Interpretations:S-E-X-X-Y

Interpretation 1

According to John and John, this song is about "Gettin' it On"
However, other people think the song is about Klinefelter's syndrome (XXY Chromosomes)
X because it's extra baby
Y because it's extra baby
You gotta understand
She wants to be your man
She's got another plan

XXY males are not mistaken for women. The condition does not feminize them or predispose them to gender identity issues. Rather, XXY males tend to store extra body fat, not become very hairy, and have slightly enlarged breasts (that often are mistaken for body fat). The degree to which each individual is affected varies, and many men live out their entire lives not knowing they have the condition.

One thing's clear, though. This song certainly is open for interpretation in strange ways.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.70.214.149 (talk) 22:05, November 14, 2003

Interpretation 2

I think this song is a parody of songs about sex, and not supposed to be taken seriously. ---Checkers Piece Face 13:20, August 16, 2004

Having thought about this song and read all the interpretations on the page, I think Checkers is perhaps nearest but part of me wonders if Flans is not quite sure himself as it alternates between trying to be sexy (we brits use one x) and being a parody of sexy (having the girl as being a Bond style girl). It doesn't really work as having the almost asexual Giants (They'll need a Crane is as near as you get and that is about romance - a crucial difference) sing about sex ends up being almost as excruciating as hearing your parents talk about it. Flans would later talk about the song being about getting it on, and maybe it is in parts (fingernail across your back) but they retreat to parody fairly quickly as emotionally the Giants hide behind metaphor and pretty loathe direct speaking song, unless it's in the educational bracket. Linnell keeps well out of it (I find it impossible to imagine him ever attempting this) but it's amusing as Flans is obviously conflicted as he's so desperate in songs to be a new man (think Twistin' and Take out the Trash) that it doesn't sit well to be writing such a direct sexualised song. Compare Flans to John Lennon who romantic songs in the vein of They'll need a Crane and First Kiss, but could also sing highly sexualised songs such as I want you (She's so heavy) and Happiness is a Warm Gun. Lennon would openly discuss sex as indeed appeared nude on the Two Virgins LP had no issue in separating sex from love. Flans is far more reticent and decides that he can't go through with the sexualised theme without diluting it with parody and this foray into adult themes would be a one off experiment. The non-Giant written baseline takes us into Mono Puff Territory and around this time I felt Flans was trying to broaden out the Giants sound. The fault lines in the purpose and the fact that parody songs don't often bear up to repeat listens means that it doesn't work on any level. Musically it's almost a parody of a funk song. Compounded to this, it's probably one of the least They Might Be Giants sounding songs in their catalogue and this experiment in funk/pop hasn't been repeated since on a Giants LP (although it has, with more success on songs such as Creepy on Mono Puff). Given that Factory Showroom was the make or break album for them on Electra I'm amazed they put it forward as a single as it's easily the worst track on the LP. Till My Heads off or Exquisite Dead Guy being far better choices. It's lowly place on the wiki ranking (it must be the lowest single) backs this up. Most people who play the album on CD will skip this first track. (Mr Tuck)

Interpretation 3

I thought this song was about a female impersonator, whose sex is "XY" -- male. "More than enough" and "because it's extra" are references to "her" male anatomy. Other hints include "wig on her head", and "she wants to be your man." --[[Victory Lighthill 02:57, November 28, 2004

Interpretation 4

I always thought this was a song about gender identity (and of course, gettin' it on). The reference to the wig and lines like "she wants to be your man" definitely muddle gender lines. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.142.195.231 (talk) 23:57, February 9, 2005

Being John Malkovich

I always thought it may have been somehow related to the movie "Being John Malkovich" for a number of thematic reasons, plus the ending instrumental sequence sounds very similar to the one that the puppeteer causes John Malkovich to dance to. Metastar 22:41, 25 Feb 2005 (EST)

I don't think it relates to "Being John Malkovich," since the song was released years before the film.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.129.205.253 (talk) 12:35, June 3, 2005

Interpretation 6

This song seems to be a parody of sex and the entertainment industry. The woman and the man in the song seem to be overused cliches constantly used in movies, with the woman servicing the man, and whatnot. --King of Hearts 10:48, August 6, 2005

Interpretation 7

I believe the johns on this, one piece of evidence supporting that:

"s-e-x-x-y", take away the extra x and y, what do you get? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.191.13.177 (talk) 19:43, September 19, 2005

X and Y? Chlamydia? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.209.142.26 (talk) 07:12, January 24, 2006

Interpretation 8

I'm surprised this isn't on "Here Come the ABC's."

(In case you didn't get that already, it was a joke.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.5.249.92 (talk) 18:25, October 13, 2005

Strange bedfellows

If this song is about "Gettin' it on" then J & J keep strange bedfellows.

...More than enough, Around the clock with nobody else...

I've had days like that too. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.209.142.26 (talk) 07:09, January 24, 2006

This joke actually opens the song up to a new interpretation: the narrator is exploring their sexuality. Solo, as is often traditional. The song itself is just their fantasy, the plot of which changes as it progresses and they figure out what they don't, and do, like. This joke actually makes me like the song way more. Before I didn't like it, now it's much funnier and more interesting.

