What a Man

Song Meaning

Robert Pollard, the poet laureate of indie rock obliqueness, presents us with a character study in "What a Man" that's less a portrait and more a cubist rendering. The lyrics, a fragmented collage of images, hint at a figure grappling with expectations and the relentless march of time. The opening lines, "Look between the lines / I'm drawing very well," suggest a deliberate obfuscation, an invitation to decode a deeper narrative hidden within the seemingly random phrases. This 'man' isn't presented as a paragon of virtue, but rather someone poked and prodded, a champion under constant scrutiny. The repeated phrase "going strongly ever wiser" takes on an almost ironic tone when juxtaposed with the imagery of "the mask machine and i / And a miser." Is this a genuine pursuit of wisdom, or a performance, a carefully constructed facade to mask inner turmoil? The mention of hiding "from nothingness" implies a fear of oblivion, a desperate attempt to leave a mark on a world that seems indifferent. The line "Straight between the eyes / But sticking to his mind" speaks to the resilience of the individual, even when facing direct confrontation or judgment. He clings to his own perspective, refusing to be swayed by external forces. Ultimately, "What a Man" doesn't offer easy answers or a straightforward narrative. It's a fragmented exploration of strength, vulnerability, and the human condition, filtered through Pollard's signature lyrical lens. The ambiguity is the point; the listener is left to piece together the fragments and construct their own interpretation of this enigmatic figure. The final image of the man "without his arms and nothingness" suggests a stripping away of defenses, a confrontation with his own mortality and the realization that true strength may lie not in outward displays of power, but in the acceptance of one's own limitations.