Androgyny

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a world overwhelmed by societal ills, from "drugs, pollution, sickness, evil" to "death, starvation, crime, and taxes." The narrator observes the earth continuing its cycles, but within this grand cosmic order, a "terror" seems to be robbing people of their vitality and mental clarity. This pervasive sense of dread and struggle makes survival itself a challenge, setting a grim stage for the introduction of androgyny as a further complication. The central tension arises from the narrator's perception of androgyny as a threat, something that "will make it harder" by taking away the "primal drive" and doing away with the distinction between "girl and boy." This fear is amplified by the chaotic imagery of "the mob, the wad," suggesting a loss of control and perhaps a perversion of natural order. Yet, the chorus also presents a contradictory plea: "Let men and women be!" This hints at a deeper, perhaps unacknowledged, desire for liberation or acceptance, even as androgyny is framed as a destructive force. The most striking aspect is the stark contrast between the dire pronouncements about androgyny and the bridge's call to embrace the "power of the other" and the "mystery of the other." The narrator urges listeners to "Let your bodies find the light" and suggests that "Love will end the sexless night." This suggests that the initial fear of androgyny might stem from a misunderstanding or a resistance to a natural, perhaps even divine, integration of masculine and feminine energies, which ultimately promises connection and fulfillment. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they tap into a primal anxiety about change and the unknown, while simultaneously offering a path toward resolution through embracing duality and love. The narrator's struggle to reconcile the perceived threat of androgyny with the potential for love and self-discovery creates a compelling emotional arc, leaving the listener to ponder the true nature of the "primal drive" and the "sexless night."