What Can You Do With a Man

Song Meaning

This song presents a comedic, exasperated take on marital frustrations, framed as a dialogue between Luce and Dromio of Ephesus. Luce kicks things off with a declaration of intent to divorce, citing her husband's neglect and bothersome habits. The central complaint is the sheer unpredictability and inconvenience of "a man," who is simultaneously a financial drain ("eats me out of house and home") and a picky eater, a user of her things who is "funny looking," and a creature of extreme mood swings, acting like a "five-year old" by day and "ninety-seven" at night. The repeated, almost resigned question, "What can you do with a man?" underscores a feeling of powerlessness against these perceived male foibles. Dromio of Ephesus offers a contrasting perspective, framing Luce's complaints as typical marital squabbles and suggesting passive endurance. He advises patience, telling her "don't be a shrew" and to "wait for your cue." His own experience seems to be one of being diminished by his partner, lamenting "That's what you did to a man like that!" as he notes his own reduced stature. This creates a tension between Luce's active desire for escape and Dromio's resigned acceptance of the marital status quo, both highlighting different facets of dealing with a partner. The lyrics employ sharp, often absurd imagery to paint these portraits. Luce's husband is a paradox: he "wears the pants" despite her buying them, and while she dresses up, he's "reading Plato." The contrast between her romantic overtures and his intellectual pursuits, or the idea of acres of beauty "going to waste" because of his lack of taste, emphasizes the disconnect. Dromio's "thousand blessings each weighs a pound" is a particularly striking metaphor for the burdensome nature of his marital "rewards." Ultimately, the song's effectiveness lies in its relatable, albeit exaggerated, portrayal of domestic discord. The rapid-fire complaints and the cyclical, unanswered question "What can you do with a man?" capture the feeling of being stuck in a frustrating, unsolvable dynamic. It taps into a shared understanding of the absurdities and annoyances that can arise in long-term relationships, offering a cathartic, humorous release through shared commiseration.