Interpretation 10

I personally think this song is about a very jealous female that wishes to be a male. S-E-X and X-Y could be cut into two seperate phrases. XY is the chromosomes that males have that make them male. It is an extra chromosome "X because it's extra baby, Y because it's extra baby"...a 22nd where females have 21. In my opinnion this girl wants he sex (S-E-X) to be male (X-Y). Then agian, maybe I just read too much into TMBG songs (see my interps for Birdhouse and On the Drag). --Squeak 13:46, January 28, 2006

Interpretation 11

Like watching your parents having sex, one feels just as uneasy about listening to the Giants singing about it. It's just not their thing is it? Part of the trend post Flood of releasing weak opening singles from albums with far better material. Not as bad as Snail Shell or Prevenge, but still a weak song in a genre alien to the Giants. Interestingly they have steered well away from such "gettin' it on subsequently. (mr tuck) 15:04, January 31, 2006

Interpretation 12

I think it's just another TMBG stupid song. It's making fun of those 'love' songs you hear on the radio ('There she is standing on the bed cookie in one hand wig on her head') It's just for the fun of it. --[[Jeff 13:44, March 11, 2006

Interpretation 13

I don't think it's supposed to be taken that seriously. It's just one of those TMBG songs that make fun of a certain type of song, but the song is in the type that they're making fun of. (Wow, that could've been worded better. :/) --CuppaCoffee 5 June 2006 15:33 (EDT)

Cookie

I assumed the "cookie in one hand" was her vagina, although it makes sense that it could be her less-than-female equipment. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.86.106.86 (talk) 19:44, June 20, 2006

Interpretation 15

Like most TMBG songs, S-E-X-X-Y is silliness that can be serious if you want it to be. Considering that the three main themes of TMBG songs are bad break-ups, drug addiction, and death, it's nice to see the Johns tackle a kinder, gentler theme like sex with an androgyne. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.217.39.195 (talk) 01:50, August 13, 2006

Spies

I think that the song is about a female spy who's going "under cover" as a man, and her cover gets blown when whoever she's spying on wants to "get it on." Or maybe it's a man masquerading as a woman? Either way, definitely spies. The secret agent line, and the James Bond-ish feel to the music. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.129.144.239 (talk) 23:03, October 12, 2006

Interpretation 17

TMBG are known for writing songs that have hidden meanings, often a crafty exposition about a single, weird topic. A probable meaning for this song hit me in the face one day, and it's hard to dismiss. I'll just list the clearest examples:

S-E-X-X-Y, More than enough

"XXY" represents the gender chromosomes for a hermaphrodite. Having both gender chromosomes would certainly be "more than enough."

(NOTE: This is not accurate. Men with an extra x chromosome are not hermaphrodites. Though there are other symptoms of Klinefelter Syndrome, additional sex organs and gender identity issues are not among them.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.217.104.235 (talk) 16:30, April 4, 2015

Cookie in one hand, wig on her head

"cookie" "wig" and "head" then have obvious anatomical meanings I won't even reference, but you can figure it out...

She wants to be your man

More clear gender-bending of the same nature, 'she' being a man.

--MazeleyFanClub 04:48, November 26, 2007

Interpretation 18

I agree with the general consensus here that the gender-blending in the lyrics is intentional; it sounds like a song about a transvestite.

No one's offered (yet) any interpretation of the line "Baby's first gold tooth initials inscribed S-E-X-X-Y". Silly nonsense, or something deeper? What do y'all think? --Heath 24.127.115.128 05:33, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

X-X-Y is also what you get when an XX and an XY overlap. Or intersect. Or one's kind of partway inside the other. You know. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.146.19.8 (talk) 22:39, October 9, 2009

Interpretation 19

Hermaphroditism is not determined by chromosomes. As mentioned earlier, XXY is Kleinfelter's Syndrome. It occurs in about .1% of men, with only about half exhibiting symptoms. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.1.30.125 (talk) 02:43, May 12, 2009

"Something Extra"

I think the "extra" "Cookie in one hand" is probably a strap-on. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.1.193.94 (talk) 22:39, December 31, 2009

oh absolutely imo it unintentionally or otherwise, definitely alludes to pegging

Parody, for sure

I also believe this to be a parody of the "getin' it on" type of song. "Dressed only in clothes/from her head to her toes" being the first obvious one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.192.95.182 (talk) 11:25, March 1, 2010

Instumental outro/transition

The transition at the end is highly reminiscent to me of the interstitial instrumental bits on James Taylor's self-titled first album. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.51.57.35 (talk) 17:01, May 20, 2010

The flourish at the end of the song conveys first surprise then acceptance, don't think I need to say anymore considering the other observations on this page. I've always seen it as the punchline. ChaosS (talk) 19:30, 11 September 2013 (EDT)

Take it literally

It's best if you take it literally, & then picture it in your brain

If you take literally it just makes it really funny. Just try picturing a woman, standing on a bed, holding a cookie, wearing a wig (that's something you don't see everyday.) Now that I think about it, this works for alot of TMBG songs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by TheGalaxian (talk • contribs) 03:44, August 5, 2019‎

junie's interpretation

Yeah this song is definitely about hooking up with either a trans woman, drag queen, or crossdresser. I am not sure, but I am gravitating towards of the latter two due to "she wants to be your man" Fluxie31 (talk) 23:14, 30 September 2024 (EDT)