When the Trickster Starts A-Poking (Bordello Kind of Guy)

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a blunt, unsolicited observation in a bar: "the older you will get / The more perverted you will get." This immediately sets a defiant tone, as the narrator challenges this grim prophecy with a spirited "I'd like to see you try it." It's a raw, confrontational start, hinting at a refusal to conform to expected aging or societal norms. A core tension emerges from the narrator's playful yet serious questioning of identity. They list stark, often taboo, choices, like being a "bad priest" or a "good zoldatten." This isn't just about rebellion; it's about actively choosing a path outside conventional morality, culminating in the declaration, "I'm justo bordello kind of guy." This phrase suggests an embrace of a life lived on the fringes, full of vibrant, perhaps scandalous, experiences. The "Trickster" figure serves as a powerful personification of this chaotic, transformative energy. When "the Trickster starts a-walking / He sends the whole world askew," it reframes disruption not as an ending, but as "a birth of something new." This clever twist suggests that embracing the unpredictable, even the "perverted," is a natural, necessary force for change, operating without needing "permission" from anyone. Amidst this wild abandon, a recurring lament to "Mama" and "Papa" grounds the narrative, acknowledging that "all hopes are so fragile" and reflecting on what "it costs." This brief moment of vulnerability adds depth, suggesting that the "bordello kind of guy" identity isn't without its burdens. Yet, the repeated assertion "it's worth what it's worth" ultimately affirms the narrator's chosen path, finding value in a life lived authentically, even if unconventional.