While she is best known for her work with Shakespears Sister, she has had a much wider career. She began her career in 1972 playing in Bob Seeger's band. Before long, she was playing in Eric Clapton's band, writing Lay Down Sally for clapton along the way. She has also released four solo pop albums, had a cameo role in Absolutely Fabulous, and added her distinctive voice to tracks by people like Alice Cooper, Arethra Franklin, and even The Simpsons. Her latest project is a the blues album The Upside of Being Down, released as the Marcy Levy Band.
BOY
Marcella Detroit Lyrics
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Step inside the other gender
So fulfill the plan
Maybe then i'll understand-
Trade it for the other one
Your last thought is what you become;
Smells of leather, school cafes
It hurt the first time i was laid
And when i do come back again
Snake-hipped
Tight-lipped
James Dean on a saturday night
The wild one's
Depp's fun
The Marlon Brando we loved to like
I made my choice
No Hayward or Myrna Loy
I'm comin' back as a boy
It's not that i'm so discontented
I just want to be reinvented
We all need that change
A chance to feel the strange
Let every father be a mother
Every sister be a brother
A demigod or saboteur
Next time i'll be a him and not a her
They gave me nine, but this is ten
And when i do come back again
Snake-hipped
Tight-lipped
James Dean on a saturday night
The wild one's
Depp's fun
The Marlon Brando we loved to like
I made my choice
No Hayward or Myrna Loy
I'm comin' back as a boy
Boy
I'm on a gender bender
And you're the last thing i remember.....
The lyrics to Marcella Detroit's song "Boy" explore the idea of reincarnation and the desire to be reborn as the opposite gender. The opening lines suggest that the singer is reflecting on their past life, and the idea that they must "step inside the other gender" to fulfill some sort of plan that will bring them understanding. The line "trade it for the other one" reinforces the idea of a desire to switch genders, and the idea that what you think about in your last moments determines your next life.
The next stanza alludes to some sort of painful sexual experience that the singer had in their previous life, which further supports the idea that they want to switch genders to escape that trauma. The line "they gave me nine, but I want ten" suggests that the singer is determined to come back as a male in their next life, no matter what the consequences may be.
The chorus is where the title of the song comes in, as the singer declares "I'm comin' back as a boy", and compares themselves to legendary Hollywood rebels like James Dean, Johnny Depp, and Marlon Brando. The line "snake-hipped, tight-lipped" suggests a certain level of coolness and mystery that the singer associates with these figures. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is on a "gender bender" and that the person they are speaking to (presumably a former lover) is the last thing they remember before beginning their next life as a male.
Overall, "Boy" is a song that explores the idea of reincarnation and the desire to switch genders in order to escape past trauma. The lyrics use references to Hollywood rebels and a certain level of coolness to make the idea of becoming the opposite gender seem exciting and rebellious.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, you're the last thing I remember
The last thought before transitioning.
Step inside the other gender
Transitioning to the opposite gender.
So fulfill the plan
Executing the plan to become a boy.
Maybe then I'll understand-
Hoping to understand oneself after transitioning.
Trade it for the other one
Exchanging the female gender for the male gender.
Your last thought is what you become;
The last thought before transitioning becomes the new identity.
Smells of leather, school cafes
Reminiscing about past memories in masculine environments.
It hurt the first time I was laid
Experiencing pain during the first sexual encounter as a female.
They gave me nine, but I want ten
Having the desire to be perfect in the new gender identity.
And when I do come back again
Looking forward to reincarnating as a male in the next life.
Snake-hipped
Describing a sleek and smooth hip movement associated with masculinity.
Tight-lipped
Not revealing emotions or thoughts, often associated with the traditional male stereotype.
James Dean on a Saturday night
Referring to a classic Hollywood image of the quintessential 'cool' man.
The wild one's
Referencing the iconic movie title about a rebellious youth.
Depp's fun
Comparing oneself to the playful and daring actor Johnny Depp.
The Marlon Brando we loved to like
Comparing oneself to the notorious and charismatic actor Marlon Brando.
I made my choice
Deciding to transition to the opposite gender.
No Hayward or Myrna Loy
Rejecting the traditional feminine roles portrayed by certain actresses of the past.
I'm comin' back as a boy
Reiterating the desire to be born as a male in the next life.
It's not that I'm so discontented
Not being unhappy with one's current situation but wanting something different.
I just want to be reinvented
Having the desire to completely transform oneself.
We all need that change
Understanding the need for change in life.
A chance to feel the strange
Wanting to experience something different or unfamiliar.
Let every father be a mother
Breaking traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Every sister be a brother
Desiring to change gender roles on a personal level.
A demigod or saboteur
Aspiring to become something transcendent or disruptive.
Next time I'll be a him and not a her
Looking forward to being born as a male in the next life.
Boy
Affirming the new identity as a male.
I'm on a gender bender
Being in the process of transitioning to the opposite gender.
And you're the last thing I remember.....
Thinking about the person as the last memory before the transition.
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.