Androgynous Mind
Sonic Youth Lyrics
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Hey sad angel walks, and he talks like a girl
Out trying to think why it stinks, he's not a girl
Now he's kicked in the gut, they fucked him up, just enough
They got me down on my knees, I kiss his ring, God is love
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Hey hey are you gay? are you God?
My brain's a bomb, to turn you on
Everything is all right
God is gay, and you were right
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Hey hey it's OK, hey hey it's OK [x4]
Hey hey it's OK, hey it's OK [x5]
Hey hey it's OK, hey hey it's OK [x6]
God said it's all right, for you to fight
To free yr mind
Whose side are you on?
Like a bomb, you're free tonight
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
Hey hey it's OK, hey hey it's OK [x4]
Hey hey it's OK, hey it's OK [x5]
Hey hey
The song "Androgynous Mind" by Sonic Youth is a sonic exploration of gender and sexuality. The lyrics are enigmatic and poetic, with frontman Thurston Moore delivering lines that are both cryptic and evocative. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with Moore describing a "sad angel" who "walks and talks like a girl." The ambiguity of the subject's gender is deliberate, as the song is about breaking down binary notions of male and female.
The chorus repeats the phrase "androgynous mind" while the verses touch on themes of oppression, love, and freedom. The line "God is gay, and you were right" is particularly striking, as it challenges traditional religious beliefs about homosexuality. The song culminates in a call to action, with Moore singing, "God said it's all right, for you to fight, to free yr mind." Overall, "Androgynous Mind" is a complex and thought-provoking exploration of gender identity and the search for personal liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey sad angel walks, and he talks like a girl
A person who is unhappy is moving around looking and sounding like a female
Out trying to think why it stinks, he's not a girl
This person is trying to figure out why things are bad without wanting to be categorized as a woman
Now he's kicked in the gut, they fucked him up, just enough
The person has fallen victim to others who have done just enough to him to cause damage
They got me down on my knees, I kiss his ring, God is love
The person is now feeling powerless and is showing reverence to a higher power, which they view as a loving entity.
Androgynous mind, androgynous mind
The person is describing their thought process as balanced between male and female characteristics
Hey hey are you gay? are you God?
Individuals are questioning the person’s sexuality and their holiness
My brain's a bomb, to turn you on
The person’s thoughts are unpredictable and can activate and influence others
Everything is all right, God is gay, and you were right
Everything is good, and the higher power is viewed as not bound by traditional gender roles. The individual is affirming this belief.
Hey hey it's OK, hey hey it's OK [x4]
Assuring the listener that everything is alright
God said it's all right, for you to fight
The higher power has given permission to defend oneself
To free yr mind, Whose side are you on?
Free yourself from the constraints of societal norms and choose to be on the side of individuality
Like a bomb, you're free tonight
Let your thoughts explode and liberate yourself for this evening
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM GORDON, LEE M. RANALDO, STEVEN JAY SHELLEY, THURSTON JOSEPH MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind