Mansun came to prominence in the mid-nineties British indie/ guitar-rock resurgence, despite pursuing their own path away from any of the emerging scenes. Their first album Attack of the Grey Lantern could easily have been lost amidst the wave of new music in the British (Britpop) scene at that time if it had not been for the majestic Wide Open Space. The single charted at number 15 in the UK. The album then went on to reach no. 1 in the UK charts. Many of the tracks from the album and the associated EP's formed part of a grand concept piece. The band created a twisted town inhabited by bizarre characters such as "Dark Mavis", "Stripper Vicar", "Flourella" and "Egg-Shaped Fred".
Between their 1st and 2nd album they released the Closed for Business EP which departed from the themes that had run through all Mansun's previous releases, while musically very similar to the tracks from Attack of the Grey Lantern.
The band's second album Six was a radical departure from the first album. The tracks segued into each other creating two musical sections which were separated by an "intermission". Musically, the songs were far more produced in sound. The album artwork was also very complex containing many references to the cult (and often surreal) 60's TV show "The Prisoner". This perfectly suited the music which had the feeling of a nonsensical prog extravaganza. The artwork together with the way that the complex structure of the songs/time signatures blended into each other gave the impression of a very ambitious progressive rock concept album, though lyrically there is little to suggest that there is a central theme to the album. While generally critically appreciated, Six was not a huge commercial success, though the album did reach no. 6 in the UK album charts.
For their third album, Little Kix, Mansun again changed direction. This time the songs were slickly produced (over-produced in some senses) with strong pop sensibility. The album was obviously an attempt by the band to produce an album with more maturity, but was perhaps too polished. Little Kix reached no. 12 in the UK charts.
Mansun disbanded in May 2003. This was a culmination of band tensions which had seen one of the original members leave (Stove King). Disappointed by the poor reception of their 3rd album, the band folded with little fanfare of their passing.
Due to pressure from their fans, EMI released the posthumous "4th album", Kleptomania, which was a three CD set containing rough recordings of tracks slated to be on the unfinished 4th album, b-sides and rarities.
Being A Girl
Mansun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I judge myself by the adverts I see
My deodorant hides the real me
These things elevate me above animals
I feel like being a girl
Being a girl
And my life never tasted sweeter
I'm so boring, my clothes want to keep
Someone else warm, someone cooler
Tax on cigarettes, treats my cancer
These things elevate me above animals
I feel like being a girl
Being a girl
And my life never tasted sweeter
The lyrics of Mansun's song "Being A Girl" delve into the idea of gender roles and stereotypes in society. The opening line, "Being a boy's like sucking on a lemon," suggests that being a boy is not necessarily an enjoyable experience. The use of this metaphor paints a picture of a sour and unpleasant experience. The singer then goes on to say that he judges himself based on the advertisements he sees, which highlights the pressure society puts on individuals to fulfill gender-specific standards.
The line "My deodorant hides the real me" suggests that individuals may hide their true personalities in order to fit in with societal norms. Deodorant is often marketed to enhance masculine qualities of strength and power, therefore by using it, individuals may conform to gender expectations.
The chorus "I feel like being a girl, and my life never tasted sweeter" suggests that the singer feels liberated and free in embracing a feminine identity. The use of the metaphor "my life never tasted sweeter" suggests that taking on a feminine identity has brought a sense of satisfaction into their life.
In the second verse, the lyrics mention how the singer feels boring and uncool, but their clothes seem to have a personality of their own. This line highlights how clothing can be a way to express one's identity. The final line, "These things elevate me above animals," is a reminder that humans have evolved to be more than just animals and have the ability to choose their identity and their path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Being a boy's like sucking on a lemon
The expectations and societal norms placed on boys can often leave a sour taste in one's mouth and be difficult to bear.
And I judge myself by the adverts I see
I measure my self-worth based on the unrealistic and often unattainable standards advertised to me by the media.
My deodorant hides the real me
The products I use to conform to societal norms and expectations often mask my true self and identity.
These things elevate me above animals
Although humans are still technically animals, we use material possessions and societal norms to make us feel superior.
I feel like being a girl
I wish to escape the societal pressures and expectations placed on boys and find relief in the different norms and expectations placed on girls.
And my life never tasted sweeter
I find joy and contentment in breaking free from societal norms and expectations, and embracing my own identity and individuality.
I'm so boring, my clothes want to keep
I feel uninteresting and unexceptional, and my clothes are a reflection of this - they lack uniqueness or flair.
Someone else warm, someone cooler
I wish I could be someone else - someone with more confidence, charisma, or style.
Tax on cigarettes, treats my cancer
Society and government imposes its own expectations and consequences on us, with policies and regulations that affect our health and well-being.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL EDWARD DRAPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Old Cyril The Gaming Grandpa
Such a great album. One of the most original and brave releases of all time.
northcountrybhoy
"i'm so boring my clothes want to keep someone else warm someone cooler" amazing lyrics from an amazing band
PortaJoseph
One of the best albums of all time!!!!
vaughanography
one of the ost underated albums of all time
Muskateering
Love this track, the album version is epic, love the abrupt stop at the end of this!
Lukáš Helcl
I miss Mansun. Great band. This is a great song.
Craig (WEBBA) Webber
Only just seen this as my drama teacher told me he was in this. He's definitely had the most shots in this. Great music drums are spot on.
Geoffrey Logsdon
Andie Rathbone put himself up with the greats on the complete version of this track. There is a chap who posts YT videos of himself playing drums along with a bunch of the Six material under the name Greenie Drums, and he is fucking spot on. It is literally the closest thing to watching Andie play live in the studio.
The drumming Andie does on Six and Being A Girl specifically, is a master class.
laurenisalltherage
I'm on a nostalgia trip and thought I'd check out this video.... haha omg Danny Dyer! Six was an amazing album. Still listen to it regularly.
Jaded cynical 77
Best drum sound ever!