Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Be My Man
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a Moonlight mass
Tall black coffee everything is outclassed
The benchwarming brother just kills for a gas
When the L train starts moving I jus know it's going to last
Be my man, be my man
ohh could Tom and Jerry be my man
I want to give that Michael Moore a dollar
It's hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk
Still life frozen but this girly won't talk
X rated violence make it old mixed with new
Just what's truly outragious i'm dieing to be true
Be my man, be my man
ohh could Tom and Jerry be my man
I want to give that Michael Moore a dollar, man
ohh could Tom and Jerry be my man
ouhhh
hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk, baby
hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walking to you
hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk, be my man
be my man, be my
be my man
The lyrics to Adam Green's "Be My Man" describe an unconventional person's perspective on living in New York City. The singer sounds almost bored as they describe the city as a "space ship" and the mundane rush hour of the subway ("When the L train starts moving I just know it's going to last"). They also mention being surrounded by luxury ("Tall black coffee everything is outclassed") but seem ambivalent towards it. The lyrics take a more surreal turn in the second verse as the singer talks about encountering a woman who won't speak and mentions "X rated violence" and wanting to be "truly outrageous". The chorus is repeated twice, with the singer asking if beloved cartoon characters Tom and Jerry could be their man instead of any real person. They end by repeating the line "hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk, be my man" possibly suggesting a desire for someone to share their unique perspective on the city with.
The singer's ambivalent and surreal perspective on living in New York City is best summed up in the chorus; by asking if Tom and Jerry, cartoon characters who are always getting into hijinks, could be their man, they show that they don't necessarily desire a real person who will fulfill cultural expectations of masculinity. By mentioning the noted documentarian Michael Moore, the singer also seems to be poking fun at prevalent political commentary.
Line by Line Meaning
New York city space ship
The city feels like an out of this world experience
On a Moonlight mass
At night, everything becomes more magical and peaceful
Tall black coffee everything is outclassed
Something as simple as a cup of coffee can make everything else seem inferior
The benchwarming brother just kills for a gas
Even in a seemingly safe environment, there are people who will do anything for their own gain
When the L train starts moving I jus know it's going to last
There are certain things in life that you can rely on to be consistent
Be my man, be my man
I desire a strong and dependable partner
ohh could Tom and Jerry be my man
A playful reference to wanting a partner who can provide a little fun and mischief
I want to give that Michael Moore a dollar
Giving to causes or people that align with one's values can be satisfying
It's hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk
Even in familiar surroundings, there is always a hunger for more experiences and excitement
Still life frozen but this girly won't talk
Sometimes, even in moments of stillness, there is a desire for connection and conversation
X rated violence make it old mixed with new
The fusion of different elements can create something new and interesting
Just what's truly outragious i'm dieing to be true
There is a desire to push boundaries and live life on one's own terms
ouhhh
An expression of emotion or feeling, perhaps frustration or longing
hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walk, baby
Reiteration of the idea that even in moments of stillness, there is a hunger for more
hard to keep me hungry on a noonday walking to you
The journey to a desired partner or destination can be just as exciting as the end result
be my man, be my
Continued desire for a strong and dependable partner
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.