Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a partnership, perhaps business or personal, that has soured due to one party's perceived opportunism and lack of integrity. The opening lines, "We plough the fields together / In all types of intemperance," suggest a shared history of hard work and perhaps recklessness, bound by a "Gentlemen's, gentlemen's agreement." This initial image of unity, however, quickly gives way to disillusionment. The core tension arises from the narrator's realization that the "agreement" was one-sided or based on false pretenses. The other party is described as someone who "sticking his colours / To whatever new mast there is," implying a lack of loyalty and a constant pursuit of new advantages. The narrator contrasts this with their own commitment, stating, "But our agreement is over." The repeated phrase "Gentlemen's, gentlemen's agreement" becomes ironic, highlighting the betrayal of trust. The narrator's frustration escalates with increasingly harsh imagery. The partner's mind is reduced to "software" and "Game Boy," filled with "excreement," suggesting a shallow, unthinking, and perhaps morally bankrupt individual. This contrasts sharply with the narrator's own "energies are down now with yours," indicating a depletion caused by the relationship. The partner is now "sitting on my back fence," a position of intrusion and disrespect, further emphasizing the broken trust. Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of bitter disappointment and anger at being deceived. The "agreement" was not a mutual understanding but a tool for the other person's self-interest. The narrator's sharp, almost contemptuous language reveals the depth of their disillusionment, making the repeated "Gentlemen's, gentlemen's agreement" a stark reminder of what was promised versus what was delivered.