Steed (For Jean Genet)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a yearning for something grand and transformative, framed by cosmic imagery and a desire for a powerful "steed." The opening lines suggest a search for a specific kind of individual, one who can "kiss the golden Aries," hinting at a bold, perhaps even divine, connection. This quest is tied to finding "revolutionaries" and a sense of purpose, suggesting a desire for a movement or a profound personal awakening. The central tension lies in the narrator's plea for this "steed," a vehicle for escape or transcendence. The repeated phrase "you will ride it over and over and over" emphasizes a desire for continuous, exhilarating experience. This is juxtaposed with the direct request, "Baby, won't you buy me a steed?" and the assertion, "'Cause don't you know that I'm worth the speed?" This highlights a feeling of being ready and deserving of a powerful ascent, but dependent on an external source to provide it. The most striking craft element is the invocation of "our Lady of the Flowers," a direct reference to Jean Genet's novel, which imbues the lyrics with a sense of transgressive beauty and a search for grace within the marginalized. The repetition of "priming, priming, priming" in the first verse creates a sense of anticipation, a building tension before the leap into the "starry night." This cyclical imagery of being "turned over" and riding "over and over" reinforces the idea of a continuous, almost ecstatic, journey. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they capture a potent blend of aspiration and vulnerability. The narrator is ready for an epic experience, feeling their own inherent value ("worth the speed"), yet they are waiting for someone or something to provide the means for that journey. The cosmic and literary allusions elevate a personal plea into a quest for profound, perhaps even spiritual, liberation.