Narrators With Whom We May Not Particularly Agree

So, as we move closer and closer - inexorably, one might say - to the appearance of David Allen Coe's Fuck Anita Bryant in these pages (and how that song may or may not break the Civility code here at IBL), I would like to return to an issue broached in the post of 10/16/12: using art to literally say one thing when, in fact, your purpose may well be to get across a point that is quite the opposite.

The first time that I can recall experiencing this (though I would not have known how to talk about it) was at age 12 or 13, when I first heard Elton John's Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player album, which included Texan Love Song.  First, it was scandalous (or would have been considered so by my parents if they'd heard it) and memorable because it used the word "Goddamnit" in the chorus.  But, also, I can remember hearing the song and, knowing enough about Elton John at that time (he was my favorite), thinking to myself, "That doesn't sound like something he might actually believe."  And, of course, he was not the lyricist in those brilliant years (1969 to 1975, let's say), that was Bernie Taupin.

And so Mr. Taupin may well have been personally critical of the type of individual represented here but, rather than sermonize (except, perhaps, in the ironic title), he humanizes, creating an actual character, a narrator with his own belief system: we learn about his point of view, and we learn about some of the reasons he's unhappy and/or suspicious.  In truth, some people could have heard this song like I did, as criticism; others, of course, could have heard it as the straight up truth.  What didn't occur to me until years later was the possibility that it may have been intended to elicit something else, a better understanding of our narrator and why he behaves the way he does.  Now, of course, I attempt to do that same kind of thing in my own writing and art, and to seek out the works of others that will challenge my preconceived notions in as many areas as possible.

I read an interview years ago with Martin Scorsese in which he discussed films like Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Good Fellas, and he said, in essence, "I don't take sides - I just show.  You are free to make your own decisions."

And, so, Texan Love Song, by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, with lyrics following...


I heard from a friend you`d been messing around
With a cute little thing I`d been dating uptown
Well I don`t know if I like that idea much
Well you`d better stay clear I might start acting rough
You out of town guys sure think you`re real keen
Think all of us boys here are homespun and green
But that`s wrong my friend so get this through your head
We`re tough and we`re Texan with necks good and red

So it`s Ki yi yippie yi yi
You long hairs are sure gonna die
Our American home was clean till you came
And kids still respected the president`s name
And the eagle still flew in the sky
Hearts filled with national pride
Then you came along with your drug-crazy songs
Goddamit you`re all gonna die

How dare you sit there and drink all our beer
Oh it`s made for us workers who sweat spit and swear
The minds of our daughters are poisoned by you
With your communistic politics and them negro blues
Well I`m gonna quit talking and take action now
Run all of you fairies clean out of this town
Oh I`m dog tired of watching you mess up our lives
Spending the summertime naturally high


IBL:mm