Interpretations:Hypnotist Of Ladies
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I think this song is about date rape. "Never had a pocket watch, never counted backwards" says to me that this is not "being hypnotized" in a traditional way, and not remembering says to me that the "lady" had something done to them to alter their minds. I kind of enjoy this song, its catchy and fun. You know, as long as you don't interpret it. heh.
Flans at his right on worst. The idea that the poor girls are blind to the fact that they are being hypnotised is rather patronising, and one senses some good old fashioned sexism from the hero of our song who is dying to save them. The How Soon is Now guitar riff (copyright J Marr) does not help things either. (mr Tuck)
Flans at his PC best, whining that other guys can pick up when he can't. Rather insulting, as the songs narrator assumes that the women are in some way being "hypnotised". Honestly!
A very sinister interpration here, but I can't help think the subject could (unintentionally) act as a metaphor for date-rape. "You won't remember why you liked him" etc.
- I can agree with that one, actually. - MooseBlaster
I always thought it was rape- or seduction- related, too. But somehow (i don't have the actual lyrics sheet, so I'm probably wrong) I always thought it was 'you won't remember why you _lied to_ him' ... Whether or not this is the actual lyric, i believe that TMBG often writes lyrics that are intentionally meant to be heard two ways - for example, in 32 Footsteps "32 lies my ears never saw when the floorboards gave way" can be easily mis-heard (more sense-makingly) as "32 lives my years never saw when the floorboards gave way" So this might be one of those....
I can't help but think of some stories I heard about Freud taking advantage of his female patients while they were hypnotized... I haven't bothered to research it, though. -The Cowch
Rather than date rape, I interpreted the main character (not the narrator, the subject of the song) as a Ross Jeffries sort of character. Jeffries uses hypnotism, but not the pocket watch kind, to implant subliminal commands. He also teaches the use of "anchors" (IIRC ... the word might be wrong, but the idea is right), where an ideal sensation or thought is associated with the hypnotist. Then when the girl thinks of that sensation or idea, she'll be reminded of the hypnotist, liking him without really remembering why. - 211.28.136.87 01:04, 20 Jun 2006 (MDT)
Wow, these interpretations are taken to the extreme. None of you have ever known a guy who attracts women by some unplaceable nature about him, when it eventually becomes apparent he's jerk? I don't see what's whiny or sinister about this song, it seems pretty truthful to me.
Whoa, guys, it's a joke[edit]
I agree, the interpretations are way, way too literal here. I've always heard this song as humorous and tongue-in-cheek. Like the interpreter above says, it's nothing more than a perception of a guy who seems to have a way with women even though he's a jerk. As a girl, I can very much confirm I've often ended relationships thinking, "Wow, what did I ever see in that guy?" It doesn't take much to jump from that to, "I must have been hypnotized to ever want that person."
It's sarcasm, people. Look it up.
Thanks for the alternative:
Gotta say, my mind went straight to rohypnol but I prefer your take. (CraneWife)
first thing that popped into my mind was a guy who satisfies sexually (or in some other short-term way) but who isn't actually a likable person in the long-term. so you look back and go "why did i like him?" but he's too busy not caring because he gets high on all this short-term satisfaction and thinks he's this great casanova, a "hypnotist of ladies", and he never looks backward to figure out the pattern.
second thing that popped into my head was "date rape" because i'm a clever individual capable of coming to unique conclusions. --Ncrecc (talk) 03:13, 19 June 2022 (EDT)
third thing that popped into my mind was a professional hypnotist called the "hypnotist of ladies" who, at his shows, makes it seem like he's just some sleazy loser who only pretends to be a hypnotist to look cool, and when he has a volunteer he makes it seem like he's just trying to hypnotize them to say he's cool and muscular, but in the meantime he very cleverly sneaks in actual unrelated hypnosis in a way that's too subtle for the audience to notice, until it pays off, at which point everyone is like "woah, what?" and realize his loserness is just an act. this song would be his theme song that plays when he comes on stage. --Ncrecc (talk) 15:40, 29 August 2022 (EDT)
A straightforward ZZ Top parody[edit]
I hear this song and just see ZZ Top fading in and out while their old hot rod comes and goes.
Deploy the Velcro Fly.
