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Hail, Hail Question

bigballsbillybigballsbilly Posts: 67
edited February 2010 in The Porch
What the hell does this line mean?

Are you woman enough to be my man?
6-25-2008 MSG
10-31-2009 Spectrum
5-18-2010 Newark
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • CantKeepMeHereCantKeepMeHere Posts: 2,177
    It is the craziest line in the song
    But basically asking the chick he is in love with - can you be everything and still be my best friend
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  • PolPol Posts: 60
    I've always interpreted it as the woman within the relationship is asking the man "Are you woman enough to be my man?" or in other words do you have enough guts/emotional availability to maintain the relationship. She is calling out his feminine side and asking him to see things from a woman's perspective instead of the usual macho bullshit attitude that a lot of men stereotypically have towards relationships and women.

    Wonderful song! :D
    In Pearl Jam we trust!
  • bigballsbillybigballsbilly Posts: 67
    Pol wrote:
    I've always interpreted it as the woman within the relationship is asking the man "Are you woman enough to be my man?" or in other words do you have enough guts/emotional availability to maintain the relationship. She is calling out his feminine side and asking him to see things from a woman's perspective instead of the usual macho bullshit attitude that a lot of men stereotypically have towards relationships and women.

    Wonderful song! :D
    OK, I'll buy that. :D
    6-25-2008 MSG
    10-31-2009 Spectrum
    5-18-2010 Newark
  • Paul AndrewsPaul Andrews Posts: 2,489
    viewtopic.php?f=4&t=117931&hilit=+woman+enough
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  • IamMineIamMine Posts: 2,743
    Paul Andrews wrote:
    http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=117931&hilit=+woman+enough

    Thanks - your interpretation is also how I thought of the song!

    I guess it's because it's so obvious with my husband being like that... he IS woman enough to be my man. :D

    That song is obvious to me based on my personal life with him as a best friend/lover/husband/father(for the kids, not me!)....and as you've pointed out insecurities (uncertainty times when it comes out strong, where we point out flaws but really it points back at ourselves), acceptance, etc... we've been together for 18 years so that's why it's so obvious to me personally.

    Thanks for taking your time to explain in details clearly... I couldn't have explained that well.

    :clap: :thumbup:
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    EV: It's your band.
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  • Steve DunneSteve Dunne Posts: 4,965
    my fav off of no code. from the first time i heard that song it stuck w/ me.
    I love to turn you on
  • i_lov_iti_lov_it Posts: 4,007
    bigballsbilly wrote:
    What the hell does this line mean?

    Are you woman enough to be my man?

    Maybe...it's a PERSON with *BOTH* 'Bits' lol ;)
  • FenwayFaithfulFenwayFaithful Posts: 8,626
    Ok. My interpretation of all this is completely different, far simpler and probably wrong, but hear me out. He says, "Are you woman enough to be my man? Bandaged hand in hand." What if he is playing all the things over in his mind that he's going to say to her, but it comes out completely wrong. I think we've all done this. Afterward, he's angry at himself that the words didn't come out right and he punches a wall/car/desk whatever. Now his hands bleeding and he bandages it up and is grimacing in pain and sorrow. Is this at all possible? BTW this is honestly what I've thought since 1996.
    "FF, I've heard the droning about the Sawx being the baby dolls. Yeah, I get it, you guys invented baseball and suffered forever. I get it." -JearlPam0925
  • Evacuation RulesEvacuation Rules Posts: 2,162
    It's about Eddie's hermaphrodite friend.
  • CJMST3KCJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    this is like the third thread about this in a month. wonder why people are so interested all the sudden.
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  • IamMineIamMine Posts: 2,743
    CJMST3K wrote:
    this is like the third thread about this in a month. wonder why people are so interested all the sudden.

    Really? I didn't notice the other 2...and I just happened to check the front page when it was up there.

    The only reason I even bothered to post was because I saw the song question... and I really enjoy reading different interpretations... but when I saw Paul's... that is like mine, I had to post.

    ...but yeah, why did i even bother and just keep to myself like I do with tons of others.... *scratches head*

    dunno. *shrugs*
    JA: Why do I get the Ticketmaster question?
    EV: It's your band.
    ~Q Magazine


    "Kisses for the glow...kisses for the lease." - BDRII
  • bigballsbillybigballsbilly Posts: 67
    CJMST3K wrote:
    this is like the third thread about this in a month. wonder why people are so interested all the sudden.

    Well, I just listened to the album yesterday and when I heard it I said to myself, "that really is a strange line ... I wonder what the hell it means."
    6-25-2008 MSG
    10-31-2009 Spectrum
    5-18-2010 Newark
  • FenwayFaithfulFenwayFaithful Posts: 8,626
    bump this thread needs more insight by the community. There are several ways to dissect this song IMO.
    "FF, I've heard the droning about the Sawx being the baby dolls. Yeah, I get it, you guys invented baseball and suffered forever. I get it." -JearlPam0925
  • on2legson2legs Posts: 14,974
    CJMST3K wrote:
    this is like the third thread about this in a month. wonder why people are so interested all the sudden.

    Gee... you're right. If only Pearl Jam would make a message board where people could post questions and thoughts about their songs. Then we wouldn't have to clutter up this site with useless nonsense.
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  • pledgeagrievancepledgeagrievance Posts: 2,844
    The best way i can explain the line is through a lyric from Faithful "you, me its all related". Meaning men, women, we are all human and basically have the same wants, needs in relationships. So "are you woman enough to be my man": Can you be my partner (wife) and friend. And "bandaged hand in hand": Bandaged hands -Metphor for the all fighting that comes with relationships. But they are bandaged "hand in hand" so the fighting or tough times brings the two together closer over time. Classic song/lyrics. How come no one wants to dissect "Egg rollin' thick and heavy/All the past we carry"?!
  • jester59388jester59388 Posts: 150
    paakjerjr wrote:
    How come no one wants to dissect "Egg rollin' thick and heavy/All the past we carry"?!

    :lol:

    Good question!

    Man, that thread could get messy!
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  • PolPol Posts: 60
    paakjerjr wrote:
    How come no one wants to dissect "Egg rollin' thick and heavy/All the past we carry"?!

    My thoughts on this line are that their relationship is likened to a rolling egg, due to it's shape it rolls in a rather unpredictable way, much like their relationship. They are trying to solve the problems within their relationship but can't seem to let go of things that happened in the past, thus "All the past we carry."
    In Pearl Jam we trust!
  • Foriginal SinForiginal Sin Posts: 1,771
    I interpret it as are you strong enough in yourself, womanhood, to be strong enough for us. Since men are always seen as the strength yet we need support. Are you woman enough to be my man. One of my fav. PJ lines.
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  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Posts: 19,636
    bigballsbilly wrote:
    What the hell does this line mean?

    Are you woman enough to be my man?

    I think he is wanting his lover to also be his best friend....

    the egg rolling line has always perplexed me....what the fuck is he talking about?
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  • KevinmanKevinman Posts: 1,909
    bigballsbilly wrote:
    What the hell does this line mean?

    Are you woman enough to be my man?

    Easy, what he's saying is...............Are you the woman for me?


    When he says to be my man, he means.............man as in the one. Like when your friend says you're the man, or someone at a party says about someone across the room, "That guy over there is the one you want to talk to, he's the "man".

    Just my interpretation, not saying anybody is wrong. I think Ed always said he didn't like explaining what his lyrics meant, so we could take them as we wanted............I like that, it keeps an element of mystery.
    I am lost, I'm no guide, but I'm by your side

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  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Posts: 19,636
    that's kind of what I meant....he wants her to be his "man"...his "best friend"

    imho
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
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