Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of intense, almost aggressive scrutiny directed at a figure named Tipper Gore. The repeated actions of "stick it in, pull it out, twist it" and "penetrate these problems" suggest a forceful, invasive investigation. The narrator seems to be observing and perhaps even participating in this process, noting the "strain strain strain" involved in "uncovering and probing."
The central tension lies in the paradoxical portrayal of Tipper Gore. While she is depicted as the one "mount[ing] the situation" and "getting to the bottom of it all," the lyrics also describe her as a "master of perversity" who knows "obscenity like you." This creates a jarring contrast, implying that the very act of uncovering perceived obscenity might itself be viewed as perverse or deeply unsettling.
The most striking aspect of the craft is the use of sexualized language to describe an act of investigation or censorship. Phrases like "stick it in, pull it out, twist it" and "penetrate these problems long and hard" are loaded with innuendo, applying a visceral, physical dimension to the abstract concept of "information" and "problems." This deliberate choice of words forces the listener to confront the uncomfortable overlap between sexual acts and the invasive nature of judgment.
This lyrical approach is effective because it weaponizes language to expose a perceived hypocrisy or a disturbing undercurrent in the act of moral policing. By using such charged imagery, the lyrics don't just describe an event; they imbue it with a sense of unease and potential corruption, making the listener question the true nature of the "probing" and who is truly being exposed.