Song Interpretation Sunday: Mr Jones By localroger in localroger's Diary Sun Jan 10, 2010 at 03:38:49 PM EST Tags: localroger bloviates, gay 5, really really gay 5 (all tags)
	Today's victim will be the song Mr. Jones recorded by the Talking Heads and released on their eighth and final studio album, Naked.

Mr. Jones is a a sequel to another song by a different artist: Bob Dylan's Ballad of a Thin Man, from Dylan's 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited. Mr. Jones does not make a great deal of sense unless viewed through the lens of Dylan's earlier song. In Dylan's song the thin Mr. Jones walks into a room "with your pencil in your hand," and proceeds to unleash such a torrent of phallic images that it is quite strange that in the song's individual Wiki entry the possibility that Jones is, like, GAY is mentioned last after a bunch of silly name-dropping theories. I mean, really... Well, the sword swallower, he comes up to you And then he kneels Here's your throat back, thanks for the loan Give me some milk or else go home Yes, that's totally about a journalist. No, Mr. Jones is obviously a closeted gay guy who is coming to terms with his gayness in one of those sleazy dives where gay guys get it on. About 20 years later, David Byrne updates Mr. Jones' story: Mr. Jones Put a wiggle in your stride Loosen up I believe he'll be alright Changing clothes Now he's got ventilated slacks You really need those ventilated slacks to hold your pencil in your hand. But the gayness is only getting rolling... Aces high Now his pants are falling down Sales men Conventioneers Some rock stars With tambourines Short skirts And skinny legs Selling bibles And real estate The stereotypes just keep rolling in. It's a big day for Mr. Jones He is not so square Mr. Jones will stick around He's everybody's friend Remember how in Thin Man there was something going on that Jones don't quite understand? WELL HE GOT IT, AMIRITE? The Jones Gang Down at the bar Watch out, this time They've gone too far They call for Mr. Jones They put him in charge Mr. Jones will help us out He's a lucky guy After twenty years Jones has decloseted himself, participates enthusiastically in the gay rights movement, and has attained some position of leadership either in political office or one of the prominent gay rights organizations. So Mr. Jones is a positive and life-affirming testament that even if you start out slinking around sleazy gay dive bars, you can proceed to become a popular well-connected gay guy who gets laid all the time, drives sports cars, and (this isn't the song, but it's between the lines) probably drinks Jack Daniels with Red Bull while snorting amyl. That's my interpretation at least, and I'm sticking to it.

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Related Links

Mr. Jones Naked Ballad of a Thin Man Highway 61 Revisited individual Wiki entry localroger's Diary