Born Kimberley Tyler Rhodes but called "Happy" since infancy, she legally changed her name to Happy Tyler Rhodes at the age of 16. The title of her 1987 album has provided a name to what some have begun to call "Ecto" music.
There are several You Tube vids of Happy and, if you want to sample the 'two-voices-in-one' phenomenon, then her stunning version of Peter Gabriel's 'Here Comes the Flood' should be a pleasing introduction.
Not for Me
Happy Rhodes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brutal simplicity
Sane insincerity
No not another day
Wasted away
On a mental stray
Where is the man of my dreams?
Where is the man of my dreams?
To keep me from the sun?
Ready and willing to run
It's too, too far
To all my perfect stars
Nonexistent are
Where is the man of my dreams?
Where is the man of my dreams?
Keep your life
Keep your normal wife
Live your tiny plant life
No, not for me
I tear instinctively
And wish for idiocy
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The lyrics of Happy Rhodes's song "Not For Me" convey a sense of disillusionment and disappointment with the world around the singer. The opening lines, "No not for me / Brutal simplicity / Sane insincerity," suggest a rejection of convention and a desire for something more complex and genuine. The following lines, "No not another day / Wasted away / On a mental stray," evoke a feeling of aimlessness and a lack of purpose, perhaps due to the singer's inability to find what she truly desires.
The chorus, "Where is the man of my dreams? / Who will be the one / To keep me from the sun? / Ready and willing to run," conveys a sense of longing for a partner who will offer her protection and support, and who shares her desire to escape the mundanity of everyday life. The final lines, "Keep your life / Keep your normal wife / Live your tiny plant life / No, not for me / I tear instinctively / And wish for idiocy," suggest a rejection of societal norms and a longing for a more carefree, even foolish way of living.
Overall, the lyrics of "Not For Me" suggest a deep dissatisfaction with the world around the singer, and a longing for something more meaningful and fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
No not for me
This is not what I desire or want for myself.
Brutal simplicity
The straightforward or uncomplicated way of life is not appealing to me.
Sane insincerity
Being disingenuous and pretending to be someone I'm not is not the right path for me.
No not another day
I refuse to spend any more time in a situation that is unfulfilling or damaging.
Wasted away
I have already lost too much time on things that were not worth my while.
On a mental stray
I have been lost and adrift in my own thoughts and emotions.
Where is the man of my dreams?
I am searching for the perfect partner who meets all my expectations and desires.
Who will be the one
I want to find that special someone who will complete me.
To keep me from the sun?
I want someone who will protect me and support me in all aspects of my life.
Ready and willing to run
I want someone who is adventurous and willing to take risks with me.
It's too, too far
The ideal person I'm looking for seems too far out of reach.
To all my perfect stars
The people I have idealized in my mind are not real and do not exist.
Nonexistent are
The perfect people I've created in my head are not real and do not exist.
Keep your life
I don't want to live the same life as everyone else, following the typical societal norms and expectations.
Keep your normal wife
I don't want to be like the typical wife who conforms to societal expectations and norms.
Live your tiny plant life
I don't want to live a small and mundane life like a plant that grows in a tiny pot.
No, not for me
This type of life is not for me.
I tear instinctively
I am naturally emotional and often find myself crying or tearing up in response to situations or feelings.
And wish for idiocy
At times, I wish I was ignorant or foolish so that I didn't have to feel the complexity of emotions that I do.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.