Interpretations:My Man

• Song
• Lyrics
• Interpretations
• Credits
• Guitar Tab
• Bass Tab
• Chronology

Interpretation 1

I believe this song is written from the point of view of a paralyzed person. He does not appear to be broken on the outside -- he is completely coated in uninterrupted skin. But, when his brain orders his legs to move, nothing happens: I guess my man's fallen out with my head.

The following stanza likens the spinal cord to the transatlantic cable. Both serve the same purpose: communication.

May I direct your attention to the following simile?
You're like the coasts of the ocean
Buried beneath is a submarine cable
Connecting the opposite shores that surround it

Later we learn of muscle atrophy (your fingers could encircle clear around the ankle). Then, the song makes it quite plain that the cable on the floor of his ocean (his spinal cord) is severed. He's been unable to move his legs for quite a long time.

Most interesting about this song is the separation between the narrarator's mind and body. He views his body as a broken thing separate from himself. His body is his possession, but even his brain is separate from his consciousness or being. He is coldly stating facts about his broken body as if he were detached from the situation. Yet the line there is no way to repair the break conveys such hopelessness and despair we know it's all just a brave front. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.161.69.12 (talk • contribs) 22:10, 20 November 2003

Interpretation 2

An interesting related story from Oliver Sacks about a disembodied lady: [1] (from TMBG friend Robert Krulwich) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.13.224.74 (talk • contribs) 05:04, 20 August 2004

Interpretation 3

This song makes me squeamish (dan)

Interpretation 4

Cleverness alert: The song's "break" comes after the line "There is no way to repair the break", and consists of a broken sax solo. --Nehushtan 14:18, 22 Feb 2006 (CST)

Interpretation 5

This might also be just a case of sleep paralysis-the man just woke up. Sleep paralysis is when, for some reason, a person may not be able to move after waking up. This can last from a few seconds to somewhere around 45 minutes or more. This may be a prolonged case of that, and he feels like something may be permanently damaged. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.78.35.170 (talk • contribs) 01:05, 28 April 2006

Interpretation 6

As everyone's said, I'm fairly certain it's about a man who became paralyzed due to spinal cord damage. I wish I had something witty or insightful to say now, but I don't. Sorry. ~Anna Ng hears your words.

Interpretation 7

It seems to be from the brain's point of view-acting like a coach, talking 'bout how their man won't be able to move as if they were a coach with a hurt player on the team, talking about how it's all going downhill. They said that the body, in this song, is viewed seperately, and it's not from the person's point of view it seems. Or maybe the person's talking to their body. Dunno which! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.183.22.228 (talk • contribs) 06:49, 15 November 2006

Interpretation 8

A paralyzed person with spinal cord damage, but he'd wrought it upon himself by his own actions...which were stupid and dangerous. The trans-Atlantic cable might be a reference to how the first attempt at something like it failed, despite having brief, minor success, at first, but then later worked well. The speaker, in other words, felt that with whatever he was doing, he could "try, try again" if it didn't work out well the first time. However, his action not only failed, but permanently damaged him. 0dd1 04:44, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

Paralysis: Must It Be Injury?

Couldn't our disabled narrator have been crippled by illness? References to snapped cords, etc. could describe the state/condition of his damaged spine, not necessary mean there was quick catastrophic injury. There's a cornucopia of nasty neuro diseases that cause paralysis--for example, multiple sclerosis or transverse myelitis. Seems like the cause is just as likely to be illness as it is to be injury. CallMeMommyMarshmello (talk) 19:58, 24 April 2013 (EDT)

E.D.69.40.58.23 18:21, 8 October 2023 (EDT)

My Badass Theory On Why My Man, Destination Moon, South Carolina and Montana Are About The Same Guy

Okay. Lemme get this straight: I am no professional. I am just an autistic moron who has nothing better to do than write this shit in their free time. This is not to be taken seriously. Now let's get on to my epic, badass theory. We start with South Carolina's bicycle crash scene. A guy is hit by a car while riding his bike. Kind of a bad start, amiright? So, our guy gets sent to the hospital and goes batty as the isolation and the realization of what happened sets in. Makes enough sense. So he begins to ramble to the people around him. He goes on tirades about meaningless stuff, resulting in everyone dismissing his mad theories and opinions. He says he's going to the moon, and nobody believes him. He's still determined, and after being there for a few months he strikes a deal with the janitor. He gets out, and the other guy will be paid handsomely with a portion of the insurance money out guy received when the crash happened. The janitor agrees to help him and the doors are conveniently unlocked one night when our guy tries them. So he escapes and prepares himself to go back home. He had the janitor buy him a plane ticket to his home state (which is up to you to decide) and calls a taxi. He continues moving forward, with a small suitcase full of spare clothes and other assorted items strapped to his wheelchair. The cab driver is understandably confused but helps him into the cab anyways. Our guy is dead-set on going to the moon. Still. He sleeps in the airport as he waits for his plane to arrive, and unbeknownst to him, his friend arrives at the hospital to pay him a visit. His friend finds scrawled notes and papers on the bedside table and freaks out as they realize he's escaped. They ask the janitor of his whereabouts and is horrified to find out that their friend is at the airport. They hurriedly leave to go find him. Our guy wakes up in the airport and finds that he has a few hours to spare, so he relaxes and plans his next move. He mistakenly believes that he will be able to build his rocket once he's home (geez, dude really is batty). Then he will finally be able to fulfill his delusional fantasy. He is just about to board the plane when his friend finally catches him. He is shocked, not having thought of the possibility that this might happen. His friend is concerned and convinces him not to board the plane. He is saddened but lets them take him back to the hospital, where the doctors give him medications and let him go home. He is pleased. However, health problems do exist and he ends up in the hospital again. He is tired of not being able to do what he wants and he misses being able to walk. He rejects his broken body and views it as a prison. After he is released once again, he starts to drink to forget his woes, which lands him in the hospital once again. Again, again, again. He eventually quits and learns to accept his condition, and tries his best to go on in his life despite his disability. He throws flamboyant parties and has as much fun as he can using the rest of that damned insurance money. Lobster, anyone?

(I'm sorry this is so long. I might have spent an hour writing it.)

Johnsterrs (talk) 15:32, 6 January 2024 (EST)