Sex!

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a surprisingly straightforward, almost childlike take on sex, framing it as a peculiar and unpredictable experience. It's described as "a very funny thing" and "a curious thing," immediately setting a tone that’s less about passion and more about observation. The core idea is its inherent variability: "Sometimes it's good / Sometimes it's bad," and "Sometimes it burns / Sometimes it stings." This establishes a fundamental tension between the desire for positive experiences and the reality of negative ones. The narrator emphasizes the cyclical nature of engaging with sex, particularly highlighting the initial difficulty. "The first time can be very hard / But, you know, you gotta try it again." This repetition of "try it again" suggests a persistent, almost obligatory pursuit despite potential discomfort or negative outcomes. The phrase "And again and again" underscores this relentless cycle, hinting at a compulsion or a learned behavior that transcends simple pleasure. The most jarring and surreal element arrives with the "shepherds pie" interlude. This abrupt shift to a mundane, domestic food item, repeated with increasing absurdity ("A years supply of shepherds pie"), creates a stark contrast with the subject matter. It feels like a deliberate non-sequitur, perhaps suggesting that the actual experience of sex can sometimes feel anticlimactic or even replaced by something entirely ordinary, or that the pursuit itself becomes the focus, overshadowing the act. Ultimately, the lyrics capture a raw, unvarnished perspective on sex as a force that is both sought after and unpredictable. The repeated assertion that one "gotta try it again" despite the potential for it to "burn" or "sting" speaks to a persistent human drive. The odd "shepherds pie" interlude adds a layer of dark humor or perhaps resignation, suggesting that the reality of sex might be far stranger and less glamorous than anticipated, yet the cycle continues regardless.