Matrix wrote:

How do you explain that his brother coming out "takes the heat" off of the narrator in this song? Does that mean he is closeted? Just curious what people think...

there's always the 'problem' that you read songs as autobiographical. Same goes for stories, but maybe songs especially. it's important to realise that a (song)writer might be employing techniques such as writing from the point of view of another (fictional) character, and the 'i' is not always the character of the singer/writer. Malcolm Eden was always doing this with McCarthy lyrics, to great effect, although he too confused people (intentionally) because of this. i think Stuart has commented on this before, that 'State' is not autobiographical, and that one of the most 'truthful' songs is 'Seeing Other People'. i know that 'you made me forget my dreams' is to a large extent autobiography, or at least is about 'real' people, as obviously is 'String Bean Jean'. But you should never automatically assume that the 'i' is who you think it is... the duke, who constantly has to defend himself from criticism from friends who think they are characters in his stories.... or even strangers who think they are characters in his stories, which is even more bizarre :-) Tangents On-Line http://www.virtual-pc.com/tangent/ Tangents On-Paper: PO Box 102, Exeter, EX2 4YL, UK tangent@mail.zynet.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------