My friend just e-mailed me after hearing the song "By your side" by CoCoRosie to get my opinion. I'd never heard of it but after a quick youtube search I listened to the song.
I was pretty stunned when the singer starting singing, "I just wanted to be your housewife." The rest of the lyrics continued to horrify me. "And for a diamond ring/ I'll do these kinds of things/ I'll scrub your floor/ Never be a bore." Could these lyrics be serious? "I'd wear your black eyes/ Bake you apple pies."
I did some research on the band, hoping to find an interview where they explain their music, maybe the underlying intention of it, but was unsuccessful. I think they're trying to get a reaction from the listeners but I'm not sure what that reaction is. I want them to be mocking patriarchy and the idea of a 1950's existence/fairytale ending but I'm not sure they are....
The lyrics are below and I'd really love to know what you all think. Have you heard of the band/know anything about them? Is the song serious or satirical or something else completely?
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I just wanted to be your housewife
All I wanted was to be your housewife
I'll iron your clothes
I'll shine your shoes
I'll make your bed
And cook your food
I'll never cheat
I'll be the best girl you'd ever meet
And for a diamond ring
I'll do these kinds of things
I'll scrub your floor
Never be a bore
I'd tuck you in
I do not snore
I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies
I won't ask whys
And i try not to cry
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
I'll always be by your side
Even when you're down and out
And its nearly midnight
And all i want with my life
Is to be a housewife
Is to be a housewife
'Cause it's nearly midnight
And all i want with my life
Is to die a housewife
Is to die a housewife
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"I'd wear your black eyes
Bake you apple pies "
seems sarcastic to me-
reads like they are taking a poke at traditional roles, not wishing to participate.
I love this song. I'm very sure its sarcasm. They are a liberal indie band. They also do a song called "Jesus Loves Me," which contains similar sarcastic mocking lyrics:
Jesus loves me
But not my wife
Not my n**** friends
Or their n**** lives
But jesus loves me
That's for sure
'Cause the bible tells me so
Read your bible good and well
which is a little shocking, but I always interpreted to be mocking sexist/racist religious people. soooo yeah....
That's CocoRosie for you. I can tell you without flinching that this is a satirical poke at traditional roles. That how these women throw down.
I totally
That's CocoRosie for you. I can tell you without flinching that this is a satirical poke at traditional roles. That how these women throw down.
I totally love this band. I'm glad it horrified you, that's kind of the point. They write about hypocrisy, double standards, and un-sugar-coated reality. That's why they rock.
Reading this, the first thing I thought of was the Jay Brannan song, also called Housewife.
It's more earnest and yet, of course, still subversive, as Brannan is a man singing about his desire to *be* a housewife for another man, not to have one.
I love this song. It's not in earnest, it's actually very clever and I would argue feminist. You should listen to some of their other music.
A quick googling of this band and perusal of some of there other videos suggests they're no strangers to irony.
I think it's sarcastic.
Wow, this brings back memories...
Back in high school I had the misfortune of dating a total closet misogynist. He also happened to be quite the avid indie junkie and he made me a cd with this song on it. I remember listening and feeling angry, but I didn't know why (those were my pre-feminist days).
Just goes to show you context is everything. He probably ate it up word for word. Is it an ironic song? I don't know. Maybe. But it sure wasn't how I felt about it at the time. Those last three lines kill me.
I am hesitant to criticize the song because I don't think there is anything anti-feminist about choosing to be a stay at home mom or dad.
Being a stay at home mom is totally different from being a housewife. SAHM implies that the number one job is parenting, not taking care of the house and being a wife. It is also usually a temporary job- kids get older, need less, the at-home parent goes into the workforce in some capacity. Housewife has a life-long connotation, your entire role is to care for others, always.
I don't know if I articulated that well. I am a SAHM (for now; I'm also a 3/4 time college student), but I am NOT a housewife. This is not my lifelong dream or a role I plan to have forever, it's just what I do for now because a variety of things made it the best choice for my family right now. To me, that's very different from being a housewife.
Thank you for the clarification, I never made a distinction.
In terms of the blues, it seems that Bessie Smith set a precedent for these kinds of lyrics in her song "Yes Indeed, He Do!" (1928). She sings, "Oh, do my sweet, sweet daddy love me? Yes, indeed, he do. Is he true as the stars above me? What kind of fool is you? He don't stay from home all night, more than six times a week. Oh, I know that I'm his Sheba, and I know that he's my Sheik. And when I ask him where he's been, he grabs a rocking chair then knocks me down and says, 'It's just a little love lick, dear...'"
Interesting to see this thing still going on...
if this song is sarcastic, the artist has a pretty interesting sense of humor. its kind of disgusting to me that so many women are still fighting so hard for our independence and this song makes me think they're taking us two steps back instead of one step forward. Lyrics from an Ani Defranco song that inspires me, words to think on...
he said ani, you've gotten tough
'cause my tone was curt
yeah, and when I'm approached in a dark alley
I don't lift my skirt
in this city
self-preservation
is a full time occupation
I'm determined
to survive on this shore
you know I don't
avert my eyes anymore
in a man's world
I am a woman by birth
and after nineteen times around I have found
they will stop at nothing once they know what you are worth
talk to me now
I played the powerless
in too many dark scenes
and I was blessed with a birth and a death
and I guess I just want some say in between
don't you understand
in the day to day
and the face to face
I have to act
just as strong as I can
just to preserve a place
where I can be who I am
so if you still know how
talk to me now
:)
So because you have Daddy issues - you think it's acceptable to hate on all fathers? Well, you know what? My life wasn't perfect either. My mom used to beat the crap out of me. I wasn in care by age 10. My brother was beaten with an organ leg, and moved out by age 11. My Sister also was gone by age 11. I was the youngest. We all suffered. When he slaps had no effect on me any more - she resorted to using weapons, canes, shoes bedroom furniture, whatever she could find.