Kansas City

Song Meaning

The narrator arrives in Kansas City and is immediately overwhelmed by its modernity, a stark contrast to his previous understanding. He notes the sheer number of "gas buggies" and the astonishing invention of the telephone, where a "strange womern" speaks to him, suggesting a world far beyond his prior experience. This initial shock sets the stage for his fascination with the city's perceived advancements. The core of the lyrics lies in the narrator's awe at Kansas City's supposed peak of progress. He repeatedly states, "They've gone about as fur as they can go," marveling at a "skyscraper seven stories high" and the convenience of indoor plumbing with radiators and "privies in the rain" that keep one dry. This refrain highlights his limited frame of reference, where these amenities represent the absolute zenith of human achievement. The most striking element is the shift in focus to the burlesque show, where the narrator's fascination with technological progress morphs into an appreciation for a different kind of "going as fur as they can go." The description of the dancer, initially perceived as "padded," is ultimately validated as "absolutely real" when she "begun to peel." This moment cleverly parallels the earlier refrain, applying the same phrase to a more risqué and personal form of "progress." This juxtaposition makes the lyrics effective by revealing the narrator's evolving definition of what constitutes the "furthest" one can go. What begins as an innocent wonder at urban development culminates in a more carnal, yet equally amazed, observation of human performance. The humor and charm stem from this naive, yet honest, perspective on both technological and human spectacle.