Pringles first came out, they described themselves as “new-fangled potato chips.”

As far as I know, “fangled” is never used except as part of “new-fangled.”

13

Fangled means new-fangled.

14

Contraptions are usually new-fangled.

15

Johnny L.A., such a dirty mind. Well at least you’re in good company.

I think anyone who has ever heard a blues song knows what back door man means. I think pretty much anyone knows what new fangled means. The confusion is putting them together. The lyric sounds like someone pining for the new AnalBot™ 3000.

16

I agree with Johnny L.A. on the Doors song. I think Morrison intended it as a double entendre.

(“The men don’t know what the little girls understand.”)