Can you explain these lyrics?

I am not sure but I always took it to mean that Mr. Gordon was a pedophile who wrapped himself in the self-righteousness of an evangelical religion. No that he was a Mormon but that wearing their nickers he was absolved of the sins he was committing with the Cub Scouts.

But I could be wrong.

Scott,

Google the phrase “magic underwear mormon” and peruse the articles. I’m not sure if any of the statements in them are reliable, but they make interesting reading.

I think this is what Bruce is referring to in that particular line.

Jackie

Now thats a nasty tease!!!

funny you should bring up these lyrics. With a 9 year old son now in Cub Scouts I’ve wondered the same thing.

I anxiously await David’s explaination.

I hope to get the Mormon thing answered for you soon, but don’t worry, the Cub Scout lyric has nothing to do with the Mormon lyric. They are two seperate things.

Soon come with an explanation!

David Day
Lake Lanier, GA

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply, but I needed some time to write this one out.

Mormon underwear is very sacred to the conservative Mormon. So sacred, that they don’t even admit they exist to outsiders. The term “underwear” is actually slang to a Mormon. They are called “garments” or “garmies” for short.

The Mormons start wearing the garment after they have been through a special ceremony called Temple Endowment in the Temple. The Temple in Salt Lake City is very special and sacred to a Mormon. After the ceremony, they wear the garment day and night to constantly remind them of the promises and covenants they made to God to live a righteous life. The garment is worn next to the skin and women will even wear the garment under their bras. Some Mormons will wear them always except while having sex or bathing

The garmies are actually manufactured by Mormons only at Church clothing centers. They then are distributed through regional Church distribution centers or “warehouses”.

Don’t get me wrong. The Mormons are dear people! None of us are perfect and we all have some strange habits or vices. Now don’t we?

What I think Bruce is referring to is….Heir Gordon, by nature, tries to be religious, but he can’t live by his word or the promises he has made. {“Oh God, if you get me out of this one, I promise never to do it again.” Or, “Oh God, if you give me the big contract, I’ll promise to give a portion of it to the poor.”} Knowing he is not a man of his word or can’t live up to his promises, Heir Gordon tries to make up for his deficiencies by wearing Mormon underwear. Heir Gordon justifies that since he can’t be sacred, he can feel sacred by wearing “garmies”.

As far as “touching all the bases round the Cub Scout den”, Heir Gordon will do anything to cover all bases including doing things that make him look good like being involved in some form of community activity. It gives Heir Gordon more public exposure that he wants. He thinks he is doing it for a good cause, but in reality he is doing it for selfish reasons like to increase his business or get him elected to some public office. Heir Gordon’s heart is in the wrong place.

Well, there it is! I hope it was worth the wait to get your answer.

David Day
Lake Lanier, GA

Thanks David

I’m glad to get the “Mormon Underwear” explanation. However, Heir Gordon was, and always will be, a pedophile to me.

Si, do you have a section for lyric analysis of “Halcyon Days”?

If not, maybe this can be the start of that. I’d love to hear more interpretations of this song and the rest of the album.

I didn’t say that. It was Vic who brought that one up. Someone who “touches all the bases” is one who does things publically to look good, but in their heart, they do it for some form of selfish ambition like to increase their business, whatever their business may be, or to get elected to some public office, (Defenders, Defenders of the Flag!) which will also increase their business. I didn’t say it before, but I will now. Heir Gordon is a greedy person.

David Day
Lake Lanier, GA

PS Heir Gordon could be a “Defender of the Flag”! How’s that for tying Heir Gordon to Defenders of the Flag!?

If these guys are the good ones, I don’t want to know the bad
You wonder how it happened, they just picked up from dad……

Touching all the bases

Bruce may not have intended the pedophilia interpretation, but I’ll bet it at least crossed the mind of 75 percent of his listeners. And Bruce has that darker side, so I wouldn’t put it past him…

Does anybody remember Adam Sandler’s “Canteen Boy” skits with Alec Baldwin on “Saturday Night Live”? Pretty funny stuff. 😆

Hi all!
Today I found an interview where Bruce also explains the song “Heir Gordon”.
http://www.enigmaonline.com/gbase/Exped … oid%3A1488
I would also like to thank David Day for explaining the phrase “to touch all the bases” and things about Mormons.
Have a beautiful vacation, David!

Bruce always has been a story teller. The song makes sense now and I’m sure he means nothing bad by it. Its just one of those things that happened and he wanted to share the story in a song as he always does.

Quote:Victor wrote:
I was somewhat drawn out of several songs because of some of the word choice. Some of the vocabulary just seemed … how should I put it? … inconsequential. Songs about “drooling,” “crochet” and the like just seemed so unlike what Bruce had written about in the past.

I still sometimes wonder if the lyrics hold up to the music on that record. Such word choice seemed more appropriate and to fit better on “Big Swing Face.” Was anyone else somewhat taken aback by the lyrical choices?

I admit I was surprised by some of the songs on “Halcyon Days” when I first heard them. But after the release of “Big Swing Face”, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when I hear Bruce’s music.

Sure, some of the words used in the songs on “Halcyon Days” are unusual, but there are still many thought-provoking ideas. Granted, Gonna Be Some Changes Made appears to be light-hearted, but wait! Near the end of the song we hear, “A buffoon fumbling without a clue likes to shift the blame/And often feels betrayed, gonna be some changes made.” Serious moments can also be found in Dreamland, Circus On The Moon, Halcyon Days and Hooray For Tom.

I think I recall Bruce mentioning in some past interviews that he wants to make another album like “Big Swing Face” some day. Could his unique application of words be a step in that direction?

Jackie